Includes a course introduction (first hour)

When

Fri 25-Jul 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location

Learning & Teaching Bldg [10T1]

Contact

chris.browne@anu.edu.au

Skills Developed

Critical AnalysisReflective PracticeDialogue Across Difference

ModePanel ThreadCritical Thinking

This class will follow a loose agenda of:

- 10:00-10:45: class information/induction session
- 10:45-11:30: what are universities for? workshop session to prepare questions for panel
- 11:30-12:30: what are universities for? panel

About this KNoT

This inquiry challenges us to consider what universities uniquely offer to the broader community: not just knowledge transfer, but the development of critical thinking, intellectual citizenship, and the capacity to engage with difficult questions that matter. It's an invitation to reflect on our own role as learners and contributors to society.

Preparation

Please take approximately 10 sections from the Boulton and Lucas' reading. Explore some of the headings you might be curious about.

What You’ll Learn

This will be an exploration of the idea of a university.

Learning Resources

Boulton and Lucas, 2008, "What are Universities For?" 'What Are Universities For?' (ResearchGate)
A Big Ideas podcast moderated by Prof Des Manderson: The purpose and future of the university
Universities Accord: Australian Universities Accord final report

How to Complete This KNoT

Consider the pre-panel activity (what did you think Universities are for?), the reading, and the panel discussion. What has shaped your view of a university? Has this view changed over time? What elements of universities do you think will persist into the future? Reflect (150-200 words) on a question that you asked, or would have asked if you had time.

Submit your Completion Task here:

Submit your completion task for this KNoT via the Qualtrics survey (ANU Login required). You have 10 calendar days after the KNoT to submit it.

Writing your reflection

Most completion tasks ask you to reflect on what you did. For example prompts, sentence starters, and what a strong reflection covers, see Guidance on Reflective Practice. Your completed tasks come together at the end of the semester in the KNoT Completion Evidence.