Senate matters - to us

Pathways and Bachelor Honours (AQF level 8)

Pathways

Where would we be without regular infusions of jargon!

'Pathways' is very useful and intuitive. Can you describe the pathway to a PhD for someone with a class 1 Honours degree? And if class 2/2? Or for someone with no degree, lead authorship on 3 published papers in high quality peer-reviewed journals and, they want to now do a PhD. What are the pathway options? What about someone with a coursework masters, what is their path to a PhD? And what pathways exist to the different Masters degrees? What about someone who is changing from a maths degree to one in history, what do they need to do? A range of the main options should be available to all.

A draft 'pathways figure' is being distributed for discussion, for possible inclusion in the 2013 Program Management Manual. Please review and comment when it comes to your Faculty. Early drafts have been reviewed by the AQF Project Group and Office of Graduate Studies. Next stage:  making sure the figure is accurate, easily understood and useful.

Honours

The two existing UoN Honours policies were amalgamated in 2011 following considerable discussion.

Prior to further consultations the following were incorporated:

  • faculties' feedback on the amalgamated Honours policy draft;
  • feedback from the AQF working party established by the Research Committee, chaired by Prof Mark Jones ; and
  • outcomes of subsequent discussions by the AQF Steering Group and AQF Working Party.

The 19 September 2012 Academic Senate meeting passed the new policy subject to approval by Professors Kevin McConkey (Chair, T&LC), Bill Hogarth (Chair, PCAC) and then Val Robertson (PAS) for some edits. Those edits have been completed and are awaiting final approval.

The main changes from the previous 2 policies are:

  • having one policy for Bachelor Honours programs
  • clarified content and consistent terminology
  • previously text-based discriminators between levels of Honours for end-on programs tabulated, and a gap redressed
  • deletion of the embedded + model so the policy is AQF compliant
  • a policy ensuring graduates of all 320 unit programs, which meet the level 8 learning outcomes, will be awarded an Honours qualification.  For example, B Eng (Hons); and
  • clarification of the marking of the research component.

In summary, the University will have the one Bachelor Honours policy from 1 January 2013 onwards and it will ensure AQF compliant programs (level 8). Transition planning is important and highlighted in the policy.

Progress, policy and 2013

Academic Senate approved the new Courses and Assessment Rules and Policies (Policy on Courses; Policy on Assessment), subject to some minor edits. Council will now be asked to approve these at their next meeting. The 2013 Courses and Assessment Manual was approved in-principal. The time for last minute edits is very rapidly running out.

Please send them to val.robertson@newcastle.edu.au

And yet more on MOOCs

Which approach would attract you to a new course or program?

  • a MOOC (massive open online course) that offers a taster
  • a Facebook entry with details
  • a YouTube University entry
  • a website that describes the offerings
  • a hard copy program and course handbook?

The rate of change is amazing. How should we respond to new options? And, have you seen that the University of Melbourne (and University of Queensland soon too) is offering MOOCs?