Introduction
The challenges that face teaching, and providing for pedagogy in a research intensive University, were the chosen themes of Professor Alison Richard, the Vice Chancellor, in her annual address to Senate House at the beginning of Michaelmas in 2006. She acknowledged the tension that can exist between teaching and research but reminded her audience how they complemented one and other: "At its very best, teaching invigorates research," she said. She did however call for a better investment in undergraduate teaching, and a change in attitude to promote its centrality.
The Vice-Chancellor's aspirations complement the launch of the University Learning and Teaching Strategy 2006-9[1] (ULTS). The strategy aims to make a sustained improvement to learning and teaching in order to guarantee Cambridge as a leader in teaching excellence alongside research excellence. Much of the University's strategy complements previous and current CUSU policy and efforts to improve the learning experience of students.
How CUSU's ongoing efforts, in particular the work of the CUSU Academic Affairs Officer, Education Officer and Faculty-Liaison Officer, College Academic Affairs Officers and Student Faculty Board Members, will interact with the University Strategy is explained in this document. It aims to provide a framework from which CUSU can develop its campaigning work and its interaction with the University on common issues identified by both parties. This document is not designed to be a wholly separate strategy document. Indeed, there are a number of issues on which CUSU may look to further over the coming 18 months that are not mentioned in this document. However, it was not the aim of the document to provide views that may conflict with the University LTS. Instead, this document is designed to accompany and complement the University's, outlining the position from which CUSU will be looking to approach a number of the issues the University has raised.
The intention is to review this document at the end of the 2007/8 academic year and for an appendix to be written outlining the work undertaken within the CUSU LTS framework, similar to the progress report written for the ULTS[2].
Next section: Mission Statement
[1] The University Learning and Teaching Strategy is available at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/education/strategy/
[2] The University Learning and Teaching Strategy Action Plan Progress Report at September 2007 is available at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/education/strategy/actionplan/update2007.pdf