Learning and Teaching Strategy
2011 – 2015
(approved by Senate on 3 February 2011)
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
Learning and Teaching Strategy
Foreword
Our current Learning and Teaching Strategy builds on principles established in the
University Learning and Teaching Strategy 2006-2010 and on the progress that has been
made since 2006. The Strategy is central to the maintenance and enhancement of our
intellectually stimulating learning environment that delivers the truly excellent student
experience that this University is justifiably proud of.
A particular strength of the Strategy is the extent to which it has evolved through
consultation and discussion with the staff and students of the University. The University is
indebted to the many individuals who have contributed to the development of the Strategy
and who, on a day-to-day basis, continue to support its aims and objectives.
Professor Frank Coton
Vice-Principal (Learning & Teaching)
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Strategy architecture
The University of Glasgow aims to enhance its position as one of the world’s great broad-based,
research intensive universities. Our mission is to undertake world leading research and to
provide an intellectually stimulating learning environment thus delivering benefits to culture,
society and the economy (www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_180610_en.pdf). This success
depends on close synergistic and mutually supportive core strategies in Research,
Internationalisation and Learning and Teaching and adherence to our core values of
Integrity, Credibility, Openness and Success.
The Learning and Teaching Strategy is central to the maintenance and enhancement of an
intellectually stimulating learning environment that delivers a truly excellent student
experience.
Our vision for Learning & Teaching at the University of Glasgow remains, as originally set
out in 2006, of a motivated, vibrant, diverse community of learners and teachers working in
partnership to develop confident, skilled and highly valued graduates equipped for a
knowledge based society, enabled by a learning culture that values teaching and is shaped
by our research rich environment.
This Strategy sets out how we shall continue to progress towards this vision. Our objectives
are built on principles that align to our core values and which define the learning and
teaching culture in the University of Glasgow. Above all is our commitment to providing an
excellent student learning experience.
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Guiding Principles
The Learning and Teaching Strategy 2006-2010 had, as its basis, the five guiding principles
of Enquiry-led learning, Excellence in Teaching, Access and Opportunity, Equality and
Diversity and International Experience. In going forward, we are building on and refining
these principles to reflect more closely our core values and the progress we have already
made in enhancing our learning and teaching environment. In particular, we will explicitly
recognize the importance of our strong tradition of research-led teaching and growing culture
of research interdisciplinarity in fostering investigative learning amongst our students. We
remain committed to fostering and promoting good relations amongst our students and staff
and making reasonable adjustments where required. Our learning and campus environment
will be safe and promote respect for all. The University of Glasgow is a global university
and, as such, internationalisation is fundamental to our core mission. This has been
recognized through the introduction of an internationalisation strategy that is supportive of
our aspirations in research and learning and teaching.
Our guiding principles will be:
Excellence
Our students will be educated by a diverse group of teachers recognised for their teaching
excellence and their abilities to facilitate effective student learning, and who engage students
in innovative, relevant and challenging curricula which draw on the research activity of our
staff. The learning experience will be enhanced by physical and virtual infrastructure of the
highest quality and excellent learning resources that are targeted to address our diverse
learning community’s needs and to provide them with flexibility in what, how, when and
where they learn.
Fostering Investigative learning through Research-led teaching
Our research activity informs student learning in a myriad of ways which deliver a high
quality student learning experience. We want our students to have a rewarding and fulfilling
time at the University, and to provide them with a rich learning environment. We will engage
them with teaching and approaches to learning which support their development as subject
specialists, reflective learners, independent and critical thinkers and encourage their
awareness of and confidence in their skills, knowledge and understanding. We will promote
a learning environment that develops and values these attributes.
Inclusion, access and opportunity
Our student community will be a diverse group of individuals from a broad geographical and
socio-economic base, who are recruited to the University on the basis of ability and potential
to thrive in our learning environment and capitalise on the exceptional opportunities it affords
them.
A Truly Supportive Environment
We will provide a truly supportive learning and teaching environment, for staff and students
alike, free from discrimination, harassment and unfair treatment and that promotes ethical
and social awareness. Staff will be encouraged, given developmental opportunities and
provided with infrastructural support to enhance their teaching. We will ensure that
exemplary performance in teaching is appropriately recognized in our promotions and
recognition and reward procedures. We will continue to evolve our student support systems
and infrastructure in partnership with the Students’ Representative Council and will
maximise the benefits of new developments in our academic advisory system and student
facing data systems.
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Strategic objectives
The strategic objectives build upon and recognize progress against those in the 2006-2010
strategy
Shaping the University Learning Community
1.
To offer a culturally diverse learning environment that prepares students for local
and global employment and citizenship and an experience built upon a wide range
of world class-support services (an objective shared with our Internationalisation
Strategy
http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/internationalisation/internationalstrategy/ )
2.
To enhance our position as a leading postgraduate university through further
development and expansion of our portfolio of high quality, relevant taught
postgraduate programmes to complement our extensive undergraduate provision.
3.
Via a robust, transparent and fair admissions policy, to attract the best talent,
irrespective of background, to engage in and successfully complete their study at
this University. In doing so, to remain the leading University of choice for talented
students from under-represented groups.
Excelling in Learning and Teaching
4.
To ensure that staff have excellent skills in teaching, in motivating and supporting
student learning, have opportunities to continue to develop and improve their skills
throughout their careers and that their excellence is recognised, celebrated and
rewarded.
5.
To continually develop our assessment and feedback methods to be effective in
promoting student learning, and efficient in their use of staff time.
6.
To enhance the quality of our learning and teaching and uphold our academic
standards while streamlining wherever possible the associated administrative
processes.
Delivering an Excellent Student Experience
7.
To continue to build on our strong student-staff partnership to promote student
engagement with learning and enhance student success
8.
To embed and make transparent within our programmes, and throughout the
student experience, the opportunities for the development of attributes that enhance
the personal and professional development of our students so preparing them for
global employment and citizenship (This is again linked to our Internationalisation
Strategy
http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/internationalisation/internationalstrategy/ )
9.
To continually improve our physical and virtual learning space to be a robust,
accessible, and sustainable platform for innovation in our provision and the
enhancement of student learning.
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Prioritisation within the Strategic Objectives:
The strategic objectives outlined above encompass a wide range of activity within the
University. In many areas, a culture of enhancement is already embedded in our processes
and progress is being monitored by the functional committees of Senate. There are,
however, areas of current priority in the short term where particular emphasis will be placed.
These are
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Student Retention
Assessment and Feedback
Recruitment and Admissions
Embedding Graduate Attribute development in our provision
Sustainable Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Growth
Innovation in our Provision
Work is underway in each of these areas, in some cases as part of a structured plan, and
some further actions have been identified during the Enhancement-Led Institutional Review
(ELIR) process. These activities will be evolved in the coming months into a structured, 18month, action plan with specified responsibilities, timelines and reporting requirements for
each of the priority areas.
Performance Indicators
The following indicators are embedded in the University Strategic Plan and will be used to
monitor progress against the Learning and Teaching Strategy
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Student Satisfaction: The percentage of students expressing satisfaction of their
experience of the University, as measured by those who answer “mostly agree” or
“definitely agree” with the statement “overall I am satisfied with the quality of the
course” in the National Student Survey, will be maintained above 90%. We will also
seek to become the top Russell Group University for international student satisfaction
as measured by the International Student Barometer.
Student progression: Year one continuation rates will improve from 91% in 2009/10
to 94% in 2014/15
Student Mobility: the number of students having an international learning
experience will increase year on year.
Job Prospects: We will maintain our position in the top quartile of the Russell
Group.
Quality of Students: As measured by the UCAS Entry Tariff will improve, to be in
the top ten of the Russell Group.
Student Population: Our undergraduate population will be no more than 3% above
our funded places and our postgraduate population will move above the Russell
Group average by 2014/15.
In addition to the above we will also use six-year completion statistics as a specific
indicator of student success for the Learning and Teaching Strategy.
Note: Staff satisfaction is also a performance indicator in the University Strategic Plan but is
considered to be too broad an indicator to be an effective measure for the Learning and
Teaching Strategy.
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