In preparation for the new curriculum in 2020 Macquarie has taken another step towards delivering a transformed student learning experience by 2020 with the removal of People and Planet from the 2019 student curriculum.

The “People and Planet” (P&P) unit was introduced into the curriculum in 2009 to give undergraduate students the opportunity to engage with a broad range of topics as a component of their studies. The Learning and Teaching Framework project in 2014/15 re-examined P&P curriculum requirements and it was agreed that there was an opportunity for us to work towards introducing a new approach for students in 2017.

In line with the wider Curriculum Transformation work that kicked off earlier this year, a proposal to incorporate P&P requirements into the new architecture’s Flexible Zone for undergraduate course was tabled. After extensive consultation with the University community the change was approved by Academic Senate on 4 September 2018.

This Week talked to subject matter experts Professor Sean Brawley, Pro Vice-Chancellor Programs and Pathways, and Professor Mariella Herberstein, Chair of Academic Senate, to get a bit more detail…

Why have we removed the P&P unit from the 2019 curriculum for commencing students?
Students starting their course in 2019 will spend most of their time studying within the new curriculum architecture, so making them meet the People and Planet requirement in 2019 was deemed unnecessary. Mandatory completion of this requirement could also become a source of frustration for students who may like to choose their study topics from within their Flexible Zones. Removing the P&P requirement for 2019 commencing students will aid with their transition to the new architecture in 2020.

Where does this ‘fit’ within the Macquarie curriculum transformation story?
Our new Curriculum Architecture empowers students to have greater ownership of their course and study pathway and reinforces our core belief that students are co-creators in their own learning. The creation of the Flexible Zone and absorption of P&P requirements into that zone, allows a student much greater freedom to decide where they want to focus their learning. For example, they can choose to study a topic in the Flexible Zone that offers them more depth to their current area of study or they may wish to broaden their learning by choosing units unrelated to their major or specialisation. It’s up to them.

What does this mean for students?
* Students commencing in 2019 will experience a smoother transition to the new curriculum in 2020.
* Students who complete their studies in 2019 will continue to meet the current requirements, including People and Planet.
* Most students who complete their studies in 2020 or beyond will transfer to the new curriculum and any already completed People and Planet unit/s will count towards their Flexible Zone. Depending on whether the course is a generalist or a specialist degree the flexible zone could be as much as eight units.

Macquarie has now commenced our communication with existing students regarding the curriculum change in 2020. See here.

More to come in 2019.