C A S R - Collaborative and Structural Reform

 

The objective of the Collaborative and Structural Reform (CASR) project is to explore ways to efficiently harness the partnership institution’s (see below) niche discipline strengths in chemistry, physics and environmental sciences, and to develop, construct and make available to students at the participating universities, packages of high quality shared science discipline units.

 

The overall project is being led by Professor Graham Pegg, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Science, Charles Darwin University (CDU).

 

Project goal

 

A broad project goal is to retain science discipline core degrees in Australian regional universities through providing more viable larger class sizes per unit for the delivering institution(s), yet fewer overall science units needed on offer by each individual institution to maintain a full science program.

 

Students will be able to enrol cross-institutionally as necessary for the combined suite of units identified through this project using a variety of delivery modes including:

 

  • Flexible/distance learning
  • On-line
  • Intensively

 

Project funding ($897,400) is available over 2008-2010 for time release of academic staff, instructional design and multimedia development to ensure high quality learning materials for students.

 

Background

 

At the initial project meeting of the steering group in February 2008 held at CDU, it was decided to first embark on the chemistry project discipline activities, since there was an immediate common interest in seeking ways to provide a Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) accredited chemistry program at all of the participating regional institutions.

 

Chemistry Project

 

Dr Trevor Brown from The University of New England (UNE) will lead the Chemistry Project Team.

 

UNE in Armidale, NSW has an RACI accredited distance study program in chemistry fully available by flexible study, and further elaboration of units/subjects from UNE may provide ready access to a shared chemistry unit warehouse available by cross-institutional study. Discussions with other distance providers of chemistry units from institutions not in the core project group of six (see below) should also occur to determine the broader scope and options available to the project team.

 

Physics Project

 

The Physics Project Team is being led by Associate Professor Grant Daggard of the University of Southern Queensland.

Team participants include The University of Southern Queensland, The University of the Sunshine Coast and UNE. The second project steering committee meeting to be held at USC in July, 2008 will consider a detailed proposal from the Physics Project Team.

 

Project partners

 

This CASR project approved by DEST late in 2007 involves a partnership between the following universities:

 

  • Charles Darwin University
  • The University of Southern Queensland
  • The University of the Sunshine Coast
  • The University of New England
  • The University of Canberra
  • Deakin University