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

• 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)