Academic portfolio review released to staff
A more flexible range of programs that meet student, employer and industry needs was presented to staff in the University of Southern Queensland's (USQ) draft implementation plan for the academic review and renewal project today Monday 17 March 2008 as part of an ongoing consultation process.
Designed to position the University for future student and industry demands, the draft plan includes recommendations for repackaging and rationalising existing programs across its five faculties.
USQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove, said an audit of programs found that 86 percent of students were enrolled in just 14 percent of courses, suggesting many of the University's degrees were past their use by date.
'Students were telling us that many of our programs required change and they wanted more flexibility to study across faculties so they could develop broader skills and knowledge,' Professor Lovegrove said.
'The draft plan released today includes recommendations to ensure the programs we offer next year are in tune with generational wishes and the needs of the 21st Century.'
In achieving this objective the plan recommends a reduction in the number of degrees from 353 to 93 and a decrease in the number of courses from 1592 to 751.
'By decreasing the amount of money we spend on unpopular programs, the University will also be in a position to invest money in the development of new, high-demand degrees.'
Draft recommendations include the introduction of a common first year program in the Faculty of Education and alternative entry options and articulation pathways in the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying.
'The draft plan also recommends the replacement of three separate creative arts degrees (music, visual arts and theatre) with a single degree called the Bachelor of Creative Arts and a new Bachelor of Information Technology (IT), to be offered jointly by the Faculties of Sciences and Business,' Professor Lovegrove said.
In line with industry demand a new set of awards will replace the Bachelor of Science degree with specialisations within a Bachelor of Technology. The award will cater for students wanting to pursue careers in the high demand areas of climatology and sustainability, science studies and molecular and cellular biology all of which have been shown as growth areas by state and federal government.
When the RoP project began in August last year, it recommended a reduction in Full Time Equivalent (FTE) academic and technical staff of approximately 40 by the end 2009. To date the university has been able to achieve a workforce reduction for more than 19 of these positions through the careful management of vacancies as staff left the university.
The draft plan proposes that it may be necessary still for a small and limited reduction in staffing requirements. Once the final implementation plan is approved, the University will discuss options with affected staff and every effort will be made to relocate and retrain these employees.
In some areas the draft plan has recommended that some new positions be created and all existing staff will have the opportunity to be considered for these appointments.
Staff can provide feedback on the draft plan until the close of the consultation period on Wednesday 9 April 2008.
Feedback will then be collated and where appropriate documents amended. The final plan will be approved by the Vice Chancellor on Friday 18 April, with implementation expected to commence from Monday 21 April 2008.
Media Contact: USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2092