Mariella Herberstein (Chair of the Academic Senate) and Kevin Jameson (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic) provide an update on the curriculum architecture project. 

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By now, many of you will have seen our article in which Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton communicated the University’s exciting vision to have a transformed student learning experience in place by 2020.

Since then much progress has been made, starting with an intensive series of workshops held by the Chair of Academic Senate and the DVC-A to articulate issues that exist within the current curriculum structure, followed by a further series of workshops focussed on proposing solutions. The workshops were attended by over 200 staff and students from right across the University community and based on the feedback gathered, possible principles that could shape our new curriculum architecture were drafted.

Last week through Teche, University staff were asked to consider these draft principles and offer their expert thoughts and opinions. Ensuring the opportunity to provide feedback is made available to the entire University community through This Week, The Chair of Academic Senate and the DVC-A now invite your comments as well.

In the links provided below you’ll find an introductory set of slides presenting the proposed structural changes, together with two online feedback forms and two PDFs of the draft principles. Below we have summarised just a few of the proposed curriculum architecture changes, however you’re encouraged to view the slides in the first link for further detail.

Key proposed changes to the curriculum architecture:

• broad changes to the design of the undergraduate and postgraduate course structure
• standardised unit weighting to 10 credit points for all units at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• course structures that meet discipline and accreditation requirements
• introduction of the concepts of ‘depth’, ‘breadth’ and ‘foundation’ zones that define course components
• clear distinction between generalist and specialist undergraduate degrees
• volume of learning defined by point of admission for postgraduate degrees
• agile structures that support vertical degrees and micro-credentialing.

Curriculum Architecture Draft Principles Workshop Slides – June 2018 >

The MQ Model Undergraduate Working Paper >

The MQ Model Postgraduate and MicroCourse Working Paper >

Undergraduate draft principles feedback form >

Postgraduate draft principles feedback form >

Use your OneID username and password to access the feedback forms.

The opportunity to provide feedback has been extended to Monday 25 June.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our curriculum and as a member of the Macquarie team you – no matter where you work – are uniquely positioned to help shape our future student learning experience.

The Chair of Academic Senate and the DVC-A will continue to update the University community with summaries of feedback and new developments.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact chair.senate@mq.edu.au.