HIGHED 703 : Topics in Higher Education

Education and Social Work

2023 Semester One (1233) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Students will investigate and critically examine a range of current topics and theories in higher education and higher education research and their impact in a local context, in order to deepen their scholarly understanding of learning and teaching in their discipline and in the local and global higher education context, and equip them to design and undertake a higher education dissertation.

Course Overview

HighEd 703 will introduce to you to a range of current topics in High Education and Higher Education research that may inform your MHighedEd dissertation.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: HIGHED 701, 702, or equivalent

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically examine a range of the current topics in higher education and higher education research and their impact in a local context, in particular, those relevant to your discipline (Capability 1, 2 and 6)
  2. Create a literature review essay on a relevant topic in higher education learning and teaching (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Literature Review 50% Individual Coursework
In-class and online assessment tasks 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2
Literature Review
In-class and online assessment tasks
To pass this course students must submit all assessment tasks and get an overall course mark of at least 50%.

All assessment tasks will be practical and integrated as closely as possible with your current teaching and academic/professional development. To pass this course, students must submit all assessment tasks and get an overall course mark of at least 50%.

All coursework is due without exception on the agreed date. Extensions for assessment tasks must be negotiated with the Course Director in advance of the due date.

Some activities will be marked on a pass/fail basis. If the activity has not been completed to an adequate standard, you may be asked to revise and resubmit by an agreed date. Unless a prior arrangement has been made, late or incomplete activities will usually receive only half the marks.

A student who submits coursework assignments after the notified deadline, or after the approved extension, will have the marks for that coursework assignment adjusted as follows:
  • within one calendar week late: deduct 10% of the total value of the assessment (e.g. for an assignment worth 40%, a student scores 32 but hands the work in a day late; the student loses 4 marks – 10% of 40 – and is awarded a final mark of 28)
  • one to two calendar weeks late: deduct 50% of the total value of the assessment
  • later than two calendar weeks: deduct 100% of the total value of the assessment
Note: under Examination Regulation 1c and d, students must complete “to the satisfaction of the examiners.”

Workload Expectations

This course is a 30-point professional practice course delivered over a 15-week semester. Following University workload guidelines, a 30-point course represents about 300 hours of study. This may include reading, note-taking, face-to-face and/or online discussion, writing, engaging in collaborative group work, problem solving, undertaking practical tasks, reflecting on learning, accessing learning and study resources, and assignment preparation and completion.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at all face-to-face seminars to complete the course. (If you are unable to attend a seminar in person, please notify the Course Director. You will be able to attend the seminar synchronously via Zoom.)

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.