Curriculum innovation in transnational teaching: A pilot study

Students are increasingly operating in a globalized world. Off shore education is challenging for students and teachers, as both need to make connections between local and culturally located knowledge and discipline. The relevant literature indicates that the transnational classroom has a number of challenges. Skills and knowledge of off shore and on shore teachers to enhance the quality of off shore learning and teaching are limited and unrealized. Off shore students experience culturally dislocated and disconnected pedagogies which impede student learning, engagement, programme cohesion, and graduate outcomes. Yet, the transnational classroom also offers opportunities. Not just from an economic perspective, it offers Universities an opening to build and maintain a global presence and has the potential to offer scholarship benefits to staff and students alike. This paper presents the results of one of RMIT University’s Learning and Teaching Investment Funded applied research project. The aim of this project, trialled as a pilot was to improve student learning experiences, outcomes and employment opportunities by developing and implementing a transnational educational partnership comprising; on and off shore teachers, students, and local industry stakeholders. This partnership used focus groups, interviews and surveys to develop and deliver three interactive workshops designed to integrate international and local contexts and enhance student’s learning and work. The results show that the partnership between on and off shore teachers introduced a change in teaching practice developed through a partnership with their local and off shore teachers, each other and local industry. In addition to enhanced student learning outcomes, opportunities for professional development for teachers were also realized. The success of this pilot has led to changes in the Bachelor of Applied Science Construction Management curriculum and teaching practices at RMIT University.