The value of campus in a changing higher education environment

Postponed. New date and Venue TBA.

Presenter: Dr Sarah French, Project Manager, Melbourne CSHE

The idea of ‘going to university’ is integrally tied to the concept of the university campus as a physical place. The campus provides students with the opportunity for social and intellectual engagement with a scholarly community and gives meaning to the learning experience. However, in the twenty first century, a series of changes to the educational environment have impacted upon the ways in which students engage with the campus, prompting universities to look at the role of the physical campus afresh. This presentation considers the role that space and place play in higher education and identifies some of the key benefits of campus-based learning. It traces the history of the university campus and examines the ways in which shifts in student participation, educational philosophies, learning space design and the channels of delivery have redefined the campus experience. The seminar aims to stimulate discussion on the role that the physical campus will play in the future of higher education and how the value of the campus experience might be preserved and strengthened. More...