Flinders Future Focus Strategic Plan 2012-2016 - Flinders University

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Flinders Future Focus 2012-2016
Building on our successes
The Flinders Strategic Plan, Inspiring Flinders
Future 2010-2014, affirmed the University’s
ongoing commitment to change and
transformation. Flinders Future Focus 2012-
2016 builds on the progress we have made
and identifies our key strategic goals to
2016. At the centre of the plan is a vision
for Flinders as a medium-sized university
characterised by a distinctive high
quality undergraduate program, selected
postgraduate coursework programs and
focused research excellence.
The University will continue to serve its
local communities – in particular the
southern suburbs of Adelaide – and be
recognised as playing a significant role
in the economic transformation of that
‘experiment and experiment bravely’
Peter Karmel, Founding Vice Chancellor, 1965
region. At the same time we will broaden
and deepen the University’s engagement
with Charles Darwin University and the
Northern Territory to help build the regional
economic corridor between South Australia
and Northern Territory.
The key strategic goals and the actions
underpinning their implementation are
all critical to delivering this vision and
ensuring that in doing so Flinders is
recognised as one of the most innovative
and effective members of Australia’s
higher education system.
strategic context
There have been some significant changes
since the publication of the 2010-2014
Strategic Plan. The deregulation of the
undergraduate higher education market
in Australia following the Bradley Review
has allowed Flinders to grow at a rate
of around 7% over each of the last three
years. We expect growth to continue
over the period of the new plan, subject
to any changes in government policy. It is
important in so doing that we focus on the
quality of entrants to our programs, while
maintaining our commitment to providing
opportunities to widen participation from
historically under-represented communities.
This means that our focus on high quality
teaching, student retention, the relevance
of our qualifications and the development
of graduate qualities must continue.
At the same time we must develop our
teaching practices to make best use of
technology-assisted learning and enhance
the experience of our learners across all of
our onshore and offshore locations.
A 2012 report by Australia’s Workforce
and Productivity Agency emphasises
health care and social assistance as the
top employment growth industry with
professional, scientific and technical
services and education and training as
the next two growth sectors. Flinders is
well positioned to respond to these skills
needs and will ensure that we maintain our
academic focus in these areas.