It's being touted as a game-changer in tertiary eduction - a new "passion-based learning" approach to a public health degree offered exclusively by the University of Newcastle that allows students to decide what, how and when they learn.
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The "Big Picture Education" design is a progressive approach to teaching, and has proven popular for some secondary schools around the world. It focusses on personalising education around "passion-based learning". Students take control of their education and tailor their studies to their career aspirations.
The University of Newcastle will launch a new Big Picture Education degree - a Bachelor of Public and Community Health - exclusively on the Central Coast.
Applications for the 2020 intake of the Bachelor of Public and Community Health are now open. The qualification takes three years full-time or can be studied part-time.
"Whilst Big Picture Learning is well-established internationally in secondary schools, this will be the first bachelor degree underpinned by it," Professor James said.
"The Big Picture features embedded in the new degree will enable students to take charge of their own learning in a culture of support and preparation for a dynamic career in public health."
The degree itself is focused on preventing disease and illness, enhancing health and wellbeing, and reducing health inequities. It is a multi-disciplinary qualification that draws on expertise from a wide range of disciplines including environmental health, marketing, human services, public health, maths, statistics, health economics, health promotion, sociology, Indigenous studies, global studies, and business administration.
Professor James said there would be eight majors available, including health promotion, environmental health and global health.
"We're also proposing to draw on expertise in industry through casual and conjoint teaching appointments, industry-engagement in the design of assessments, and the involvement of local employers in work experience and internships," she said.
The qualification was launched at a special event in Gosford on Wednesday, attended by prospective students and guests including Dr Andrew Montague, chief executive of the Central Coast Local Health District.
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