The Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Micro-credentials principles were also endorsed. These key policy-related documents are published on Policy Central.

With the Principles endorsed and policy approved, work now moves to the faculties to commence Coursework Suite Renewal. The aim of this important stage in the program of work is to renew our course offering to ensure our study pathways are clearer and easier for students to navigate, and to offer them greater flexibility around course options so they are set up for a successful future.

Here is some information about how the University is approaching Coursework Suite Renewal:

Faculty roadshows and FSQC training
Last week the Curriculum Architecture Project Team ran a series of introductory faculty ‘roadshow’ sessions (with Executive Deans, senior administrators  and representatives from Quality and Standards and Learning and Teaching) as well as training sessions for Faculty Standards and Quality Committee (FSQC) members and course convenors. At these sessions, the CA Project Team provided essential information needed for key decision makers to take action over the next few months through Coursework Suite Renewal. The sessions also covered the workflow for the Coursework Suite Renewal submissions and the support that will be on offer throughout this important phase of the Curriculum Transformation program of work.

Faculty Curriculum Architecture Implementation Groups
Created and managed by the Executive Dean, Associate Deans, Quality and Standards and Learning and Teaching, the faculties will be supported by Faculty Curriculum Architecture Implementation Groups who will provide critical support to academic staff throughout renewal, in the areas of quality assurance, process management, compliance and good design. They will also be the first point of contact for faculty renewal Q&As and any updates from CA project team to faculties.

Shared understanding of cross-faculty approach
The roadshows also encouraged faculties to embrace a shared spirit and understanding of the guiding principles around decision-making, as they move through renewal. These encompassed:

• Do what is best for students
• Keep within the intent of the principles
• Share what you learn with other faculties
• Don’t ‘jam it in just because you can’
• Get familiar with the Course Design Guides, as they outline the shared intent
• Involving students or industry/external advisory boards partners in the decision making is encouraged but not mandated.

Q&A’s gathered from faculties throughout the Coursework Suite Renewal phase will be shared regularly via This Week and Teche so keep your eye out for those as they are published over the coming weeks.

This information was first published in Teche 3 August 2018. Click here for the full blog post.

Putting students firmly and authentically at the heart of Macquarie’s curriculum transformation journey, Professor Dowton reinforced the importance of delivering students a curriculum that gives them complete clarity of their study pathway from start to finish and offers them course options that will equip them for the jobs of tomorrow.

Handing over to Professor Mariella Herberstein (Chair of Academic Senate) and Professor Sean Brawley (Pro Vice-Chancellor, Programs and Pathways) staff were then taken through feedback gathered via the recent all-staff survey, where undergraduate and postgraduate draft principles were shared for comment. The final principles will shape the curriculum architecture policy that will be submitted to Academic Senate for approval on 24 July.

Continuing in the spirit of collegiality and transparency that underpins the program of work, Kevin Jameson (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic) addressed a number of questions that had been asked throughout the session by a live poll, promising that any questions not answered at the event would be addressed in the coming days (see below for a link to a PDF of those Q&As). He also outlined the next stage in the curriculum transformation process which is focussed around renewing our course offerings for students so we deliver a 2020 curriculum that is fit for purpose in a changing world.

Useful links 

View the recording of the Curriculum Architecture Town Hall > 

View Curriculum Architecture Town Hall presentation slides >

View Revised Undergraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles – Principles Only >

View Revised Postgraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles – Principles Only >

View Revised Micro Curriculum Architecture Principles – Principles Only >

View Undergraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles (Final Working Paper Draft, with revisions) >

View Postgraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles (Final Working Paper Draft, with revisions) >

Your questions answered

We received 92 responses through POLLEV during the Curriculum Architecture Town Hall Meeting. We’ve de-identified the questions in the interests of privacy, combined similarly worded questions, and arranged them by topic.

Curriculum Architecture Town Hall Questions Answered >

Naming competitions – chance to win $250 Macquarie centre vouchers!

Professor Herberstein and Professor Brawley also announced a competition, open to all staff, to name our new postgraduate Micro course offering as well as our new Student Management program:

Name our Micro course

In our disrupted age employers and employees alike are well aware of the need to seek out new learning opportunities. One recent development in this space has been the growth in microcredentials through the completion of a single micro unit or a micro course. The new principles see MQ commencing a new and exciting engagement in this learning space. In preparation we need to come up with a name for our 20cp Postgraduate micro courses.

A note for entrants – due Australian Qualifications Framework Requirements, if your entry contains the word ‘Master’ it can only be considered for a chance to win if it appears as one-word e.g. MicroMasters not Micro Masters. At this stage, Macquarie will only be offering microcredentials courses at postgraduate level.

Send submissions to chair.senate@mq.edu.au by 3 August for your chance to win a $250 Macquarie Centre voucher.

Name our Student Management Program   

What do we call the new Student Management Program? The Student Management Program comprises a number of projects designed to improve the way we manage student and curriculum administration within the University. For curriculum, this includes the way the University governs, maintains and publishes our curriculum; as well as the way students engage with our curriculum. For student administration, this covers the end-to-end student journey from enrolment all the way through to progression/graduation.

The program specifically includes the selection and implementation of a new Curriculum Management System (CMS) and a new Student Management System (SMS) which will replace our existing Webforms and AMIS systems. The program also includes the modernisation of business processes and practices to offer a greatly improved experience for both staff and students.

A note for entrants – ideally, the program name should be one word and easy to pronounce.

Send submissions to student.management.program@mq.edu.au by 3 August for your chance to win a $250 Macquarie Centre voucher. Winners will be announced 10 August.