The Melbourne Way
Defining features of our pedagogy at the University of Melbourne
The University is committed to developing outstanding graduates whose qualities are defined by the statement on 'The Melbourne Graduate'.
The University of Melbourne educational experience prepares well-rounded graduates who are academically outstanding, practically grounded and socially responsible. Melbourne's graduates are distinguished by their broad outlook and openness to different perspectives.
Melbourne's degrees develop research and reasoning skills that equip graduates to be influential citizens with high leadership potential. The University's graduates engage with national and global issues and are attuned to social and cultural diversity. They have high levels of self-awareness and value their personal integrity and well-being.
How can our teaching and learning practices achieve the aspirations for the Melbourne Graduate? What does the educational research teach us?
The body of international research into effective learning environments in higher education suggests five primary educational objectives - challenge, inquiry, application, collaboration, self-direction - that are central to student learning and graduate outcomes. These objectives should permeate our curriculum and approaches to teaching and learning. The realisation of the five objectives depends on the day-to-day practices of staff and students, the design of curricula and the overall institutional environment and ethos.
Five core educational objectives | The curricula and approaches to teaching and learning needed to achieve the objectives |
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Challenge Graduates who embrace and engage deeply with complex ideas, issues and problems |
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Inquiry Graduates skilled in reasoning, research and discovery |
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Application Graduates skilled in using knowledge and information to solve practical problems |
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Collaboration Graduates skilled in communication and working cooperatively with others |
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Self-direction Graduates who are self-aware, reflective and able to set goals, manage tasks and evaluate progress |
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