General Education Board of Studies

• The development, management and oversight of the University's
  programme of General Education.
• The approval of courses to be listed in the General Education
  programme.
• Monitoring and maintaining the quality of the General Education
  programme through course and teaching evaluations, programme reviews and reviews of student learning outcomes.
• Proposing any limits to courses in the General Education programme.
• Advising the University through Education Committee on changes to
  regulations governing the General Education programme.

The General Education programme contains a diverse range of courses. These courses are organised into six schedules: one schedule open to all students and five faculty-specific schedules.

Proposals for General Education courses are submitted by faculties to the Board, which evaluates each proposal to determine whether the course meets the criteria for General Education. The courses are required to meet the general aims of University courses, that is to:

• Provide a sound knowledge and understanding of the subject studied.
• Develop understanding and appreciation of philosophical bases,
  methodologies and characteristics of scholarship and research.
• Develop the capacity for critical, conceptual and reflective
  thinking.
• Stimulate intellectual openness and curiosity.
• Provide an opportunity for students to learn the value of working
  to achieve personal and professional goals both independently, and in
  collaboration with others.
• Contribute to the flexibility which graduates are increasingly
  required to demonstrate in the complex modern work environment.
• Enhance the communication abilities and literacy, and quantitative
  understanding of graduates.

Specific criteria apply to General Education courses. They will:

• Supplement, extend and reinforce the knowledge, attributes and
  skills gained within specialised fields.
• Expose students to disciplines and paradigms outside their own
  specialisation, and to the ideas and methods of cross-disciplinary research.
• Equip graduates with a deeper understanding of the international
  and global dimensions of knowledge, and the distinctive qualities of
  Aotearoa, New Zealand.
• Bring together students from diverse disciplines and provide them
  with opportunities to engage with different ideas and concepts.
• Promote tolerance and respect for the values of other individuals
  and groups, and awareness of human and cultural diversity.

An inter-faculty Board of Studies, reporting to Education Committee, manages the General Education programme including the selection, assessment and review of courses.

Maryam Madawi
Email: gecoordinator@auckland.ac.nz