The need for an Academic Plan was identified by the Planning and Resources Committee and endorsed by Council. The Academic Plan is directly aligned to the University Plan and the EDGE agenda. It focuses on the student learning experience, a process for the review of academic profile, the development and delivery of courses, and the distinctive academic culture of the three main campuses.

Academic Planning is informed by consultation with the wider University community, including a special meeting of Academic Senate, Teaching and Learning forums, a presentation to Council, and visits by Senior Management Team members to Schools and Sections within the University. The aim of current activity is to continue consultation with the wider University community to secure broad consensus regarding the specific strategies and targets that will ensure the University achieves its goals.

From March to July 2006, as part of this consultation process, members of the Senior Management Team (SMT) visited Schools and Sections within the University to consult with staff regarding their ‘vision' for their campus and their perspective on the distinctive academic culture of each campus. SMT members were asked to invite staff to raise any aspect of the Academic Planning process which they wished to discuss.

A number of common themes have become apparent throughout this activity, leading to the identification of the following seven priority focus areas:

• Course Profile
• Attrition
• Collaborative Culture
• Campus Environment
• Flexible Teaching/Cross Campus Teaching
• Timetabling and Use of Space
• Academic Staff Workloads

These priority focus areas are discussed in detail in the attached Academic Planning: Priority Focus Areas document. However, it must be emphasised that Academic Planning is seen as a process, and as such the Academic Planning document is just one outcome from ongoing activity.

The consultation process will be repeated during 2007, with student focus groups planned for semester 1, and further consultation with staff planned for semester 2, 2007.