A Maynooth Education Information Day for Principals and Guidance Counsellors 8 September 2015 Professor Philip Nolan President Maynooth University

Why is Maynooth different Teaching and research remain connected –our leading researchers are also committed teachers Inclusive learning community –diverse, international, strong bonds Strategic commitment to educational innovation –exciting new undergraduate curriculum from 2016 entry 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 2

Why a new curriculum? Transition from second to third level Engaging and exciting the student Better outcomes for graduates Holistic education –knowledge, skills, attributes –work, life, citizenship –complexity, challenge, change 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 3

Outcomes Solid grounding in core subjects Breadth of perspective –Electives –Subject combinations Thinking skills –Critical thinking and clear communication Working skills –Individual and team work Flexibility and adaptability Awareness and responsibility 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 4

Features Emphasis on thinking skills and working skills driven by innovative teaching and assessment Broad entry routes, new first year, progressive specialisation, innovative pathways Greater flexibility, breadth and choice Experiential learning 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 5

Broad entry routes entry routes for 2017 Arts, Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Law... Immediate or progressive specialisation Clear pathways –the same opportunities for students but without the problems of narrow denominated entry 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 6

First year Immediate or progressive specialisation –2, 3 or 4 subjects in first year Focus on small group teaching for engagement and intellectual skills –support transition to higher education –student engagement and responsibility –focus on fundamental intellectual skills how the subject is taught, specific additional ‘critical skills’ modules 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 7

Flexibility, breadth and choice Major-minor combinations in two-subject degrees Elective options in second year –Breadth (Law and Society, Great Books, Fundamentals of Number and Logic, Film and Screen Studies) –Skills (Entrepreneurship) –Grand challenges (Climate change, Inequality) –Languages Language with any degree* Arts and Sciences two-subject degrees* *from 2017 entry 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 8

Experiential learning Structured ‘real-world’ experiences to reinforce intellectual skills and build working skills –work placement –service learning and volunteering –international –undergraduate research 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 9

Research strengths Mathematics, Communication and Computation Biological and Chemical sciences Social, Geographic and Economic Sciences Humanities Business and Law Education 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 10

Our ambition... The most comprehensive and far-reaching curriculum development at university level ever seen in Ireland Maynooth University an outstanding place to learn... for all our students Leadership in the sector 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 11

New common points scale 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 12

New LC grade bands 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors Percentage markCurrent gradePercentage markNew grade A H1/O A H2/O B B H3/O B C H4/O C C H5/O D D H6/ D E H7/O H8/O F 0-9 NG

New common points scale 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 14 Higher Level Grade (%) New CAO Points (HL)New CAO Points (OL)Ordinary Level Grade (%) H1 (90-100)100 H2 (80-89)88 H3 (70-79)77 H4 (60-69)66 H5 (50-59)56 O1 (90-100) H6 (40-49)46 O2 (80-89) H7 (30-39)37 O3 (70-79) H8 (0-29)028 O4 (60-69) 20 O5 (50-59) 12 O6 (40-49) 0 O7 (30-39) 0 O8 (0-29)

New common points scale Increment in points with each step-up in grade vary by different amounts to reduce risk of students ending up on the same points total, to minimise random selection. All options have been fully tested and modeled on Leaving Certificate examination data. Ordinary Level O1, O2 and O3 grades equate to H5, H6 and H7 grades – preserving the current relative value of Higher and Ordinary Levels. Points are awarded for a H7 (30-39%) to encourage higher level take-up by removing risk and by recognising level of achievement relative to ordinary level H7 accepted for matriculation in place of an O6 Bonus points for mathematics: 25 points for H6 and above LCVP and QQI-FET equivalences similar to existing 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 15

Ceisteanna | Questions 8 Sept 2015 Principals and Guidance Counsellors 16