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Archived PublicationsFact Sheet (for latest Fact Sheets please go to Fact Sheets 2004)8. Promoting Excellence in Learning and TeachingThe strength of the Australian higher education sector will depend on fostering an environment of excellence in the full range of activities undertaken by institutions. Although teaching is recognised as a core activity of all higher education institutions, current Commonwealth funding, internal staff promotion practices and institutional prestige tend to reinforce the importance of research performance rather than teaching performance. Rewards and incentives for excellence in learning and teaching will promote the overall quality of the sector. Excellence in learning and teaching will be placed alongside the delivery of research excellence as a valued contribution to Australia’s knowledge systems. There is no intention for any Australian university to become ‘teaching-only’. An increased focus on learning and teaching will foster diversity and help to ensure the ongoing high quality of the Australian higher education sector. Learning and Teaching Performance FundA Learning and Teaching Performance Fund of $54.7 million in 2006, increasing to $83.8 million in 2007, will be established to reward those institutions that best demonstrate excellence in learning and teaching. The Fund signals the Commonwealth’s commitment to learning and teaching and will support institutions that choose to focus on excellence in learning and teaching for undergraduates. Learning and Teaching Performance Fund allocations will be determined in two stages. In the first stage, institutions will be required to demonstrate a strong strategic commitment to learning and teaching. Institutions must have a current institutional learning and teaching plan or strategy. Evidence of systematic support for professional development in learning and teaching for sessional and full-time academic staff must be provided. Evidence must be provided that probation and promotion practices and policies that include effectiveness as a teacher as a criterion for those academics with a teaching load, are in place. There should also be systematic student evaluation of teaching and subjects that inform probation and promotion decisions for academic positions where the academic has a teaching load or expectation of a teaching load. These strategies, practices, policies and student evaluation results would be made publicly available on an institution’s website. Once eligibility for funds is established through the first stage, institutional performance in learning and teaching will be assessed using a range of indicators, which will include student progress and graduate employment outcomes. These indicators will be developed in consultation with the sector. National Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher EducationA National Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education will be established as a national focus for the enhancement of learning and teaching in Australian higher education institutions. The Institute’s responsibilities will include:
The Institute will be overseen by the Australian Universities Teaching Committee (AUTC) and be run by professional staff with expertise in learning and teaching in higher education. The AUTC will continue to advise the Minister on the allocation, management and outcomes of any grants scheme and activities administered through the National Institute, including the revised Australian Awards for University Teaching. The Institute will receive $21.9 million per year from 2006, which will comprise $2.5 million for administration and $19.4 million for grants and other activities. Funding will be allocated from within existing programme funds to establish the Institute in 2004. New Australian Awards for University TeachingThe Australian Awards for University Teaching will be enhanced to heighten the status of teaching and support the centrality of teaching in institutional missions. The number of rewards to teachers who demonstrate excellence in teaching will be increased, at a cost of $2.7 million per year from 2006. The new annual awards will include:
International Centres of ExcellenceThe Commonwealth will provide seed funding of $35.5 million for four international centres of excellence in Asia Pacific Studies and Diplomacy, Mathematics Education, Water Resources Management, Sports Science and Administration, and support international activities of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism. These will become hubs for exchange and development in Australian higher education, drawing on international linkages and expertise. The Centres will:
Seed funding will also be provided to support a National Language Centre, which will address the need among Australian businesses, professionals, teachers, and people working in the tourist industry for specialist immersion language and business culture training. The Centre will make a significant contribution to our effectiveness in building relationships with the countries that are our major trading partners. The reforms outlined in this Fact Sheet are subject to the passage of Commonwealth legislation. Full implementation details for the reforms will be provided over the coming months. Contact DetailsMedia inquiries:
Other inquiries:
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Any comments or
queries should be sent to:
highered@dest.gov.au
Department of Education, Science and Training
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