UG-Flex Project (2009-2012)

MANAGING CHANGE AND CHANGING MINDSETS:

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Claire EustanceUG-Flex Project Managerec03@gre.ac.uk / x8918

Resources:

jiscdesignstudio.pbworks.com

gre.ac.uk/ils/ugflex

BACK IN 2009….you said….

Over the past 3 years….we did……

Enhanced management of information relating to the curriculum

Improved capacity for flexible curriculum design and delivery, (informed by student experience)Developed strategies for better

communicationIntroduced tools for programme teams to

review and enhance programmes and courses

BETTER INFORMATION MANAGEMENT relating to the curriculum

IMPROVED CAPACITY FOR FLEXIBLE curriculum design

TOOLS FOR CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS ON THE CURRICULUM

BETTER COMMUNICATION

STARTING POINT IN 2009:NO TRUST = NO CHANGE

curriculum design dictated by systems and bureaucracy.

“them and us” tensions between schools and central administration

learned helplessness;

PROGRESS SO FAR IN 2012: NEW ENVIRONMENT FOR CHANGE

recognition that systems reflect underlying problems, they do not create them and so solutions must address the underlying problems;

dialogue and greater understanding; trust;

acknowledgement of shared commitment to continuous improvement & raised expectations;

CHANGE IS HARD……AND POSSIBLE

CHANGE MANAGEMENT: SOME LESSONS LEARNED

• It is the transition rather than the change itself that people find hard;

• Relationships are empowering;• Deal with issues not people or personalities;• Uncertainty can be a creative time;• Change is about culture;• Large scale change defies logical rules;• Understand others’ priorities;• Listen more talk less.