Initial presentation for the Learner Journeys work-strand at the HEA (Wales) launch of Future Directions, Aberystwyth University, September 19th, 2013.

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Learner Journeys
Dr Jo Smedley
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• 2011-12 Remit Letter “enhance graduate employability…so
that our students gain an extra ‘edge’ that can make them
more attractive to employers”
• 2012-13 Remit Letter “continue to promote graduate
employability…evidence that institutions are embedding
employability skills…that students have opportunities to
undertake…work placements in industry”
• 2013-14 Remit Letter emphasis on employability skills as in
2012 -13
Background:
Remit Letters
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• Published April 2012
• HEFCW partnering with NUS Wales, CBI
Wales & Higher Education Wales
• Committed partners to work together to
improve the job related skills of all our
graduates & to offer new opportunities to re
skill & up skill the current workforce
Background
Agreement on Skills & Employability for Wales
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Background:
Flexible Learning
• The Welsh Government published a new Policy Statement for Higher
Education in early June 2013
– Identified the development of “more flexible models of provision” within its set of
priorities up to 2020
• The Welsh Government’s Online Digital Learning Working Group was
established in early 2013
– Examining the potential for MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)
– Opportunities & challenges presented by the development of open educational
resources
• Led by the Higher Education Wales (HEW) PVC Learning and Teaching
Advisory Group, Welsh universities are working in partnership with the aim of
Wales becoming a distinctive open education nation
– Students and lecturers from across the globe will be able to access world-class material
from its institutions
• Global Graduates: Enabling Flexible Learning as the next Future Directions
enhancement theme for the Welsh sector, led by HEA (Wales)
– Three work-strands: Distinctive Graduates, Inspiring Teaching and Learner Journeys,
– Embedding the work from the previous three work-strands in Graduates for our Future,
i.e. Students as Partners, Learning Through Employment and Learning in Employment. 4

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Learner Journeys:
the big picture
CHOICE
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Learner Journeys
• Stepping on/off learning
experiences, portable learning
experiences, pace/place,
curriculum design, assessment, HE
pathways and progression
• Students as Partners will be
embedded as an approach across
the new work strand
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Learner Journeys:
Flexible Learning Summit (June 2013)
• At entry to University
– HEW MOOC
• During University experience
– Undergraduate, postgraduate, international learners
– Learning and assessment: acceptable and accessible
– Demand led by students, staff, employers
• Outcomes
– Shared modules (pan Wales shared curriculum: Coleg model)
– Transparency across institutions
– Benchmarking flexible learning activities
(Benchmarking/Pathfinder)
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The Undergraduate Learner Journey
UCAS
Admissions
Module
feedback x n
Student
representation
End of year
surveys x n
National
Student Survey
Back
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The Postgraduate Learner Journey
Admissions
Module
feedback x n
Student
representation
End of year
surveys x n
PRES
Back
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The International Learner Journey
Admissions
Module
feedback x n
Student
representation
End of year
surveys x n
International
Student
Barometer
Back
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