Faculty
Of
Science.
APPENDIX B
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY 2011-2016
PRIORITY THEMES
1. Focus on inspiring our students and broadening their understanding of academic study within its
wider intellectual context.
We will seek to inspire students on the major issues that key areas of academic study can contribute to and
provide them with opportunities to demonstrate the tools they can use to solve problems. In addition to crossdepartmental initiatives within Faculties, we will evaluate the potential for wider courses and activities. We also
aim to energise student learning through inspiration rather than through the necessity for assessment.
2.The creation of communities of learning.
We will enhance induction and other activities within departments and faculties, bringing all staff and students
together to create a sense of belonging and of common purpose, enabling greater staff / student contact, more
peer and inter-cohort support and mentoring, and a greater sense of ownership of academic agendas.
3. The creation of a significant personal research experience for all students on all programmes.
We will aim to ensure that all students have personal experience of research-led learning through individual
and/or collaborative discipline related work. In doing so we will recognise the varying ways in which research and
research-led learning are interpreted in different areas of study.
4. The creation of an employability strategy for the University, to be adapted by each Faculty to suit
disciplinary contexts, with an identifiable skills spine running through every programme.
This will assist students to: articulate what they can do as a result of their academic study and related or extracurricular activitiesthey have undertaken; identify routes to skills development; and present their skills portfolio in
the most effective manner.
5. The creation of opportunities for all students to learn and develop personally through experiences
outside the university, in particular reflecting the University’s mission as a civic institution.
We will seek to extend our range of opportunities, and embed these within degree programmes wherever
possible. Such opportunities could involve work or clinical placements, community-based volunteering, targeted
outreach activities, enterprise activities, commissioned research projects with industrial, commercial or third sector
partners and a variety of other activities.
Page 1
6. The development of cultural agility, flexibility, and the ability of our graduates to compete strongly
in the global labour market.
We aim to ensure that all students extend their understanding of working with others of different cultures.
Wherever feasible, all students should be offered the opportunity to spend part of their time abroad as part of
their studies. All students should be encouraged and be able to take a modern language or to deepen their
understanding of a second (or third) language they already know.
7.The provision of consistent and effective academic and personal support for student learning and
development
We will seek to enhance the effectiveness of student learning and support by identifying a series of key goals
relating to major issues such as who students are taught and supervised by, the teaching and assessment methods
used, how they are supervised, feedback on progress, personal tutorial support, and inclusive support for students
from diverse backgrounds.
8.Extending the Sheffield Graduate concept
We will explore the value of defining specific attributes in relation to our PGR research students or CPD students.
We will also consider whether the increasing numbers of students who take Sheffield University programmes
without ever physically entering the University have or should have access to sufficient opportunities to gain the
full range of Sheffield Graduate attributes. In addition, to enhance existing provision we will aim to provide
modules/opportunities that are specifically designed to develop the capacity for independent, imaginative and
creative thinking that we view as attributes of the Sheffield Graduate.
9. The maintenance and enhancement of the university’s high reputation for the quality of the
student experience and for the university’s academic standards.
We aim to stay at the forefront of the development of new means of supporting learning, including the use of
learning technologies. We recognise the need to provide effective support to those developing and delivering
teaching as well as to students.
10. The effective and efficient use of available resources.
We will recognise the significance of sustainability within the University’s Strategic Plan, and will work to use all
resources – staff, space, time, equipment etc. – in ways which are effective and efficient.
11. Other
In some areas there are discipline specific Learning and teaching priorities. This section is optional.
Page 2