Strategic Plan 2007-2010
In the University's strategic plan, Strategic Plan 2007-2010, Learning and Teaching is one of the pillars supporting the University's goal of 1:5:40. 1:5:40 has become the colloquial shorthand for:
- Clear leadership as Australia's premier university
- Acknowledgement and ranking as one of the top five universities in the region, and
- Recognition and ranking in the top forty universities around the world
Learning and Teaching - creative teaching, quality learning
As a large, comprehensive, public institution, the University of Sydney provides a liberal undergraduate education and preparation for the full suite of professional qualifications and postgraduate study. We intend to sustain steady growth in the ratio of postgraduate to undergraduate students and continue to attract substantial numbers of high quality local and international students.
A distinctive feature of study at the University of Sydney is its insistence on research-led teaching, both in content and delivery. Flexible modes of delivery, in keeping with innovation in information and communication technologies and student expectations, will ensure excellent learning experiences and outcomes.
Our priorities are to:
- Continue to attract the best students and to provide them with incentives and support through bursaries and scholarships
- Provide quality environments that encourage independent learning, peer interaction and effective skill development
- Offer academically challenging and professionally relevant programs
- Continue to adapt and respond to student feedback and employer and community needs
- Support articulation of our undergraduate programs with graduate-entry professional programs
- Cultivate cultural diversity through curriculum development, and
- Recognise and reward teaching excellence
By 2010, we will have achieved a vibrant and well-resourced learning environment which has aligned our student profile with our strategic direction. Physical infrastructure and technical support will be appropriate to our learning and teaching priorities.
Standards of performance and benchmarks
- Continuous improvement in quality learning, reflected in outstanding student performance and also reflected in retention, progression and completion rates
- Improving student performance, reflected in high graduate employment rates and starting salaries
- Improving excellence in teaching, reflected in continuous improvement in student assessment of teaching quality
- Quality assurance and improvement, reflected in sustained and improved performance against quality criteria as set by Academic Board.
- Continuous improvement in research-led and teaching, reflected in an increase in the proportium of teaching staff who are research active
- Continued growth in national and international accreditation of professional and academic programs
- Maintained or improving student-staff ratios