Policy Paper

5 Promoting excellence in learning and teaching

• 5.1 National Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

• 5.2 New Australian Awards for University Teaching

• 5.3 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund

• 5.4 International Centres of Excellence

The 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.
 

5.1 National Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

A National Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education will be established to provide a national focus for the enhancement of learning and teaching in Australian higher education institutions and will be a flagship for acknowledging excellence in learning and teaching. The Institute’s responsibilities will include:

• management of a competitive grants scheme for innovation in learning and teaching;

• liaison with the sector about options for articulating and monitoring academic standards;

• improvement of assessment practices throughout the sector, including investigation of the feasibility of a national portfolio assessment scheme;

• facilitation of benchmarking of effective teaching and learning processes at national and international levels;

• development of mechanisms for the dissemination of good practice and professional development in learning and teaching;

• management of a programme for international experts in learning and teaching to visit Australian institutions and the development of reciprocal relationships with international jurisdictions;

• coordination of a revised version of the Australian Awards for University Teaching, including the Awards presentation event; and

• secretariat functions to the Australian Universities Teaching Committee.

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 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 existing programme funds to establish the Institute in 2004.

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5.2 New Australian Awards for University Teaching

The 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:

• 210 awards valued at $10,000 each;

• 40 awards valued at $25,000 each; and

• The Prime Minister’s award for ‘Teacher of the Year’ valued at $50,000.

Teachers in public higher education institutions will be eligible for these awards.
 

5.3 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund

A 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 of 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 informs 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, including student progress and graduate employment outcomes. These indicators will be developed in negotiation with the sector.

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5.4 International Centres of Excellence

The 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 provide further support for 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:

• develop formal networks with strategic overseas counterparts including research, government, education, business, media and non government organisations and experts with relevant knowledge;

• exchange staff and students for consultancy services and research;

• conduct collaborative projects, information exchanges, joint conferences, workshops and discussion forums on policy issues related to specific areas, and technology transfer;

• diffuse expertise in education in schools and the tertiary sector where appropriate; and

• support innovative approaches to research, teaching and learning at all levels.

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.

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