Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025-2030
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 2 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM The Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025 is built on the principles of inclusivity, futurefocus, personalisation, collaboration and sustainability.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 3 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM Vision and Mission At University College Birmingham our mission is to promote and provide the opportunity to learn for those with the ambition and commitment to succeed and to maintain a learning community that meets the diverse needs of our students, the economy and society at large. Student experience and success is central to everything we do. Our vision is to be seen as a leading provider of transformative, career-focused education in the West Midlands, known globally for supporting students at all levels to become confident, skilled, knowledgeable, values-based individuals, who can make a positive contribution to their sectors and the community, the economy and wider society. We continue our core commitment to learning and teaching that is industry-led, informed by research, scholarship, knowledge exchange and industry engagement, and career-focused, preparing our students to make a positive contribution in the workplace and local and global communities. However, as we move into the next phase of our journey at University College Birmingham, our approach to education will also be increasingly personalised, internationalised and digitally led for our students to provide them with the skills they need for success. This will include a strong focus on the transformative potential of AI across all our industry sectors. At University College Birmingham, our structures and processes facilitate our ability to adapt and respond to changes in society, the economy and education with agility enabling continuous improvement to our curricula and learning and teaching. This agility will be critical to navigating a changing educational and technological landscape across our Further and Higher Education and Apprenticeship provision. Central to our ambitions is the critical role of our staff across academic and professional services. In order to achieve our vision and mission we will continue to value and harness staff expertise and provide opportunities for professional development and industry engagement to ensure our learning and teaching remains cutting edge and relevant for the future workforce. The Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025 is built on the principles of inclusivity, future-focus, personalisation, collaboration and sustainability. Our vision is to be seen as a leading provider of transformative, career-focused education in the West Midlands.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 4 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM The University College Birmingham Learning and Teaching Strategy should be read in conjunction with the following document: Information: Student includes all individuals studying at University College Birmingham, including Sixth Form and Further Education learners, Higher Education students, apprentices, and attendees of short courses and professional development programmes.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 5 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM The educational experiences that students gain at University College Birmingham, will have a significant positive impact on their lives as well as their careers.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 6 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM Student experience and success Our approaches to teaching and learning will be evidence informed and continuously evaluated to ensure we prioritise sector best practice The transformative learning, skills development and wider educational experiences that students gain at University College Birmingham, will have a significant and enduring positive impact on our graduates’ lives as well as their careers Through their experience at University College Birmingham, our graduates will become confident, resilient and innovative global citizens and leaders, empowered to deliver positive change in their communities Research and investment in technologies and facilities will prepare students for future academic and graduate level opportunities change in their communities
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 7 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM Personalised Flexible design We will meet students where they are in order to tailor their learning experience to meet their needs, provide stretch and challenge, maximise educational gain and ensure all students feel a sense of belonging, promoting individual success, and enhanced health and wellbeing is central to everything we do. How we will achieve this: Curriculum Our curriculum design will reflect contemporary approaches to accessing learning as appropriate to the type of provision and discipline area. Pedagogy / Teaching We will tailor our teaching to individual student needs through innovative approaches to learning and teaching. We will value our students’ lived experiences and its impact on individual learning journeys. Assessment We will provide students with assessment choice to tailor to their individual learning needs whilst ensuring they develop the skills required for the workplace. We will seek to create an inclusive assessment regime which allows all students equal opportunity to demonstrate their learning. Student success We will utilise learner analytics to support our students’ learning journeys and future success. We will provide stretch and challenge to our students to raise aspirations and promote success. We will provide coaching and mentoring for our students to support them during their studies and following completion of their programme of study.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 8 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM Inclusive Transformative learning environment An inclusive environment which is responsive to student needs and embraces and celebrates diversity will provide all our students with the opportunity to succeed. This will include our physical and virtual spaces, curriculum in which students can see themselves reflected, and a whole community approach to developing and sharing best practice. How we will achieve this: Curriculum We will co-create our curriculum, as well as approaches to learning, teaching and assessment in line with best practice. Our curriculum will be reflective of, and shaped by, our diverse global community, promoting a sense of belonging in our students and wider University College Birmingham community. Pedagogy / Teaching Our approach to learning and teaching will be designed to support the health and wellbeing of our student community. Our learning and teaching will be intellectually stimulating, feeding student curiosity and engagement. We will harness the diversity of our student community and their experiences to enhance learning and teaching. We will continue to work collaboratively to embed the University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) and the Disabled Student Commitment (DSC). Assessment Our assessments will be scaffolded across our programmes to develop students’ knowledge and skills in a supportive environment. Student success We will support all students to attain their best whilst studying with us and following graduation. We will seek to reduce differences in student success whilst at university and following their studies through the initiatives outlined in our access and participation plan 2025-29. We will celebrate our student success.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 9 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM Future-focused Careers and skills led Our programmes will focus on career-readiness, through harnessing interdisciplinary curricula, applied knowledge and skills development informed by employer’s needs. We will develop leadership skills and development of an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset in our students to support them to manage change and uncertainty. Our graduates will be highly valued by employers as a result of the quality of their qualifications, depth and breadth of transferable skills and personal development opportunities they have gained during their studies. How we will achieve this: Curriculum Our curricula will be based on and respond to sector needs and the regional and global skills gaps. Our staff will maintain their discipline knowledge through research, scholarship and industry engagement to inform our curriculum. The ethical use of industry relevant technology and AI will be integrated into all our programmes. Our curriculum will facilitate life-long and life-wide learning by providing flexible opportunities for our communities to engage in learning that will support career development. All our programmes will provide opportunities for work placements and global learning opportunities. Pedagogy / Teaching Our staff will embrace technological developments to enhance student experience and prepare them for their careers, including the use of AI, simulation and immersive learning opportunities, in line with our digital strategy 2025-2030. Assessment We will use authentic assessments informed by industry from sectors our students aspire to work in. We will make use of live briefs from industry and simulated scenarios to encourage problem-solving relevant to sector needs. Student success We will support our students during their studies and after graduation to achieve their potential, be successful in their chosen careers and live fulfilling lives. Through development of an entrepreneurial mindset, we will support our students to start-up their own businesses, manage portfolio careers and navigate change and uncertainty. Through their curricula, learning and assessment, our students will develop a sustainable mindset that will lead to positive social impact. Our approach to learning and teaching will allow our students to thrive in a world of constant change and technological development, able to harness the power of AI to increase productivity.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 10 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM Collaborative Whole community approach Our curriculum and student experience will be co-created in collaboration with all our stakeholders including students, staff, industry partners and sector experts. Our institution will take a whole-university approach to improving student experience, support and outcomes. How we will achieve this: Our students will be empowered to impact on our curriculum, learning, teaching and assessment through opportunities for feedback, co-creation and involvement in University governance. We will work with our service-users and stakeholders to inform our curriculum and approaches to learning, teaching and assessment. We will work with our regulatory bodies and accrediting agencies to inform our curricula and learning teaching and assessment. We will collaborate across the institution to embed sustainability through our campus, curriculum and community. We will collaborate with industry to strengthen our green industry partnerships, providing learning and employment opportunities. We will work collaboratively to embed the principles of the University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) and the Disabled Student Commitment (DSC) to enhance our curriculum, learning, teaching and assessment and enhance student success. We will work collaboratively across out institution to embrace a culture of continuous improvement. Student success Through our Skills for Success programme our students will be supported to achieve success through a collaborative holistic approach to their academic attainment, health and wellbeing and future life and careers. We will work across our institution (Sixth Form, Further Education, Higher Education and Apprenticeships) to provide our students with progression opportunities that meet their aspirations.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 11 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM Sustainable Promoting the UN SDGs All of our programmes will be mapped against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with staff and students engaging in industry informed projects linked to the UN SDGs. How we will achieve this: Curriculum Sustainability (UN SDGs) will be mapped across all of our curricula. Pedagogy / Teaching Through our curriculum and approaches to learning and teaching we will encourage our students to be agents of positive social change in line with our sustainability strategy 2025-2030 (and UN SDGs). Assessment We will make use of live briefs from industry and simulated scenarios to encourage problem-solving relevant to the UN SDGs. Student success Through their curriculum and learning and assessment, our students will develop a sustainable mindset that will lead to positive social impact.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2030 12 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM Our graduates will become confident, resilient and innovative global citizens and leaders.
For more information, please email: info@ucb.ac.uk Summer Row, Birmingham B3 1JB ucb.ac.uk
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