TEACHING AND LEARNING ENHANCEMENT IN IRISH HIGHER EDUCATIONSOME INSIGHTS ABOUT THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES FROM THE WORK OF THE

NATIONAL FORUM

Sarah MooreChair

Ireland’s National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Key questions for teaching and learning in higher education

• What role do librarians play in the enhancement of teaching and learning?

• What role could librarians play in the enhancement of teaching and learning

• What are the biggest challenges to libraries’ realising their potential?

National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 and the High Level European Modernisation report

– The centrality of Teaching and Learning to the mission of Irish higher education – preparation, training, support, awards, recognition

– Tangible parity of esteem between teaching and research as core higher education functions

– Greater innovation in the design of higher education– Greater flexibility in provision– Integration of teaching and research– Continuing professional development through collegiate

networks– Sustainability; Interdisciplinarity; Employability;

Internationality; Modernity; Digitality

Strategic investments over time

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007*

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 €-

€1,000,000

€2,000,000

€3,000,000

€4,000,000

€5,000,000

€6,000,000

€7,000,000

€8,000,000

€9,000,000

€10,000,000

Investment in Teaching and Learning initiatives

Targeted/Strategic Initiatives AISHE NDLR SIF 1 SIF 2

• Promoting innovative, fresh thinking• From exemplars to National frameworks• From discrete projects to comprehensive

change• Transcending both collaboration and

competition to raise national standards• Establishing Ireland as a place where Higher

Education Teaching and Learning is known to be excellent and held up as an international role model.

Purpose of the National Forum

What we have learned

• Strong walls and divisions within and between • Parity of esteem • Implicit, tacit value• Centre and disciplines• Who teaches?• Institution size as a key differentiator• Students as partners• Professional identity in crisis• Student experiences: different lenses• Time as a crucial and often under-discussed concept

Students’ definitions of excellent teaching

• CARE• COURAGE• COMMUNICATION• CREATIVITY

Institutions’ definitions of excellent teaching

• Quality and enhancement markers: including Engagement ; Retention; Graduate output; Funding; award classifications on departure; learning outcomes;

• Subject knowledge and reputation• Qualifications in discipline and pedagogy• Effectiveness, efficiency, innovation

THE INTEGRATIVE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN AN EDUCATIONAL WORLD THAT IS INCREASINGLY COMPLEX AND DIGITAL