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THE EARTH SCIENCE ACTION PLAN: SUPPORT FOR L&T IN THE DISCIPLINE 2007-2011 CHUGD briefing, May 2007. Neil Thomas (Earth Sciences Subject Advisor, Subject Centre for GEES). Context for the Arden meeting. GEES Subject Centre in existence since 2000 Generic support for 3 GEES disciplines
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THE EARTH SCIENCE ACTION PLAN: SUPPORT FOR L&T IN THE DISCIPLINE 2007-2011CHUGD briefing, May 2007 Neil Thomas (Earth Sciences Subject Advisor, Subject Centre for GEES)
Context for the Arden meeting • GEES Subject Centre in existence since 2000 • Generic support for 3 GEES disciplines • Specific support for each discipline • Changing HE landscape • Have we (the SC) got it right?
Rationale for the Arden meeting • Not just a GEES SC event • Bring together key players in HE provision • Geological Society, BGA, CHUGD, ESEU, GEES Subject Centre • Most important – representatives of the community • Develop joined-up thinking & solutions • Improve: SLE, our work balance, health of discipline across continuum of education
Aims of the Arden meeting To: • Identify & discuss relevant L&T issues for own departments and the discipline • Prioritise the issues that will most affect the discipline over next 4-5 years • Identify mechanisms and activities to support the discipline community in addressing these issues • Develop a timetable for implementation of the identified activities (2007-2011)
Questions posed • What is the future of Earth Sciences, and what will the discipline territory be in 2011? • What will be the key issues to affect and shape the discipline in the period 2006-2011? What are the priority areas for the UK discipline community? • What activities (long & short term) can be undertaken to support the profile of the discipline and L&T issues within these priority areas? How can the Subject Centre help?
Action Plan priority areas • Fieldwork teaching & learning • Basic skills in Earth Science • Curriculum issues (inc. employability) • Recruitment & marketing the discipline • Promoting motivation & scholarship of students
Activities identified for CHUGD input • Preparation of field skills requirement list for Earth Sciences graduates (2007-8) • Run a field course for staff to a ‘commonly used’ field area to share practice (2009) • Facilitate collaborative field courses between consenting institutions (2008 onwards) • Lobby schools curriculum policy authorities to include the identified Basic Skills in A and A/S syllabi & Earth Sciences input (ongoing) • Establish an effective employer input & research employer needs (ongoing)
Activities identified for CHUGD input • Research curriculum balance in programme topics and credits (2007-2009) • Develop & pilot collaborative teaching models in curriculum areas where staff shortage/skills deficiency exists (2007-2010) • Exploit 2008 as Year of Planet Earth by running Summer School and competitions/contests (2007-2008)
Summary • Programme of support activities identified for 2007-2011 • SC will co-ordinate process, but… • Needs active input of all stakeholders (SC, CHUGD, Geol Soc, individuals)