Subject Centre strategy statement 2003-4
What is our status?
The Subject Centre is a publicly funded service, providing UK-wide support and services for education in Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies. It is part of the Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN), which is funded by the UK higher education funding bodies, and charged with promoting and supporting excellence in learning and teaching in all subjects throughout UK higher education.
Whom do we serve?
Our work is principally intended to serve the community of academic and related staff, who provide teaching and support for learning in our subject areas in UK higher education. Where appropriate, we also provide services of value to students, managers and decision-makers and to colleagues in other sectors of education and in other countries.
What are our aims?
Over the three years 2002-05, the Subject Centre aims to develop its role as the key service in the UK for supporting learning and teaching in languages, linguistics and area studies in higher education. We will seek to achieve this through a programme of activities with four main strategic aims.
Strategic aim 1:
To be the main resource base for information and exchange of ideas about what is happening in our subject areas, particularly in good practices, new approaches, and effective materials available for learning and teaching.
We will seek to achieve this through the following specific actions:
- Developing and collecting a comprehensive and up-to-date store of information and ideas;
- Making information and ideas readily available to our communities through a variety of interconnected channels, including websites, information centres, publications, events, and access to people with particular expertise;
- Raising awareness of our services and activities and stimulating participation, through publicity and marketing;
- Maintaining and extending our network of users and key contacts.
The outcome we aim to achieve is that people will come to us first, and will find the information they are seeking. Success in achieving this will be recognised by evaluation comments such as ‘when I want to find out what’s going on, I look at the SC website, which usually has the information I want;' and 'when I want to find out what’s available, I call into the SC/CILT information centre, and always come away with lots of goodies.'
Strategic aim 2:
To be the key network for co-operation and exchange between individuals and organisations in our subject areas, and with those in other subjects and other countries, aimed at enhancing learning and teaching.
We will seek to achieve this through the following specific actions:
- Publishing a wide range of online and printed contact information on individuals, departments and organisations working in our subject areas;
- Organising and participating in a wide range of physical and virtual forums, meetings and other events which provide opportunities to develop networking and collaboration;
- Stimulating co-operation through organising and participating in development projects, working groups, special interest groups and other initiatives;
- Developing partnerships with other national and international bodies concerned with teaching and learning, particularly in our subject areas. These include the wider LTSN network, governmental agencies, professional or subject associations, cultural services, and private sector organisations such as publishers and broadcasters.
The outcome we aim to achieve is that more co-operation will be taking place, and people expect us to be able to put them in touch with other people who can help them. Success in achieving this will be recognised by evaluation comments such as ‘when I want to know who’s doing what, I contact the SC and they can usually put me on to the right person;’ and 'we're now developing an interesting project with X, and I'm grateful to the SC for putting us in touch with them'.
Strategic aim 3:
To be a catalyst in raising the level of learning and teaching across the board, in spreading good practices and new ideas, in contributing to policy formation, and in stimulating leading edge developments.
We will seek to achieve this through the following specific actions:
- Maintaining a stimulating programme of seminars, workshops and conferences;
- Visiting individual institutions to present relevant ideas and to learn from their good practices;
- Developing and disseminating case studies of particular initiatives or practices in learning and teaching;
- Establishing working groups to monitor and stimulate innovation, and to develop proposals for research and development projects;
- Developing and participating in initiatives to inform public policy at national and international level.
The outcome we aim to achieve is that good ideas will be widely adopted, and that a lot of new ideas will be generated. Success in this objective will be recognised by evaluation comments such as ‘I was delighted with the workshop, it has really helped my teaching and given me lots to think about.' 'It's great to see all the new ideas coming out, it makes the UK an exciting place to teach'.
Strategic aim 4:
To be a first-class team, responsive, reflective and well organised.
We will seek to achieve this through the following specific actions:
- Refining our organisation, systems and procedures to make best use of the efforts of all our staff and participants in our activities;
- Developing the specific expertise and resources of our partners, and ensuring good communication and close links between them;
- Developing our participation in the national LTSN network, and drawing more productively on the knowledge and expertise within it;
- Maintaining a regular dialogue with our external evaluators and advisory bodies, and seeking effective feedback from participants to strengthen our reflection.
The outcome we aim to achieve is that we shall constantly improve our work, addressing the needs of the community and any internal issues that arise, in a timely and effective fashion. Success in this objective will be recognised by evaluation comments such as ‘they are very approachable,’ ‘they can always be relied on to do what they say they will do,’ and ‘their events are very well organised’.
Operating statement
Download operating statement 2003/4 (Excel spreadsheet, 295kb)
Downloads:
- plan0304.xls (0 Kb)
