UG-FLEX AIMS TO REVEAL AND ENHANCE CURRICULUM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES TO SUPPORT A MORE AGILE AND FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM UNDERPINNED BY INTEGRATED SYSTEMS
Institutional Approaches to Curriculum Design
The University of Greenwich is proud that as Woolwich Polytechnic in the 1930s we pioneered the country’s first part-time day release and sandwich courses. In the years since, we have offered a diverse curriculum covering part time, continuing professional development (CPD), in company and distance programmes as well as short courses. Today, too many of our systems and processes— from inception of the idea for a programme or course through to registration and delivery— are shoe-horned into ways of working and systems that were designed more than 10 years ago, when academic models and the student demographic were very different. We know that this situation is inhibiting the development of new flexible curriculum design and delivery models. UG-Flex is based on the premises that achieving a truly flexible curriculum requires agile, efficient and responsive systems and processes that are straightforward, transparent and widely valued. To achieve this we have been working with a range of stakeholders to identify their requirements.
We found RICH PICTURES (an element of Soft Systems Methodology) a useful way to get stakeholders with different priorities, perspectives and interests to identify areas where they agreed change was needed. Individually or in small groups we asked participants to draw their impression of curriculum design and delivery at the university. In other words, their REAL WORLD.
Further comments
Comments shared at workshops on the REAL WORLD SITUTION included
“The computer says ‘NO’”
“There are people running full pelt into a brick wall”
“There are constraints on the system imposed by the calendar”
“There is an enormous amount of waste paper” Employer engagement must be a key driver in curriculum design”
“They have a wonderful system that is completely blocked off from the rest”
Some groups went on to identify their IDEAL WORLD of curriculum design and delivery
UG-Flex Project Scope UG-Flex aims to reveal & enhance the University of Greenwich’s curriculum development processes in order to support a more agile and diverse curriculum, underpinned by integrated systems.
Engage With
Essential Requirements le Enab
Flexibil ity nee ds to have boudar ies
Systems are not intuitive
Impa externa ct of lly dri policy and da ven ta and quali requir ty emen ts
ed a We ne on decisionpolicy rsity unive med or on na degree generic ? titles How ca en teac sure qu n we hing al and ity of lear ning ?
ter e ca do w speeds How erent can ff for di study & to? of rd affo we
yers Emplo a swift want se respon
Ca contra n staff cts the ne delivery cessar y flexib ility?
COMMON ISSUES AND AREAS OF CONCERN EMERGED FROM OUR STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION EVENTS
Communications
Training
Info rmal disa netw dv orks who antage thos do who n’t know e to as k
Knowled ge must be share d
Courses finish start and erent diff at many the year. times in
Speed of Study
ce
choi
Synerg y wi and ex th new ist institut ing ion initiativ al es
Some student s have a poo r experience when they app ly/regis ter to study
The primary driver is the University’s strategic aim to sustainably increase efficient & effective flexible & part-time learning provision in a changing market place.
The Six Areas of Investigation
Self Service Interface
Non-Standard Start and Finish Dates
University Policy on Named or Generic Degree Titles
Library of Academic Models
Course Level Admissions
Implementation of University Information Strategy
Validation/Review System External Funding Policy
Resourcing
Awareness Of
VLE Review
THESE CONCERNS AND ISSUES HAVE BEEN ORGANISED INTO SIX THEMES OR “AREAS OF INVESTIGATION”
‘Eagle’ Integrated Programme information
For further information UG-Flex Project Manager: Claire Eustance c.eustance@greenwich.ac.uk r 020 8331 8918
‘Gator’ Marketing CRM system
WE ARE CURRENTLY SHARING THIS OUTLINE OF THE PROJECT’S SCOPE WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND SEEKING FEEDBACK
Website: http://www.gre.ac.uk/offices/ils/cis/ projects/jisc-project Project Blog: http://www.ugflex.blogspot.com/