Project Objectives

This study was designed to articulate and illustrate learning outcomes in the humanities from students’ voices and work.

Description of process and deliverables

Undergraduate students in their final year (n=32), postgraduate students (n=23) and recent alumni (n=2) from the Faculty of Arts were interviewed individually or in small groups. They discussed their desired and actual learning outcomes in three areas: 1) the overall university experience, studying in the humanities, and their studies in their specific majors. The students’ comments were grouped into 16 categories of description. Seventy-three pieces of student work were collected and matched to the 16 categories. A common set of qualities was found in all the humanities programmes. The findings are helpful in bringing the student voice into internal programme discussions about outcomes-based approaches, and how this relates to internal quality assurance and curriculum change processes. A website and a book are tangible project outcomes.

Evaluation of outcomes

Production of evidence-based outcomes statements through evaluation of the initial collection of student descriptions and examples of student work. Saturation reached in the analysis of interviews. Illustrative samples of student work were selected from a large collection.

Dissemination of results & deliverables