Senate

Subject: Learning and Teaching Strategy

Origin: Unconfirmed Minutes of Learning and Teaching Committee on 3 June 2004

The Committee considered a revised summary version of the University Learning and Teaching Strategy. This was required for publication on the Teaching Quality Information (TQI) web-site and had been produced using the template headings and observing word-limits prescribed. The document was intended to move the strategy forward from the 2002 version. The PDQ Team had commented on an earlier draft. It was intended there would be links from the version published on the TQI site to relevant University web pages.

It was remarked that the strategy did not single out any major initiatives. The Committee felt these could emerge in the following areas:

· Student number growth: the numbers envisaged in the document were those broadly agreed with departments but it was felt that incremental growth would not be sufficient in itself to meet the targets, and new developments would be necessary

· Profile of PG activity: the development of a graduate school was a possibility in the SSH Faculty

· On-line strategy: some discussions had already taken place on ways of moving this forward

· Widening participation.

It was anticipated the introduction of variable tuition fees from 2006 would be accompanied by bursary schemes across the sector and the University would need to raise its profile in the new market conditions that would be created.

Members felt that investment in quality teaching space for flexible teaching delivery should also have a high priority. It would be important to ensure that the impact of the emerging on-line strategy was taken into account and to input to discussions on the estates strategy.

The Committee noted various linkages between the themes discussed. It was felt the time was ripe for a more thorough and systematic consideration of the strategic options available in the light of the changing context. It was felt the relations between the groups currently providing infrastructural support for learning and teaching and between these groups and other parts of the organisation were also in need of review. New structures were likely to be needed to support whatever strategies were adopted. It was agreed that an ‘away day’ and perhaps a series of shorter meetings be arranged to provide a forum for such a debate.

It was hoped that some flavour or major new initiatives in prospect could be built into the strategy document. Members suggested a number of minor amendments to help clarify the existing text and were invited to forward any further suggestions to the PVC(T) as soon as possible.

It was agreed that a revised draft of the paper should go forward to Senate.

Author: R A Bowyer

Date: June 2004

Copyright © Loughborough University. All rights reserved

TQI - Strategy for Learning and Teaching

Development of learning and teaching strategy

Loughborough University is committed to enhancing its outstanding reputation for teaching and learning within a vibrant research culture. The strategy builds on a number of distinctive features. A student centred ethos is a defining characteristic of the University. It enables the comprehensive care and support of students in partnership with the Students’ Union and ensures that students benefit from a stimulating and safe campus environment, one of the largest in the UK.

Over many years we have developed a strong reputation for teaching and research involving effective collaboration with external partners in industry, government and the professions. This collaboration has supported work placements for students and degree programmes sponsored by industrial consortia, and it has contributed significantly to Loughborough’s exceptional record for graduate employment. In recent years the student experience at Loughborough has been enriched by the University’s expanding international connections in teaching and research.

Within this distinctive educational environment we aim to develop high-quality programmes of study for which there is student demand and which enhance our international reputation for the effective integration of scholarship in teaching and research. We intend to maintain our UK/EU undergraduate population at current levels. The expansion of postgraduate opportunities at Masters and doctoral levels will build on our strengths in Engineering, Science and Social Sciences and Humanities with a resulting increase in postgraduates to one-fifth of the student population by 2007.

Content of Strategy

Reflecting the University’s Strategic Plan, our aspirations in learning and teaching are

- to produce self-motivated and enterprising graduates who affirm the principles of lifelong learning and have a strong sense of individual and social responsibility;

- to ensure the continued high employability of our students, firmly based on graduate-level knowledge and skills.

In support of these aspirations our guiding principles are:

1.To operate an admissions policy which is fair, transparent and sufficiently flexible to encourage the recruitment of a diverse student community with the potential to succeed

2.To play an active role in raising the aspirations of those who might otherwise not consider entering higher education, in line with government widening participation priorities

3.To offer students a diversity of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes which build on and develop Loughborough’s distinctive national and international academic qualities, and which are responsive to changes in industry, commerce and our global society

4. To enhance our record of outstanding teaching and effective support for students, verified in successive External Subject Reviews, in order to increase the current high proportion of our students who progress to graduate employment or further study

5.To operate effective procedures for setting, monitoring and enhancing the quality and standards of learning, teaching and assessment and to publish accurate information

6. To provide professional support to all staff involved in teaching and learning and to develop the professional teaching standards of staff

In support of these principles the University seeks to

· Apply a range of entry criteria to applicants which are appropriate to the programmes we offer and which reflect a commitment to assessing as comprehensively as is reasonable, evidence of their ability to succeed

· Facilitate the expansion of progression routes into HE in the region through the development of new and existing partnerships with local colleges and schools as appropriate and through active participation in the Open College Network of the South East Midlands (OCNSEM)

· Raise awareness of higher education by providing opportunities for visits to the University campus and academic departments, and by outreach work such as student shadowing and mentoring with a range of age groups in local schools and colleges

· Enhance our international connections by increasing our international student population through an expanded presence in Loughborough and through the development of overseas partnerships

· Support academic staff in the design of a curriculum that is informed by their expertise in scholarship and research, and that produces high quality programmes which are efficiently delivered

· Increase the already impressive proportion of undergraduates with placement opportunities and maintain the number of students at all levels benefiting from sponsorship

• Raise the profile of graduate activity by expanding our portfolio of programmes in areas of engineering, science, social sciences and the humanities, for which Loughborough is renowned, and by encouraging cross disciplinary collaborations which are at the cutting-edge of changes in society and developments in research

· Increase the number and range of programmes delivered by distance learning in niche areas for which the University has a distinctive record

• Enrich the learning experience through the expanded use of innovative learning, teaching and assessment methods and materials that embrace new technologies and that are accessible to all students.

· Ensure that student resources, including library and computing facilities, are of high quality and appropriate to the changing needs of students, and that teaching spaces are maintained to a good standard.

· Exceed benchmark standards in respect of degree classes, graduate employment, progression rates and other key quality performance indicators.

• Provide for the continuing professional needs of all those involved in teaching and learning through programmes which are tailored to individual needs and which offer opportunities for appropriate professional accreditation.

Effectiveness of the strategy

The University has a well-documented and comprehensive range of quality assurance procedures. Regulations, codes of practice and notes of guidance provide a clearly defined framework for quality and standards applicable University-wide, within which departments have a measure of flexibility to manage their programmes in ways which are appropriate to their subject discipline and ensure that complementary research activities can flourish.

At institutional, faculty and departmental levels, and in the support services, information on the quality and standards of provision is gathered regularly from students, staff, external examiners, employers and other external stakeholders such as accrediting bodies, and through comparison with other institutions across the sector. This information is regularly reviewed and taken into account in planning and implementing further developments and new initiatives.

The University is proud of its consultative approach and openness to feedback. These ensure that staff throughout the institution have a keen awareness of quality issues and a shared understanding of expectations in respect of academic standards.

In this environment, we will continue to ensure that our structures and procedures are regularly monitored and updated in response to external audit processes and changing internal priorities. We will do all we can to encourage final year undergraduates to participate in the proposed National Student Survey.

Future development

We intend to enhance our integrated approach to teaching and research to the benefit of students, through our forward planning procedures at institutional, faculty and departmental levels.

In order to ensure that the needs of an increasingly varied student body are appreciated and met, we shall coordinate the work of those concerned with all aspects of student diversity and equality; we shall monitor student data relating to equal opportunities and take actions as appropriate; and we shall provide training for admissions tutors, programme leaders and other key members of staff.

Building on the University’s impressive record in the use of electronic learning resources for students, we shall further develop our on-line learning across all departments and will undertake a detailed review of the University’s Virtual Learning Environment.

With a view to supporting the outstanding quality of our staff, we shall maintain and further develop policies and mechanisms for the identification and reward of innovative teaching within the context of academic staff career development.

We shall facilitate the further development and dissemination of good practice in teaching and learning by maintaining the University’s excellent record of successful participation in appropriate national initiatives and research projects.

We shall sustain and enhance the outstanding and innovative work of Loughborough’s Mathematics Education Centre and Engineering Education Centre in their support for students and staff at LU and across the HE sector.

We shall develop our student information systems with a view to providing timely, relevant data to all those concerned with our students and their learning experiences, including where appropriate the students themselves.

Reflecting the priority, which the University attaches to the systematic refurbishment of teaching facilities, major undergraduate lecture spaces were recently completed and impressive new postgraduate facilities are scheduled toll become available in 2005/06.

We remain committed to the regular evaluation and refinement of our quality systems and procedures, the impressive nature of which was recently endorsed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the Institutional Audit, March 2004.

The University is monitoring the progress of the Higher Education Bill and, if the decision is taken to implement the variable tuition fees option, a comprehensive suite of bursaries will accompany this and permit further investment in learning and teaching.