The 2019 spring semester was a busy one for the National Forum. In addition to launching our new 2019-21 Strategy in April, the staff of the National Forum spent time engaging with the higher education community in new ways to ensure our work continues to be rooted in experience and expertise.
Four advisory groups were set up in January to allow representatives from across the sector to inform decisions and actions under our four strategic priorities. These advisory groups provide invaluable input into the realisation of priorities related to professional development, open and digital education, teaching and learning within and across disciplines, and student success.
Our Senior Lead for Sectoral Engagement, Dr Alison Farrell, joined the National Forum in January and has since visited 17 higher education campuses to meet staff, students and senior managers through one-to-one and/or small group conversations focused on the broad span of the National Forum’s work. These institutional visits provide us with the space to listen, respond and connect so that institutional priorities continue to be reflected in our work and the higher education community can inform, be made aware of and benefit from developments at national level. More such visits will be scheduled in the coming semester.
The National Forum ezine was re-launched in June, sharing teaching and learning perspectives, stories and experiences from students and staff across the sector. It is intended that the ezine will issue twice per semester. You can sign up here to receive the ezine to your inbox.
With the start of the academic year 2019-20 on the horizon and lots of exciting developments ahead, we look forward to continuing to work collaboratively across the sector. An open invitation is now live on the National Forum website for anyone who would like to become more involved in the work of the National Forum, through advisory groups, feedback panels, committees, etc. If you would like to contribute your expertise/experience in support of particular aspects of the National Forum workplan you can sign up to the National Forum Panel here.