Aim of WATU

This project-based subject offers students a chance to learn, negotiate and practise change-making skills in, and for, our University, Western Sydney University. At the heart of this subject is student partnership, curriculum co-creation, and an invitation for students to be involved in improving the educational experience at Western. Working in groups and alongside a university mentor, students will have an opportunity to contribute genuine solutions to an authentic education challenge that might be (a) commissioned by senior staff of the University; (b) intended to support students’ aspirations to become a student leader; or (c) offers students a chance to undertake a project that advances their existing student leader or representative role. By choosing this elective subject, students not only receive credit for the partnership work they undertake, the University will have a new way of involving students in its decision-making processes. This is a subject intended to sharpen students’ analytical skill-set and provide a taste of what it’s like to operate as a change-maker inside a large and complex institution.

WATU Learning outcomes:

• Articulate a view of the purpose of universities and students’ role in them, drawing on the scholarly literature and multiple sources of data

• Carry out an inquiry project that addresses a substantial challenge intended to improve students’ educational experience at Western

• Create an artefact that communicates the findings of the project to the broad university community

• Identify why and how a student partnership approach can contribute to successful change-making in universities.

• Describe the applicability of a partnership approach to your life as a student, and to your likely future endeavours