The 2014 programme

Every year three themes are evaluated. Participants can choose to partake in evaluating all topics or just the ones they feel are most relevant to them.

F240 Ethical governance

How do institutions balance their foundational purposes and obligations to various forms of stake-holder (local, regional, national and international) with the concepts of public purpose, and of corporate social responsibility; maintaining high ethical standards in teaching and research; environmental responsibility; and establishing core academic values in the life and work of staff and students. In reviewing this topic, we respond to some enduring goals of the university enterprise, explore how they are under current strain, and discuss how they can be adapted and restored to deal with aspects of the contemporary world.

Assessor: Prof Sir David Watson - Professor of Higher Education and Principal, Green Templeton College, Oxford, UK. (Formerly, Vice Chancellor, University of Brighton.)

F241 Quality Management

Exploring the processes and systems that are in place to ensure that the teaching and learning, and the associated research activities are consistently achieving high quality is paramount. It will also focus on the support for blended learning, and how staff are supported in developing high quality e-learning materials that are to be used in this mode of delivery. Issues to be addressed will include: processes, procedures, policies and staff development, and how quality management influences them all, without undue bureaucracy.

Assessor: Dr Harvey Weingarten - President and CEO of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. (Formerly, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Calgary.)

F242 Student support

Institutions are increasingly looking at how to improve whole student experience; from first contact through to becoming alumni. Focusing on both the academic and non-academic needs of students, this theme will cover the range of services available to students, as well as the extent of take-up. It will look at the range of approaches taken to providing academic support to students, including how to identify students at risk, and what approaches and mechanisms are in place to minimise failure and attrition.

Assessor: Prof Robyn Quin - Adjunct Professor, Curtin University, Australia

The face to face workshop will be hosted by Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia on the 25-27 August 2014. If required, the second cohort workshop will be in October 2014 (venue TBD).