Faculty
Of
Science.
LEARNING AND TEACHING STRATEGY, 2013-2016
The Faculty of Science’s Vision is to ‘understand ourselves, our world and our place in the
universe.’ To achieve this vision in learning and teaching we will build on our position in the
front rank of UK science and maintain core disciplines through teaching whilst growing
research through multidisciplinary activities.
In learning and teaching our strategic direction is aligned to the following long-term drivers:
Research-led learning

UK demographic issues

HEFCE controls on quality/numbers

Increase in tuition fees in 2012

A labour market which is connected (globalisation) and collaborative (interdisciplinary)

Graduate employability skills and STEM issues

Internationalisation, the UKBA (and its successor) and overseas students

Our competitive position – internationally, nationally and regionally

Changing A-levels

Project Sunshine and interdisciplinarity
Based on these, we have set four priorities for the Faculty:1. grow the undergraduate and postgraduate taught population, attracting the highest
quality students
2. achieve the highest standards in student learning, support and employability
3. provide the best learning environment we can
4. foster sustainable science
1. Grow the undergraduate and postgraduate taught population
The four areas of focus are:
Continue our successful recruitment of undergraduate students onto existing
programmes
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
Explore new undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes which reflect our
disciplinary expertise and market demand

Portfolio revision, including interdisciplinary and collaborative activities

Widening participation, including opportunities provided by iTunesU, MOOCs, part-time
and Foundation access and the University of Sheffield International College.
2. Achieve the highest standards in student learning, support and employability
We will encourage academically excellent and well-rounded graduates who are well-equipped
to succeed in a global labour market and make a difference in a complex world . We will do this
by:

providing programmes which combine research-led disciplinary knowledge and skills,
wider transferable skills, professional competence, cultural agility and ‘real world’
engagement;

providing consistent and effective academic and personal support for student learning;

enhancing student induction and the support provided to students to help them move
from one level of study to another and from their final year into employment;

working in partnership with staff and students;

creating partnerships with industry and external organisations;

assuring ourselves and others of the quality of our programmes
3. Provide the best learning environment we can by:

utilizing the expertise of high quality academic and support staff

supporting colleagues in their development, including initial training and continuous
professional development as well as in career progression

providing teaching, assessment and feedback that are relevant, timely and of the most
appropriate formats, styles and levels that we can

ensuring expectations are clearly defined, for both students and staff

keeping abreast of discipline, regional, national and international requirements and
expectations by employers and wider Society

ensuring both equipment and estate requirements are monitored, identified and the
needs represented to the appropriate university bodies
4. Foster sustainable science
Our graduates will be empowered to live and work in ways which help the world meet the
challenge of food and energy sustainability. We will:Page 2

Inspire students on the major issues that key areas of academic study can contribute to
and provide them with the tools they can use to solve problems.

Provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values to live
and work in a sustainable way
This strategy operates within the framework of the University’s Learning and Teaching
Strategy and seeks to provide students with opportunities to develop the attributes of the
Sheffield Graduate. . It is closely aligned to the Faculty’s Widening Participation Strategy,
Employability Strategy and Human Resources Strategy.
We will take a phased approach to implementation aligning efforts to priorities. For each
element of the LTS there will be an action plan for discussion, development and policy
formation with monitoring of progress and evaluation. The Faculty’s implementation plan is
attached as Appendix A. The University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy Priority Themes,
2011-16 are attached as Appendix B.
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