Raising the Bar – Implications for Learning, Teaching and the Student Experience Suzanne Cholerton Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching)

Changes to the HE environment Where are we now? What’s next? ‘Raising the Bar’ & growth Challenges An opportunity to ‘Raise the Bar’ We’re going to cover:

Student Numbers: –Home UG Student Numbers Controls cease from 2015 Emerging patterns of student recruitment: –STEM upsurge –DoH programmes constrained –Volatility in Humanities –Increased competition International / Immigration controls: –Implications for international recruitment, attendance monitoring, acceptability of English language tests/Proposed reduction in test centres –Increased global competition The changing environment

Student fees: –A large part of our income now comes from student fees. –Students have higher expectations of their HE experience –Impact of UG fees on Home PGT remains to be seen –PGT loan scheme from 2016 –PGR loan scheme announced Reputation: –World rankings as a proxy for quality – little impact from L&T metrics –Post REF 2014 – all eyes on REF 2020 And a big unknown … –Change of Government and Policy in 2015? The changing environment

We have raised the bar….. 5 ? Recruitment target for home PGT met for 2014 entry 2012/13 DLHE - 94% employed; 82% in graduate level jobs All Stage 1 UG students have a mentor >35,000 MOOC registrations 91% for overall satisfaction in NSS 2014 >5000 new UG students recruited; higher quality than 2013 ? >31,000 applications to UG programmes for 2014 entry ?

Quality is our priority Managed growth in students is an enabler Our current healthy financial position plus growth will allow us to ‘Raise the Bar’ Investing to raise quality in learning, teaching and student experience So what’s next? Capital projects/acquisitions/ refurbishments Recruitment of staff New programmes Diversifying our Portfolio

Maintaining quality of offer Post REF 2014 – competing priorities Facilities and other resources need to keep pace with student population Investment predicated on growth New ventures – London, Xiamen Challenges to Raising the Bar

Newcastle University is in a strong position, and able to respond well to the changes and challenges Our strategy is to grow students numbers and to invest in both the academic and social experience of our students You and your ideas are central to realising these ambitions…….. Summary

Areas to ‘Raise the Bar’? 9 90% for overall satisfaction in ISB 2014 ? ? Pressures on facilities/ services Assessment & Feedback ? ? The visibility of our civic mission and SCTs in LTSE ? PTES % satisfaction with course

1.Learning, teaching and support in Ensuring PGT students are as satisfied as UG 3.Newcastle students as global citizens 4.Embedding societal challenges 5.Making online marking the norm by 2020 Choose your topic

Thank You

Not just about student numbers, but... Removal of student numbers controls provides an opportunity for managed growth By achieving every year what we achieved in 2013, our student population will grow by 20% (from to ) without further action Quality is a priority: we must protect the proportion of those with high entry qualifications, and maintain the quality of the student experience Recent student numbers growth already putting pressure on facilities and capacity Growth as an Enabler

Establish strategic direction 24/7 Innovative T&L space VFM New builds and acquisitions Refurbishment programmes Library / study / social learning / teaching spaces - Pop-up Library; 89 Sandyford Road; Science Central Conference and Teaching Centre Accommodation - Kensington and Park Tces; Richardson Road Development Sports facilities Student Union – Student Central Growth and enhancement priorities – LTSE facilities

Will give us further growth opportunities –Re-introduction of Physics –Sport and Exercise Science –Film and Media programmes –International Business Management Developing and Diversifying our Portfolio: –Venturing into MOOCs The Enterprise Shed: Making Ideas Happen — Newcastle University — FutureLearnThe Enterprise Shed: Making Ideas Happen — Newcastle University — FutureLearn –Considering other types of programmes and modes of delivery including Global MBA (online) Newcastle University London Relationship with Xiamen New Programmes