The Internationalisation of the Aberdeen Curriculum

Rachel Sandison RACHEL SANDISON

Director of Marketing, Student Recruitment and Alumni Relations

1. THE UNIVERSITY
Ancient university founded in 1495 Around 16,000 students 20% from overseas Top 150 in the world Over 650 degree programmes and 140 taught Masters Research intensive

2. CREF BACKGROUND
Curriculum Reform Objectives
To make our approach distinctive within the UK and aligned with developments in some of the worlds leading universities;
To improve Universitys international position

To enhance the learning experience; and to enhance disciplinary study;

To produce better informed, more rounded and more intellectually flexible graduates; and

To design programmes which are more attractive to students; more relevant to employers; and more relevant to wider societal needs.

3. EVIDENCE BASE
A desk study of the strategic context, including international research and
Bologna External consultations with a wide range of interest groups Internal consultations and feedback on the reports International benchmarking against other world-class institutions Harvard, Yale, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Western Australia Market research on the views of applicants, parents and employers Surveys of guidance teachers and students

4. GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES
Academically excellent In-depth discipline knowledge; Breadth of knowledge;

Contextual understanding
Critical thinkers and effective communicators Synthesis and analysis; Informed argument and reasoning; Diverse set of transferable and generic skills Open to learning and personal development Openness to, and interest in, lifelong learning; Self reflection Active global citizens

Appreciation of ethical and moral issues, social and cultural diversity,

and enterprise and leadership

5. KEY PROPOSALS
A five year framework with exit qualifications at all years; and flexible entry

to and exit from any year. A series of Enhanced Study options to produce better informed, more rounded and more intellectually flexible graduates (special new Sixth Century Courses; Sustained Study in languages and business; or greater choice). The development of flexible learning spaces. Enhanced student support: pre-entry partnerships with schools and colleges; enhanced induction on arrival; and continuing support through a one stop shop. The development of a Co-curriculum (work placements, study overseas, voluntary work and so on) and enhanced engagement with employers.

6. ENHANCED STUDY
Students are allowed a free choice of

Enhanced Study for 25% of years 1 and 2; and 12.5% of years 3 and 4.

There are three types of Enhanced Study:

Sixth Century Courses Sustained Study Programmes Discipline Breadth Courses

7. SIXTH CENTURY COURSES

Sixth Century Courses are specially-designed: to consider and contrast different approaches to knowledge and different methods of enquiry and, normally, examining real world problems

and to show how different disciplines work, to introduce and compare the fundamental perspectives of a number of disciplines and, normally, apply these to real world issues and problems.
For 2010, there were 11 courses (most in both half sessions):
Oceans and Society Science and the Media The Mind Machine Natural World Mankind in the Universe The Digital Society Humans and Other Animals Sustainability Fearsome Engines Risk in Society

The Health and Wealth of Nations

8. SUSTAINED STUDY
Sustained Study Programmes enable a student to undertake intensive study for two years in a subject which is not part of their core degree programme. Some are entirely new; some are built from existing courses. There are 13 SSPs: Six modern languages (French, Gaelic, German, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese) Business; Computing Biblical languages; Latin; The Classical Tradition Conservation and the Environment

9. DISCIPLINE BREADTH
Subject to normal degree regulations, a student may choose ANY course as Discipline Breadth, if it is NOT:
A compulsory course within a degree programme; A restricted option with a degree programme (students must choose from a prescribed list); or A pre-requisite or a co-requisite for one of the above.

10. THE CO-CURRICULUM

STAR Award Work Experience Placements Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Student Tutoring Scheme Study Abroad - Recommendation 39: All students should have an opportunity to study overseas, if only as part of a short field trip. The University should adopt a target for the percentage of students who study overseas for different lengths of time.

11. THE DIFFERENCE

Internationally-recognised university in the vanguard of education developments
Our graduates are better equipped for the 21st century More choice; wider opportunities; better support and greater flexibility Enhanced student experience - 270 million investment www.abdn.ac.uk/thedifference

5. THE CREATIVE

5. THE CREATIVE

5. THE CREATIVE

12. SUCCESSES
Key Performance Indicators: - student enquiries and applications - student registrations - student visits - web traffic - increased event attendance - enhanced profile/visibility within the sector Results for 2010: - 32% increase in ug applications for 2010 entry - 30% increase in firm acceptances - over 15,000 unique views of microsite - 33% increase in on-campus visits - Press coverage

13. SUCCESSES
All programmes still running for 2011-12

Aberdeen has bucked the trend for Language study in the UK numbers continue to increase. Around 200 non-language students studying a language
Since implementation the University has continued to engage with other institutions: January 2011 saw the inaugural meeting of the Curriculum Innovation Network (jointly organised by Aberdeen and Southampton); the second (European focussed) meeting took place in September 2011 in Belfast; and the third (international) to take place in Brunei in 2012

14. GOING FORWARD

Further stakeholder analysis and evaluation - student applications quality, quantity, diversity - student satisfaction and completion rates - popularity of new courses - graduate employment rates Embedding CREF identity across the institution to ensure consistency of messaging N.B Office of External Affairs Continue to review and develop campaign Postgraduate audience

15. ANY QUESTIONS?

www.abdn.ac.uk/thedifference