Future mature age students at the University of New England (UNE) will be able to speed through their tertiary study, with past experience counting towards their degree.
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And UNE students will even be able to design their own course of study on a "virtual campus", at what will be a "digital-first" institution.
Those ideas and more are included in a new plan for the next decade at the region's biggest educational institution.
UNE Vice-Chancellor and CEO Brigid Heywood will tonight unveil what the university calls Future Fit - UNE's 10-year plan.
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The roadmap was developed through the university's largest-ever open consultation of staff, students, business partners, community and alumni, with over 1000 separate engagements, she said.
It was developed alongside the Time for Change project - a major round of redundancies that saw UNE shed one sixth of its staff.
"Future Fit was prepared at a time of challenge, but it reaffirms this University's commitment to support all our students - present and past - in their educational requirements," Professor Heywood said.
"We know from the past year that the way we work and the way we engage as communities is going to change.
"We are embarking on an innovative plan which will build strongly on the value of our relationships with our students, staff, alumni, partners and communities to create future-fit graduates and communities."
A document outlining the Future Fit plan shows students will embark on their own "personalised learning journey".
The approach will make life easier for mature-age students hoping to add more strings to their bow - without needing to start from scratch.
"The unique life experience, knowledge and skills you bring to university will be recognised and will help to shape your personal learning and career journey," it says.
Both formal and informal learning will be recognised for course credit.
UNE will also develop a "virtual campus", with all the services required to support learning and student engagement at UNE.
The university will also adopt research priorities aligned with "industry and community needs".
Future Fit will be rolled out to community and student stakeholders at events over the coming weeks.
The university slashed $20 million in staff in 2020 as part of their round of redundancies.
Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
