Learning and Teaching Centre

GraduationGraduate Capabilities

Background

Why Graduate Capabilities?

Macquarie University staff are already very familiar with the generic skills agenda, having first engaged with the notion of assisting students to develop such skills in the 1990's. Since then there have been a number of attempts to support academics to embed skills development within their programs alongside knowledge acquisition, with the ultimate goal of producing graduates with particular characteristics. Despite such efforts, knowledge development often remains the major goal of the curriculum, with skills development seen as something to be addressed in addition to real learning.

A capability approach to curriculum renewal refocus the curriculum to developing graduates who have the ability to integrate knowledge, skills, personal qualities and understanding in their personal and professional lives. For a more detailed discussion on capability, download the discussion paper: Reframing the Discourse: A Graduate Capability Framework for Macquarie.

What is Curriculum Mapping?

Curriculum mapping enables staff to compare the learning outcomes, content, teaching and learning activities and assessment of units and programs to identify where and how the elements of Graduate Capabilities are taught, practised and assessed. At the heart of this process is a focus on an aligned curriculum. Curriculum Mapping has two interrelated elements:

  • One is to map the alignment within units, in relation to unit goals, teaching philosophy, stated learning outcomes, teaching approaches and learning activities, content and assessment tasks. Undertaking this process allows staff and students to understand the relationship between these elements. Importantly, it stimulates curriculum conversations which enables staff to decide how they might strengthen this articulation through a curriculum renewal process.
  • The second outcome is a map of an entire program in terms of how individual units contribute to the overall goals of the degree. This involves investigating how each unit within the program contributes to the development of the skills, understandings and disciplinary / professional expertise that we believe enable them to be Capable Graduates, A whole program map allows a clearer sense of where gaps, overlaps or over-concentrations exist in terms of developing, practising and assessing these broader capabilities.

A curriculum mapping process can reveal opportunities for better alignment between aspects of curriculum design, for the introduction of new teaching and learning or assessment activities, or for a more effective articulation of aims, outcomes and activities within units and across programs.

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Aims

  • Raise awareness of the concept of graduate capabilites throughout the community as a framework for defining the "Macquarie graduate" and reviewing and renewing Macquarie curricula
  • Develop a graduate capability framework for Macquarie that can be interpreted locally and implemented within the curricula
  • Contribute to the design brief for the curriculum mapping tool, its purpose who will be using it and how they will be using it and any desired outputs
  • Oversee the deveopment/ purchase of the mapping tool required to support curriculum review and renewal at Macquarie
  • Oversee the curriculum mapping process of Macquarie programs

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Milestones

Date Milestones

April '08
  • Enhanced understanding of capabilities as a framework for curriculum development and renewal
  • First draft of a capabilities as a framework for curriculum development and renewal
  • Enhanced understanding of the perception of need in relation to curriculum mapping at MQ
  • Enhanced understanding of the extent to which MQ programs / units are aligned
  • Initial needs analysis complete

Sept '08
  • Agreed acceptance of capabilities as a framework for curriculum development
  • Adoption of MQ capabilities framework
  • Understanding of the pedagogical and curricula needs for mapping tool devt
  • Pilot mapping process undertaken

Apr '09
  • Curriculum mapping goals, process and outcomes well understood across campus
  • Curriculum renewal (redevelopment and alignment) planned as strategic projects within faculties
  • Curriculum mapping tool developed and trialled across all MQ program areas

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The Working Parties

Graduate Capabilities

  • Ms Catherine Rytmeister, LTC
  • A/Prof Jan Orrell , LTC
  • Ms Agnes Bosanquet , LTC
  • Dr Maria Dyball, EFS
  • Mr Roger Engel, ELS
  • Dr Denis Crowdy, Humanities
  • Dr Ben Searle, L&P
  • A/Prof Donald Ross, MGSM
  • Dr Cynthia Townley, SCMP
  • Ms Leanne Denby, ARIES
  • Ms Serene Lin-Stephens, CDC & Postgraduate representative

Curriculum Mapping

  • Ms Catherine Rytmeister, LTC
  • A/Prof Jan Orrell , LTC
  • Ms Agnes Bosanquet , LTC
  • A/Prof Pamela Coutts, ACES
  • Dr Leigh Wood, EFS
  • Prof Richard Howitt, ELS
  • Mr Aron Downey, ELS
  • Ms Penny Wilson, ELS
  • Prof Graham Town, ICS
  • Mr Daniel McGill, ICS
  • Dr Steve Cassidy, ICS
  • Dr Nicole Graham, Law

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Contact

For further information, please contact:

Ms Cathy Rytmeister
Project Leader
Email: cathy.rytmeister@mq.edu.au
Tel: 02 9850 9719

A/Prof Jan Orrell
Email: janice.orrell@mq.edu.au
Tel: 02 9850 4421

Ms Agnes Bosanquet
Email: agnes.bosanquet@mq.edu.au
Tel: 02 9850 9790