The Campus Live ANZ 2023 event, held on the Turrbal land at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus, provided a platform for education leaders in the region to engage in discussions and debates surrounding the current issues shaping the sector.
A range of compelling topics emerged during the event, including the evolving landscape of assessment in light of readily available artificial intelligence, the post-Covid recovery of campus life and the return to in-person learning, and the crucial pursuit of a more diverse, equitable, accessible, and culturally aware campus environment. At the front of mind was the Australian Universities Accord process, which has the potential to redefine the role of universities in Australia and the sector’s commitment to its citizens.
ANU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Grady Venville provided her insights during a panel discussion on global citizenship, the importance of place and the university campus, and higher education’s role in lifting the horizons of our students. Professor Venville also offered a glimpse into the strategic initiatives within the Academic and Student & University Experience portfolios, highlighting their role in cultivating a distinct and exceptional learning experience as part of the ANU Strategic Plan.
The notion of distinctive experiences permeated numerous sessions, exploring how institutions in the sector can differentiate themselves by leveraging their strengths, proximity to communities, and emerging market opportunities to foster a diverse ecosystem of post-secondary options.
At ANU, the Academic Projects team is actively engaged in defining the distinct academic experience for students through refining three key graduate attributes: Insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ knowledge and Indigenous perspectives, Expertise for Critical Thinking, and the Capability to employ discipline-based knowledge in transdisciplinary problem-solving. These attributes serve as a commitment to ANU students, ensuring that our undergraduate degrees equip students with disciplinary expertise and a versatile skillset to navigate the challenges they may face in their future careers.
Looking ahead to the second half of 2023, the Academic Projects (Staff only SharePoint) team aims to foster broader conversations about the Curriculum Framework, Graduate Attributes, and the Learning & Teaching Strategy through a series of seminars, roadshows and workshops, fostering a shared understanding and enhancing our capacity to deliver on a bold and distinctive learning environment.
For more information about the THE Campus Live program, visit: THE Campus Live ANZ (Brisbane)
To discuss your great idea around the future of learning at ANU, contact Academic.Project@anu.edu.au or the Centre for Learning and Teaching.
June 2023