New course offerings usually are predicated on a deletion of existing offerings. Thus course and subject development processes must include some level of market research, support from potential employer groups and an evaluation of costs. It would therefore be helpful if successful partnerships between academic and administrative staff can be developed. Whether the course is a generalist degree with hundreds of students or a specialist degree with tens of students, these partnerships can reduce the administrative burden to academic coordinators. To be effective these partnerships require the partners to acknowledge each others professional role and specific skills.
Academic staff are responsible for content and decisions that are academic in nature.
It is the role of the administrator to present and organise such content or advice in a way that is meaningful and accessible to particular groups. This may take the form of publicity material, Student Rules and Regulations, Course Information Book, Frequently Asked Questions. For this to be achievable, however, the key is an effective partnership. The second area of work is that of collaborative research. The Government s focus demonstrates the continued need to link with industry in terms of research activity and the broader economic and social aims of a community.