Swinburne redesigns the student learning experience

Swinburne has launched a $40 million revamp of its approach to learning and teaching as part of its planned redesign of the student learning experience.

Called Transforming Learning Strategy, the revamp forms parts of Swinburne’s broader 2025 Vision to become a world-class university creating social and economic impact.

The strategy aims to create “future ready” learners who are adaptable to the demands of industry and who have the skills and networks required to establish their own businesses.

Under the strategy, “authentic learning” – the application of discipline knowledge in relevant, real-world and global contexts – will form the centrepiece of the revamped learning experience which will see students graduate with the knowledge, skills and attributes demanded by employers.

These employability attributes include good communication, leadership skills, project management skills, time management and ability to work as part of a team.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Duncan Bentley, says the transformation is about preparing students for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“We are moving into learning through digital realities such as artificial intelligence, gamification, big data and virtual reality,” he says.

“Swinburne is at the forefront of the research into new worlds and we will bring these to our students as they develop.”

More than 100 key thinkers and influencers from Swinburne contributed to the strategy during a Future Vision Summit in November.

The strategy has now been distilled into an action plan that will be developed and piloted with staff, students and industry partners in 2018 and implemented into Swinburne courses throughout 2019-20.

“We are reimagining learning from the perspective of students, users, innovators and entrepreneurs,” Professor Bentley says.

“Every aspect of our learning journey must be choreographed to deliver an extraordinary experience that ensures our students have developed the knowledge, skills and attributes that will enable them to thrive in the new global world of work.”

There were four key principles developed during the Future Vision Summit which will underpin the design of the future learning experience.

They are professional purpose, student-centred course design, authentic learning experiences and enabling staff to deliver the future learning experience.

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