Institutional Research in Tert Ed

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

An undergraduate degree or equivalent; at least 5 years of relevant experience; current employment in the sector, and employer support to attend the program.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject provides an overview of key elements of institutional research in tertiary education, to provide participants with knowledge and insights in areas such as:

• the foundations of institutional research: its history, emergence as a profession, contexts of application, and the role it plays in institutional governance and management
• international developments, concepts and approaches: the emergence of benchmarks and rankings and the use of institutional classifications
• analytic resources: common tools, techniques and technologies
• common domains of analysis: student enrolments, progression and completion, programs of study, research activity, workforce planning.

On completion, participants should be able to apply what they have learned, for example by:

• describing the role of institutional research in tertiary education policy, planning and practice
• using institutional research to support management and leadership activities
• analysing trends and making projections for planning purposes in areas such as student demand, supply of staff, resource requirements and information needs.

There is one assessment task:

• A 3000-word written assignment due at end of subject (100%)

There are two hurdle requirements:

• Four online Discussion Board tasks ( 4 x 500-word commentaries on set readings) due every 2 weeks. For any discussion board task submitted late, the task increases to a 1000 word commentary.
• Participate in 3 online webinars due every 2-3 weeks. For any webinar missed, students must write and post on the discussion board a 1000 word topic summary, drawing on the recorded webinar and related discussion board postings.

NB: All hurdle and assessment tasks must be passed

Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs/online classes) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

Set readings are provided online before the subject commences.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completing this subject, participants should be able to:

• communicate with people who work in different cultures and contexts
• investigate policy and strategy problems, and generate options to resolve them
• assess the risks and benefits of different solutions to management problems
• apply accepted policies and principles to different kinds of cases
• make well-informed management decisions that consider specific contexts.