As higher education still grapples with the uncertainty of class deliveries during these pandemic times, much of the focus has been on how students are coping with these uncertainties and managing both their personal and study life. As our Australian States and Territories make their own, slightly bubbled decisions around ‘freedoms’, there has been an increased focus on the staff who are charged with delivering engaging, interactive, ‘entertaining’ classes even as delivery models chop and change on a, sometimes, daily basis.
As well as the above, SCU has also grappled with its curriculum/ class delivery. From a ‘normal’ university space BC (before COVID) to now rearranging to deliver in a new and innovative manner AD (after Delta). For students, this may only be a change of habit and approach to learning in the shorter, more focused world of 6x6 rather than 3x12. For staff, in the main, it’s been a longer journey.
And the final layer of uncertainty: the casualisation of the university teaching force. Whilst this is not a new phenomenon, it does represent a more nuanced challenge to both living and learning during the pandemic, as well as a shift in SCU philosophy around learning and teaching.
This presentation will use The Hotel School’s approach to managing and maintaining a predominantly casual teaching workforce as a case study and will involve casual staff participation. The presentation will suggest some challenges and possible solutions such as regular meetings, regular messaging and updates, and an open door policy. There will also be time for discussion about this most critical topic – often forgotten in the rush to move forward!