Conference paper
Surveys unite to provide current status of assurance of learning in higher education
Research and Development in Higher Education: The Shape of Higher Education, pp.235-247
Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Annual Conference, 39th (Fremantle, Australia, 04-Jul-2016–07-Jul-2016)
Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)
2016
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of assurance of learning (AoL) practices across Australia in the context of a comparison of two national surveys. AoL is a quality enhancement process used in Higher Education (Lawson et al., 2014), defined as the process by which learning outcomes are measured against specific course goals (Hall & Kro, 2006). Progress has been demonstrated over 5 years through increased awareness of AoL through legislation (Australian Government, 2014) and improved practice supported by national projects (Lawson, Scheepers &Taylor, 2015) but further work is still required. The question of how to support AoL implementation through cultural change to increase staff engagement and resources such as professional development is important. The authors compared data from two national surveys administered to the higher education sector in 2014-15, supporting the quantitative survey findings with qualitative participant statements. Lawson et al.'s (2015) Quality Enhancement project (QE) has found significant positive changes in AoL practice since 2010 in Business Education but, despite this, there are still areas for development including collaborative curriculum design. The 2014-2015 Quality Pursuit (QP) survey verified these results, looking more broadly to the sector and their data showed only 54.6% of respondents are engaged in AoL for quality enhancement. This paper will explore both the survey data and discuss echanisms to support practice through change management and professional development.
Details
- Title
- Surveys unite to provide current status of assurance of learning in higher education
- Authors
- R Nash (Author) - University of TasmaniaR Lawson (Author) - University of TasmaniaA Williams (Author) - University of TasmaniaJ Kelder (Author) - University of TasmaniaMargarietha J Scheepers (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringT Taylor (Author) - University of Technology Sydney
- Contributors
- M Davis (Editor)A Goody (Editor)
- Publication details
- Research and Development in Higher Education: The Shape of Higher Education, pp.235-247
- Conference details
- Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Annual Conference, 39th (Fremantle, Australia, 04-Jul-2016–07-Jul-2016)
- Publisher
- Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA)
- Date published
- 2016
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2016 Rosie Nash, Romy Lawson, Anne-Marie Williams, Jo-Anne Kelder, Margarietha Scheepers and Tracy Taylor. The authors assign to HERDSA and educational non-profit institutions a non-exclusive license to use this document for personal use and in courses of instruction provided that the article is used in full and this copyright statement is reproduced. The authors also grant a non-exclusive license to HERDSA to publish this document in full on the World Wide Web (prime site and mirrors) and within the portable electronic format HERDSA 2016 conference proceedings. Any other usage is prohibited without the express permission of the authors.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries; USC Business School - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451086002621
- Output Type
- Conference paper
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