“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Aberystwyth University punches above its weight in the area of Learning and Teaching. Student satisfaction with the quality of teaching and the quality of life at the University is consistently high, a success that is due to the exceptional commitment, dedication and expertise of our staff. Frequent accolades demonstrate not only that Aberystwyth is an outstanding university, but also that Wales is the best place to study in the UK; and this strategy will build on our strengths to ensure the best possible education experience for our undergraduates and postgraduates. With our accolades for the student experience, learning resources and teaching excellence, we can be rightly proud of the practices, innovations and rigour that our university staff bring to this dimension of teaching. However, in order to keep at the forefront, Aberystwyth University needs to continually learn about the cutting-edge developments in the sector, to adapt our teaching techniques to meet the changing needs of student cohorts, and to promote the ethos of students and staff working as partners in a variety of ways.
As a means of developing a digitally aware, actively engaged, culturally sensitive, and globally employable graduate, these goals will form the core aspirations of the Aberystwyth Pedagogical Excellence (APEX) Strategy – or the new Aberystwyth University Learning and Teaching Strategy. Reaching the apex of achievement: as our University Strategic Plan states, we want to empower students to attain their potential, to become free and independent critical thinkers, and to do so in a supportive, inclusive and creative bilingual environment. With Benjamin Franklin’s words ringing in our ears, the APEX Strategy will principally aim to invigorate and extend a campus-wide debate about various aspects and ways of teaching – What does it mean to involve someone in their learning? What is the relationship of our teaching to our research? How can we deepen the student-as-partners relationship? How can we extend our use of the digital sphere in our teaching? How can we integrate the digital with other more embodied and physical modes of learning? – and drive our ambitions over the next three years to remain an institution that is internationally recognised for teaching innovation, learning partnership and general well-being.
The general Action Plan that accompanies the APEX Strategy, sets out a series of areas for enhancement and development, and existing areas that form part of the ongoing University pedagogical and student experience activities. It is expected that all areas covered by the APEX Strategy will embrace both Welsh-medium delivery and experience, and the activities and experience of the postgraduate community, although a large proportion of these two areas falls under the remit of other distinct strategies. Nevertheless, it is understood that different strategies overlap, and where synergies can be built (i.e. between research and teaching), it is hoped that these can be developed into specific projects.
