College Learning and Teaching Strategy and Annual Commentary - Outline of Process

This note outlines the process involved in creating and reviewing college learning and teaching strategies.

College Learning and Teaching Strategy

Responsibility and timing

Responsibility for developing the College Learning and Teaching Strategy rests with the College Vice-Principal, College Head of Learning and Teaching and College Head of Quality Assurance (or equivalents), working with deans and others as deemed appropriate and reporting to College Board.

The document is produced on a 5-yearly cycle following the production of each new version of the University Learning and Teaching Strategy and may be revised from time to time if this is deemed appropriate.

The same group are required to produce an annual commentary on progress with the strategy according to the timetable and structure outlined below.

Timetable and checklist of actions

Please note that the timetable below relates to academic sessions from 2009/10 onwards. Details of the 'transition year' arrangements for academic session 2008/09 are available from here.

Annual events

Date¹	Action	By whom	Comments
By week 10	Schools produce revised SLTDPs (see School Learning and Teaching Development Plan - Outline of Process)	Schools, led by deans (or equivalent)	These need to be prepared before the Annual College Commentary on Strategy and Planning for Learning and Teaching
By week 19	Colleges produce Annual College Commentary on Strategy and Planning for Learning and Teaching	Led by College Vice-Principal and involving heads of L&T, heads of QA, deans and administrative staff	Needs to be completed before the college meeting with the Vice Principal's Review Group. A commentary is not required in years when the College Leaning and Teaching Strategy is revised
By week 23	Annual meetings with Vice-Principal's Review Group	Organised by Vice-Principal (Educational Development)	Completed before last annual meeting of AQSC (WEEK 27)
By week 25	Completion of Vice-Principal's Annual Learning and Teaching Commentary	Vice-Principal (Educational Development)	Presented to last annual meeting of AQSC

¹As defined by the Academic Calendar

Periodic events

Date	Action	By whom	Comments
Every 5 years	Colleges review their Learning and Teaching Strategy	Initiated by College Vice-Principal	Term should correspond with that used for ULTS (currently 2006-10) but can be updated more frequently if required

Structure

There is no formal structure for the College Learning and Teaching Strategy but it should address the following:

Strategic aims for enhancing teaching within the College
Integration of learning and teaching strategy at institutional level and with developments within the university sector
Integration with school learning and teaching plans and developments within the discipline(s)
Action points for the University, College and the College's schools

Appropriate student representatives should be involved in the development process. Colleges are encouraged to examine external reference points (see Guidance Note for Learning and Teaching Development) and involve external participation when creating and reviewing their learning and teaching development plans.

College Annual Learning and Teaching Commentary

This brief annual submission to the Vice Principal (Educational Development) is intended to summarise college-level outcomes from the Quality Assurance Framework.

It is jointly written by the College Vice-Principal, College Head of Learning and Teaching and College Head of Quality Assurance (or equivalents) and would normally be presented to the College Board prior to submission to the Vice Principal ahead of the annual Learning and Teaching Discussion between the Vice Principal's Review Group and college and school representatives.

It should review the following:
- progress in meeting action points arising from the University Learning and Teaching Strategy
- progress in meeting action points arising from the College Learning and Teaching Strategy
- issues arising through School Learning and Teaching Development Plans (and thereby, the School's programme reviews and annual programme and module monitoring)
- college-level outcomes from the Quality Assurance Framework processes at school and levels (i.e. programme review, accreditation events, and annual programme and module monitoring)
- any other college-level issues relating to learning and teaching, including identified needs in academic professional development.
The report should highlight aspects of good practice and performance as well as issues of concern.

In years when the college Learning and Teaching Strategy is revised, the commentary is not required and the annual discussion between the Vice Principal's Review Group and college and school representatives would be expected to focus on the new Strategy.

There is no recommended structure for this commentary as it is expected to consider appropriately points arising from other reports, meetings and documentation. It should, however, summarise development in all the college's schools and note matters of potential impact for the strategic development of the college and institution. Where relevant, it should include action points so that progress can be monitored by the Vice Principal's Review Group.