Reflections on 21C Curriculum Project

2017 has been a busy and productive year for the 21C Curriculum Project. As the year closes, learn about the curriculum activities and conversations that have been stimulating the Western community.

Since Executive endorsed the 21C project scope in early 2017 the year has seen some real significant developments including,

  • Planning and Analysis in March produced a landscape report(opens in a new window) addressing the state of Western’s course and curriculum profile.
  • Drawing on the insights of that report, in July, Schools finalized the scope of their Curriculum Pilots(opens in a new window), which saw them explore simpler, flexible and more distinctive curriculum architectures and signature learning elements to embed partnership pedagogies.
  • The release of the online Curriculum Mapping Tool(opens in a new window) and the Course Profiling Tool (staff login required) supported Schools in analysing their curriculum structures. For enquiries about these Tools contact Sharon Short, Project Officer.
  • The first meeting of the Curriculum Scholars Network(opens in a new window) took place in August - a kind of maker-space and ideas incubator for the Leads of each Curriculum Pilot.
  • At the same time, an Access Partnership with the Higher Education Academy set in motion the Educational Fellowship Scheme Western Sydney(opens in a new window), a strategy to recognise and reward the leadership efforts of staff involved in Curriculum Pilots.
  • In September, the 21C project recruited 8 students as curriculum partners(opens in a new window) to provoke new questions about the nature of the future of work and society through the Future of Work and Curriculum Disruption forums(opens in a new window) - held in November and December.
  • At the November forum, the Flagship Curriculum Project(opens in a new window) initiative was launched - a funding and support scheme that emphasizes curriculum partnership and co-creation in four ways: through co-design, co-development, co-delivery, and co-credentialing.

Each of these activities has stimulated different kinds of curriculum challenges and conversations among the Western community this year, and they have enabled staff and students to choose how they would like to be part of the 21C project.

In 2018, there will be additional opportunities to get involved – in particular the Flagship Curriculum Project(opens in a new window). Look out for invitations to come along to events and network meetings, and suggest ideas to us that will make a real difference to students’ future success.

For further information about the 21C Project and its initiatives, contact David Roach, 21C Project Manager.

Learning Futures.NOW. Issue 3.

-November 2017-