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Thursday, February 24, 2005
Teaching excellence rewarded with 18 million pounds
The University of Plymouth has been recognised by the government as one of the UK's top universities for teaching excellence, securing an extra £18 million in funding over the next five years.
On Thursday 27 January, the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) announced that the university is to be awarded all four Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) for which it entered bids, the maximum award possible for any university. In addition, the university is a partner in a fifth successful bid, led by Liverpool Hope University College.
Funding will be allocated at £500k per annum for 5 years, with a one-off capital allocation of £2m for each of the university's four CETLs.
The announcement comes after last year's award of three prestigious National Teaching Fellowships for the university - Plymouth was one of just two universities to receive this accolade, which recognised the very high standard of its teaching, and is one of just two universities to have been awarded seven National Teaching Fellowships in total.
The CETLs initiative has two main aims: to reward excellent teaching practice, and to further invest in that practice so that the funding delivers substantial benefits to students, teachers and institutions.
Each CETL will have a distinctive focus reflecting its track record of successful student learning.
The university's four CETLs are:
Placement Learning in Health and Social Care
Experiential Learning in the Environmental and Natural Sciences
Higher Education Learning Partnerships
Education for Sustainable Development.
The CETL in partnership with Liverpool Hope University College is called LearnHigher.
Predominantly, the funding received by the university will be used to further develop high quality acadcemic staff, to attract new staff and to enhance buildings and upgrade laboratories and training facilities, including its planetarium, which will be transformed into a cutting-edge 'virtual fieldwork' centre. The partner colleges that form the University of Plymouth Colleges (UPC) will also benefit significantly from the funding.
Dr Kim Howells, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, on a two-day visit to the South West said: 'I want to congratulate the University of Plymouth on its successful bid for this funding. It will further advance the teaching and learning opportunities for students in Plymouth and the South West. Amongst many other things the university is tackling the very difficult problem of providing higher education to relatively small communities scattered across a wide and largely rural geography.'
MP for Plymouth Sutton Linda Gilroy said: 'The University of Plymouth has an excellent track record for teaching. This latest success against stiff national competition proves that Plymouth is a shining light for the whole university sector. The university and the city are developing in tandem, and I think we have a lot to be proud of in Plymouth.'
The University of Plymouth's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roland Levinsky, said: 'Plymouth has long had an excellent reputation for the quality of its teaching and we are delighted that this strength has been recognised at the highest level. Together with our National Teaching Fellowships, the Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning are acknowledgement of our status as one of the best universities in the UK for teaching and learning.'
Steve Rickett's, Plymouth Site President of the Students' Union, said: 'Students at Plymouth benefit from a very high standard of teaching and are well supported throughout their courses. It's fantastic to have this recognition and it will really help to put Plymouth on the map.'
Monday, February 14, 2005
FOUNDATION DEGREE IN STEINER WALDORF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
FOUNDATION DEGREE IN STEINER WALDORF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
The students in the first group of this course, who began this exciting new venture in September, are now well on the way through their first year. Their work takes a number of forms – observing/working in Kindergarten settings, studying on their own and in groups, working on essays and keeping diaries.
The weekends at York Steiner School take place once a month during term time, and cover both theoretical and practical aspects of Kindergarten work - everything from studying Rudolf Steiner to making puppets; with painting, drama and eurythmy all playing an important part. The first longer residential, largely a very practically based 'Arts for Self Development' session will take place at Elmfield School in the early Summer.
We are now preparing for a new intake of students this September, and enquiries and applications for this are now invited. The course takes place over two years, but the modules can be completed within a five-year period. The venue for the next course will largely depend upon the whereabouts of the enquirers, but is likely to be again based in the North.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Cotswold Chine School
Since embarking upon the European Masters Programme in Steiner Waldorf Education, the teaching staff at Cotswold Chine School, near Stroud in England, have risen to the challenge, engaging with Steiner's writings enthusiastically and have integrated their research into their everyday practice.
"I now have a deeper understanding of the works of Steiner, which has extended my existing knowledge of these texts."
Dan Walton, Geography co-ordinator.
"Since working on the European Masters Programme I have greatly benefited from the in-depth discussions that arise from the reading of the Steiner texts. These have been incredibly useful in the teaching of art at the school"
June Cross, Art Co-ordinator.
Dyfrug Williams, Head of English, commented "The opportunity to discuss Steiner ideas and theories with external lecturers has benefited all the teachers at the school."
"The sessions have aided me to develop my understanding of how the ideas of Rudolf Steiner can be applied practically in the classroom."
Lucy Jones, History Co-ordinator
"Owing to the fact that I have worked in a Steiner school for many years I already have a firm understanding of Steiner methods and teaching styles, however a more detailed reading of many of Steiner's lectures has given me yet further insight."
Joan Van Deventor
The programme of Masters study, which commenced in the autumn of 2003, consists of monthly seminar sessions with University of Plymouth tutors, a series of directed tasks carried out between taught sessions and independent study.
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