We are a University that supports individuals within communities and communities within regions - whether that community is virtual, rural, remote, coastal, suburban, on the urban fringes or metropolitan, in Australia or overseas.

We do this through transformative teaching, learning and research, informed by our engagement, which reflects the unique aspirations of each community.

Below are six strategies and associated initiatives that will be enacted to help us reach this goal. Initiatives will be managed through the Project Delivery Group (PDG). UNE staff can access a list of strategic initiatives from the Strategic Projects List.

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We will graduate students ready to thrive in and shape the workforce of the future

Students will gain the knowledge, skills and practical experience required to help prepare them for the future world of work.

Strategic Initiatives
  • Review UNE’s Graduate Attributes and our approach to credentialing successful attainment of attributes as they are achieved.
  • Reconceptualise UNE’s approach to teaching and assessment to embed work-related and work integrated learning, authentic assessment, assessment for learning and enable flexibility of assessment reflective of student cohort.
  • Refine UNE’s approach to HDR training and embed work related and work integrated opportunities across all HDR models.
  • Encourage and embed opportunities for staff to engage with their profession and industry more broadly to enable further integration of contemporary work contexts and practices

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We will set the benchmark for delivering digital-first higher education with impact

We will demonstrate excellence in the application of technology, scholarship, teaching and research practices to support the aspirations of our students and communities.

Strategic Initiatives
  • Design and deploy the Virtual Campus that, at a minimum:
    • enables participation in lectures, tutorials, virtual labs and forums in real time and interaction with teaching staff and peers;
    • is accessed through a single, mobile enable digital interface;
    • opportunities to engage with peers outside of formal learning;
    • provides access to, and ‘pushes’, timely information related to learning and ongoing enrolment;
    • is supported by 24/7 AI information and support resources.
  • Refine and deploy the UNE Course Design Framework, with a focus on responding to the needs of priority Prospective Student Cohorts.
  • Implement a UNE-wide teaching development program, including current staff, teaching fellows and HDR candidates.
  • Expand the recognition of digital-first teaching excellence.
  • Implement a comprehensive academic integrity approach in line with the TEQSA Academic Integrity Framework.
  • Review and refine digital learning systems and processes that support curriculum design, delivery and synchronous monitoring and analytics.
  • Develop a leading-edge digital library experience.

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We will be globally recognised for our research and teaching in flagship disciplines

We will identify priority flagship disciplines, supported by our research institute model, in which we will achieve world-recognised research, scholarship and teaching outcomes.

Strategic Initiatives
  • Identify, develop or renew a suite of UNE flagship courses and units, including HDR where appropriate, that embed the UNE Course Design Framework and promote our digital-first approach to academic delivery.
  • Identify and develop key priority areas of high impact research against criteria aligned to local, national and international need.
  • Develop capability profiles for key teaching and research staff.
  • Establish the New England Graduate School to improve the quality of HDR supervision and support.
  • Establish an open access platform to disseminate UNE research and scholarship.
  • Review UNE’s participation in international rankings and develop and deploy an institutional response.
  • Develop a formalised UNE Scholarship Framework that records demonstrable links to outputs and outcomes of teaching and research staff and staff engaged in professional practice.

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We will implement a place-based approach to research

We will co-design, tailor, and undertake research that addresses the specific needs of our communities; whether physical, virtual, or both.

Strategic Initiatives
  • Develop a decision framework for establishment of international and domestic place-based research and partnerships
  • Develop group-based PHDI projects aligned with the needs and aspirations of identified communities.
  • Identify, develop and nurture industry government and community linkages in key communities.
  • Establish research precincts and/or collaborative infrastructure to support research in key communities.

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We will design, research and translate new knowledge with a collaborative mindset.

Our connection with industry, government, community and alumni will be strengthened through partnership and collaboration, to deliver new knowledge that co-creates and embeds positive impact.

Strategic Initiatives
  • Develop a UNE co-design framework and aligned skill-base to enable student, partner, industry, community and alumni involvement in research.
  • Establish new UNE Research Institutes with support from external support to enhance our reach in the community, facilitate partnerships and attract external research funding.
  • Develop the capability and capacity to commercialise research outputs.

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We will recognise the diverse contributions our alumni can make to the UNE community

The professional success of our alumni will be recognised by providing opportunities for them to contribute to student success.

Strategic Initiatives
  • Establish an Alumni Volunteer Program including Mentoring.
  • Develop an Alumni Fellows Program – e.g. Expert Teaching, Capacity Building, Knowledge Partnership Fellowships.
  • Develop and implement an Alumni Life-long Learning Program.