23 Jan 2019 The Australian, Australia Author: Sian Powell • Section: Higher Education • Article Type: News Item Audience : 94,448 • Page: 23 • Printed size: 211.00cm² • Region: National Market: Australia • ASR: AUD 5,428 • words: 560 • Item ID: 1067234965

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New kid on proves a hit

really enjoyed it. Some of them SIAN POWELL had been to other unis in the past and they wanted something dif- University’s senior aca- ferent. They found it to be a lot demics are “very pleased indeed” more practical in a sense.” that substantial numbers of stu- Meanwhile, Professor Devlin dents are voting with their feet to said although the enterprise learn via the institution’s contro- agreement negotiations had yet versial block teaching method to be finalised at VU, the univer- this year, deputy vice-chancellor sity was ready for a second year of Marcia Devlin says. the block teaching program. According to 2018-19 Victorian Marcia Devlin “It won’t be a problem,” she Tertiary Admission Centre fig- said. “We’re very committed to ures, she said, there had been a siblings and cousins and friends getting a good outcome for staff 9 per cent increase in numbers and so forth. It’s just extraord- and the university.” year-on-year in early round inary, in a market where it’s gone A survey conducted last year, and round one offers from the down 11 per cent overall, that along with informal talks, had university. we’re up so much.” made it clear that VU staff were In VU’s block teaching pro- Declan O’Brien, 19, from Foot- not happy with VU’s original sal- gram, introduced last year and the scray, has been studying for a ary offer and they didn’t like a pro- first of its kind in Australia, only bachelor’s degree in sport and ex- posal to force staff to take their one subject is taught at a time, in ercise science at VU. The block holiday leave over the Christmas four-week blocks and classes of teaching method suited him well. close-down, she said. So VU had about 30 students, so students re- “I found it more personalised,” dropped the Christmas close- ceived individual attention from he said. “There are only maybe down idea and was awaiting last academics. maximum 30 students in a class, year’s finalised financial data to The new method seemed to rather than a lecture theatre of 120 decide what could be offered in a suit most students and results had where you don’t really get to new salary plan. been good across many categor- speak to anyone. It was a bit more “We will get (an enterprise bar- ies, Professor Devlin said. engaging, I felt.” gaining agreement) in eventually, “The results are really quite re- Before enrolling at VU last but we’re hopeful it will be sooner markable,” she said. “Every single year Mr O’Brien did his home- rather than later,” Professor Dev- indicator is up: pass rates, grade work on the block teaching meth- lin said. averages, number of distinctions, od. “I’d heard about it but I wasn’t “We’re hoping the staff will ac- higher distinctions.” This success, too sure, so I went away and asked cept the next version of the agree- she added, probably led more stu- a lot of questions and found out a ment we put out, where we’ve dents to choose VU. lot more about it. I thought it demonstrably listened to their “The word is out that it’s a new would be something different, feedback and responded to it.” way of doing things. It’s different something unique.” The next version would be and students like it. They all talk He made the right choice, he on the table as soon as possible, to each other and students have said. “A lot of the friends I made she said.