University Teaching and Learning

Recently they have numerous discussions on the quality of teaching in universities and a focus on the learning process. While some discussion on this issue is healthy, I strongly felt that we had gone overboard and there was no emphasis on content. So I was delighted to read the article in the Australian which indicated that we should also focus on the curriculum.

I believe that Universities are for students who have the curiosity and intellectual ability to handle scholarly material. Universities are not for students who want an extension of their year 12 (or some might say kindergarten) style of teaching.

So University authorities should provide an environment where the research interests of the academics are reflected in the material taught in the classroom. This will clearly indicate the nexus between teaching and research. Students should partake in the research process. This will weed out unmotivated students as well as those who are not curious.