New academic year, new opportunities
The fifteenth of September 2012 is the start of the autumn term 2012-13. It may seem a long way off, but many colleagues have that date very much in mind right now, as we continue our extensive planning and work for major University changes being delivered next year.
Professor Clare Mackie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)
Changes to the structure of the academic year and the associated revisions to the curriculum present one of the biggest opportunities in recent years for Sussex to further improve what we offer to our students.
While we already get very strong National Student Survey results, we are taking a hard look at what we provide across all areas of teaching and learning, with every school reviewing its curriculum.
The opportunity to do this arises from the fundamental decisions discussed and reviewed extensively across the University in 2009 and 2010, which culminated in the creation of a new structure of the academic year from 2012-13. This is built around two teaching blocks of 12 weeks, with assessment periods between them and at the end of the year.
This structure means that we will offer a more coherent and well organised curriculum to our students and we will significantly improve the way in which assessment and feedback is provided. The mid-year assessment block, in particular, offers a new University-wide opportunity for earlier formal assessment for our students.
The structured discussions that I have been undertaking with programme teams in each school involve large numbers of staff and have been extremely positive and encouraging. All schools are looking at the ways in which they can build on already good course offerings and ensure that the best practice for integrating teaching and assessment is taken forward.
For example, Anthropology have plans to introduce a tutorial system for all undergraduates, with weekly formative assessment so that senior faculty can really get to know freshers from day one.
Through these review processes we are looking at how e-learning can enhance the student experience; how we can use placements to improve employability and career development; how attractive University-wide elective courses, such as proficiency in language, can be created; and how personal development through Sussex Plus can be enhanced.
We are sharing information with and involving current students in the process of curriculum review, just as we involved them in the discussions around the new structure of the academic year, because we believe it's right that their insights form part of how we develop what we offer to future students.
For example, we are taking the opportunity to begin teaching during freshers’ week, in response to feedback from students that they wish to get their teeth into academic work sooner rather than later.
I am conscious of course that this degree of change - putting in place a new academic year structure and reviewing the entire curriculum - is a major exercise, being undertaken all in one go. But the benefits are of such significance that I believe we are absolutely right to embark on this as we have done.
Many colleagues across the University, both in professional services and within our schools, are involved in this work during this year, with changes far-reaching across Sussex. We also have a project steering group that looks after this work and more information set out on the web pages of the Academic Office.
Students coming new to us in 2012 will be doing so in a wholly changed fee and funding environment and with raised expectations. It is only right that we provide the best we can, and ensure that they have an excellent student experience.