University of New South Wales - - Academic Calendar Reform - Explanatory Notes

Academic Calendar Reform - Explanatory Notes

Area	Driver	How Addressed
Student Experience	The Calendar must ensure that all students are able to receive a quality education experience.	The new Calendar enables curriculum reform. The 12-week term ensures a streamlined teaching period. The 12-week term will improve opportunities for students to obtain work over the summer recess. Students undertaking summer term classes will have a 4 week break before Term 1 starts.
Research	The Calendar must facilitate improvements in research output (quantity and quality).	The Calendar will allow researchers to focus on research over the summer recess. The summer recess will allow researchers to complete ARC and related grants applications outside teaching terms. The introduction of 2 x 6 week teaching periods on the standard terms (and 2 x 4 week periods in summer) will give researchers greater flexibility in timing their teaching and research activities.
International Students	The Calendar must be optimised to give international students the best opportunity to complete visa requirements and enrol following the release of results in major feeder examinations.	The Term 1 and Term 2 commencement dates align with the release dates for key international Year 12 and Polytechnic results. The Calendar will give an increased number of international applicants the opportunity to commence studies in the UNSW term following the release of their entry results.
Local Students	The Calendar must align with the key events for recruiting and selecting local students (especially those applying through UAC) and meet their expectations for commencing university studies.	The Calendar aligns with key local dates (HSC and UAC). While Term 1 teaching will start a week later than currently, this aligns with the University of Sydney.
Graduations	The Calendar must enable an increased number of graduation ceremonies to be held in December.	Assuming that improvements in finalising results and identifying / confirming graduands can be achieved, it will be possible to conduct ceremonies in the two weeks prior to Xmas week.
Administration	The Calendar must be supported by simplified administrative processes.	The 12-weekCalendar has been designed on the principle that the assessment / exam and graduand processing periods can be shortened. Both depend on improved business processes and enhanced systems to support administrative processes. The availability of examination venues for evening, weekend and race-day exams will have to be addressed.
Summer Term	The Calendar must enable the standardisation of the Summer Term.	The Calendar introduces a standardised summer term offered as an 8 week teaching period in two 'compressed' 4 week teaching blocks (held before and after Xmas - New Year). All Summer courses will be offered in one or both of these windows.
DEEWR Compliance	The Calendar must allow the University to meet its reporting requirements to DEEWR under the Higher Education Support Act (HESA).	The Calendar will allow the University to meet compliance requirements, including publishing deadlines for course offerings, fees, and census dates.