General Education background and governance

Find out how General Education courses came to be part of the curriculum, and see the guidelines for teaching General Education courses.

In March 2002, a Curriculum Commission was appointed to consider the University's academic programmes. The Commission recommended the introduction of a General Education component in all undergraduate degrees.

The purpose of General Education is to provide opportunities for students to take courses that would broaden their education and challenge them by introducing them to areas outside of their main area of study. The University has approved the introduction of 30 points, or two courses, of General Education into undergraduate degrees from 2006.

Board of Studies
An inter-faculty Board of Studies, reporting to the Education Committee, was formed in December 2003. The Board manages the General Education programme, the selection, assessment and review of courses, and quality assurance.

Chair
Professor John Morrow
Faculty representation
Arts	Dr James Bade
Creative Arts and Industries	Ms Elizabeth Aitken-Rose
Business and Economics	Ms Susan Laurenson
Education	Dr Ruth Williams
Engineering	Dr Heather Silyn-Roberts
Law	Professor Warren Brookbanks
Medical and Health Sciences	Dr Mark Barrow
Science	Associate Professor Robert Amor
Academic Administration	Ms Glenda Haines

The terms of reference for this Board are:

The development, management and oversight of the University's programme of General Education.
The approval of courses to be listed in the General Education programme.
Monitoring and maintaining the quality of the General Education programme through course and teaching evaluations, programme reviews and reviews of student learning outcomes.
Proposing any limits to courses in the General Education programme.
Advising the University through Education Committee on changes to regulations governing the General Education programme.

Proposals for General Education courses were submitted by faculties to the Board, which evaluated each proposal to determine whether the course met the criteria for General Education. The courses were required to meet the general aims of University courses, that is to:

Provide a sound knowledge and understanding of the subject studied.
Develop understanding and appreciation of philosophical bases, methodologies and characteristics of scholarship and research.
Develop the capacity for critical, conceptual and reflective thinking.
Stimulate intellectual openness and curiosity.
Provide an opportunity for students to learn the value of working to achieve personal and professional goals both independently, and in collaboration with others.
Contribute to the flexibility which graduates are increasingly required to demonstrate in the complex modern work environment.
Enhance the communication abilities and literacy, and quantitative understanding of graduates.

There are also specific criteria that apply to General Education courses. They will:

Supplement, extend and reinforce the knowledge, attributes and skills gained within specialised fields.
Expose students to disciplines and paradigms outside their own specialisation, and to the ideas and methods of cross-disciplinary research.
Equip graduates with a deeper understanding of the international and global dimensions of knowledge, and the distinctive qualities of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Bring together students from diverse disciplines and provide them with opportunities to engage with different ideas and concepts.
Promote tolerance and respect for the values of other individuals and groups, and awareness of human and cultural diversity.

A diverse range of courses was selected by the Board and arranged into eight schedules based on subject and skill areas. Students can choose General Education courses from a number of these schedules, depending on their other enrolments.

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