Future of Teaching and Learning
Western Teaching and Learning for the Future: Strategic Action Areas
Across our campus, exceptional student learning experiences and innovative teaching practices are already thriving. To build on these strengths, Western is developing a comprehensive, campus-wide action plan that looks ahead to the future of education.
Western Future of Teaching and Learning: Strategic Action Areas will serve as a bridge plan, integrating priorities from existing initiatives—including the Global Engagement Plan, the EDIDA Strategic Plan, faculty-based plans, and Towards Western at 150. This work responds to a pivotal moment for reflection and action in higher education. Its purpose is both aspirational and practical, to enhance teaching and learning within our current environment while preparing for what lies ahead.
Why Now?
Higher education is at a turning point. Technological advances, public perception, and the perceived misalignment between degree outcomes and the workforce skills gap require us to assess our values and priorities to address the central question: Why go to university? And what is the added value of learning at a research-intensive university?
Further, teaching and learning goals appear across a range of Western plans, including the Global Engagement Plan, the EDIDA Strategic Plan, and Faculty-based plans. An overarching strategic action plan commensurate with the importance of teaching and learning at Western can further advance these goals.
Western Future of Teaching and Learning: Strategic Action Areas will act as a bridge plan to integrate priorities from across existing plans and Towards Western at 150, while addressing a pivotal moment for reflection and action in higher education.
Steering Committee Members
Meet the Future of Teaching and Learning: Strategic Action Areas Steering Committee:
Chair: Susan Lewis, Vice-Provost (Academic Programs)
Lauretta Frederking, Associate Vice-Provost (SGPS)
Aisha Haque, Director, Centre for Teaching and Learning
Jovan Groen, Director, Office of Academic Quality and Enhancement
Katrina McIntosh, Program Manager/Academic, Western Continuing Studies
Shaun Boe, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences
Wolfgang Lehmann, Associate Dean Undergraduate Studies, Faculty of Social Science
Ken Yeung, Associate Dean, Academic, Faculty of Science
Nicole Campbell, Associate Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology
Michael Fox, Associate Professor, Department of English & Writing Studies
Jenna Ijam, USC Vice President University Affairs
Evan Sauve, Graduate Student Representative
Heather Campbell, Western Libraries Teaching and Learning Librarian
Sergio Rodriguez, Director, Client Services, Western Technology Services
Action Plan Groups
- First-year Academic Transition (Lead: Nicole Campbell)
- Experiential Learning (Lead: Heather Wakely)
- Teaching Excellence (Co-Leads: Shaun Boe & Susan Lewis)
- Assessment (Lead: Wolfgang Lehmann)
- Common UG Requirements: The Writing Requirement (Lead: Michael Fox)
- Lifelong Learning and Careers (Lead: Ken Yeung)
- Graduate Education (Lead: Lauretta Frederking)
