International fieldschools to developing countries have become an important component of the university curriculum because they provide experiential learning and research skills, while also contributing a range of soft skills such as resilience, empathy, resourcefulness, critical thinking, and cross-cultural communication. Yet, with the increasing…

One of the outcomes of the policy emphasis upon skills formation in countries like Australia and the UK has been an increase in cross-disciplinary structured programs for higher research degrees raising implicit, but often unexamined, questions about the curriculum and expertise that should inform them. Key insights from applied linguistics and…

A Monash University (Australia) program to enhance the chemistry and physics preparation of secondary school graduates entering engineering in higher education offers one-semester intensive courses. The first four years of the program have produced encouraging results. Coordination of practical work and theory is seen as crucial to learning. (MSE)

A University of Sydney (Australia) program to enhance training of academic staff supervising graduate students is described. Program structure, training methods, and participant evaluations of workshops and seminars are detailed, and factors contributing to or inhibiting program success are discussed. (MSE)

Development and implementation of a Victoria College (Australia) bachelor's degree course in technological management is described. The program has innovative features, including flexible entry and exit points, three levels of award, and delivery in the workplace through computers and self-paced materials. Implementation in two motor vehicle…

A project in a health sciences department of one Australian university, designed to encourage faculty collaboration on student assessment issues, became a program of personal and collective review giving insight into the processes and dynamics of curriculum and professional development. The project, its processes and products, and implications…

A University of Adelaide (Australia) program to assist international graduate students in adjustment to Australian academic and discipline-related norms is described. The program focuses on language and academic skill development, and has been found to be effective. Factors in programs success, and their potential for wider application are…

The University of Technology, Sydney (Australia) graduate certificate program in local government management grew from a desire for program flexibility and relevance and resulted in a partnership with local government. The one-year program has a variety of delivery modes, with both delivery and content negotiated by participants, employers, and…

A University of Canberra (Australia) internship program in library and information sciences is a 12-month program based on the principles of experiential learning that is seen as successful by students, workplace mentors, and faculty. Processes for matching student and mentor, selecting and preparing mentors, and stimulating reflective practice…