For more than a century, Australian university science has made game-changing discoveries and achieved extraordinary impact on our environment, our health and our quality of life and work. Concurrently, university science has trained and nurtured generations of scientists and scientific minds that society needs to rapidly adapt to the growing global challenges of the 21st Century.

University science is the only sector that gives graduates the broad knowledge and specialist skills needed to create and work in innovative industries, and keep us ahead of our changing world. By bringing university science together as a sector across the 40+ institutions where science learning and research happens, the Australian Council of Deans of Science can uniquely provide a cohesive vision of university science — its legacy, continued impact and vision for the future. We are ambitious in our goals of delivering a renewed vision of universities science teaching and learning, research translation, and
celebrating and elevating the profile of Australian university science.

The ACDS Strategic Plan (2021-2025) sets out the goals and actions including priority projects for 2023. Specifically, our goals are:

To drive improvements in university science teaching and learning, pedagogy, curriculum design, and scholarship of teaching and learning.
To advocate for sustainable research excellence and research translation, for the benefit of industry and the community, and to enhance Australia’s sovereign capability.
To advance the development of the next generation of global science leaders, through professional development and industry engagement.
To elevate the profile of Australian university science and the influence and effectiveness of the ACDS through high quality communication with key stakeholders and end users, and positive engagement between Science Deans.

Science provides the key to understanding the physical and living world. As well as the fundamental knowledge provided by science, its application is central to our ability to live in the modern world, to provide resources, to grow our economy, and to care for our community, our health and our environment. We hope you will join us on our journey to deliver the best quality Australian science capability and workforce.

Professor Melissa Brown,
President, ACDS

ACDS 2021-2025 Strategic Plan

The ACDS delivers benefits to university science by:

LEADING IMPROVEMENTS IN UNIVERSITY SCIENCE TEACHING AND LEARNING

The Australian Council of Deans of Science has a long and proud history of supporting university science educators and academic leaders through the ACDS Teaching and Learning Centre. The Centre provides opportunities to debate significant national issues and lead the development of strategies to influence policy, achieve higher education standards and develop communities of practice that enhance teaching and learning, and share as well as showcase teaching scholarship.

Focus areas include Work Integrated Learning, Year 12 prerequisites, the role of education-focussed academics, threshold learning outcomes and incorporating Indigenous knowledge into Science curricula.

DRIVING SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRANSLATION AND ADVANCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF GLOBAL SCIENCE LEADERS

The ACDS National Research Network is a collective of research organisational leaders in Australia’s science faculties and schools. The network stimulates the generation and exchange of ideas on enhancing, managing and sustaining a culture of science research excellence and impact in universities, for the benefit of industry and the community, and to enhance Australia’s sovereign capability. It informs national consensus and national policy positions that in turn help Science Deans maintain and expand the quality and influence of University Science research in Australia. The ACDS also leads initiatives that boost industry engagement and career prospects for, and development of, early career scientists.

ELEVATING THE PROFILE OF AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY SCIENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ACDS

In order to influence and drive change in university science teaching and research, it is critical that the ACDS is recognised as an authoritative and trusted organisation that listens, acts and achieves outcomes for the sector. This is achieved in part by reputation, but also through effective communication with key stakeholders and end users, and positive engagement between Science Deans.

Areas of focus include (but are not limited to) a strong presence in print, online and social media, regular meetings with Chief Scientists, and strong engagement with Science and Technology Australia. A strong sense of inclusion and value by the Deans and Associate Deans is also essential and is achieved through forums and mentoring programs.

HOW THE ACDS IS DELIVERING ON STRATEGIC GOALS AND ACTIONS

2023 PRIORITY PROJECTS

Leading improvements in University Science teaching and learning

Goal	Approach
Review the Science Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLO’s) Project leads: Susan Howitt and Mark Buntine	The Science TLOs are a national discipline reference point for curriculum design, assessment standards and benchmarking between institutions. They are a consensus view from Australian universities about what a science or mathematical science graduate should know and be able to do. They are important in developing agreed standards for science graduates across the Australian higher education sector. The Science TLOs were established over ten years ago and stand in need of review. There are important areas not currently addressed in the TLO’s, such as Indigenous science, cultural competence more broadly and work-integrated learning/employability skills. It is also timely to consider increased emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving and cross disciplinary experience. In 2023, the ACDS in consultation with key stakeholders will finalise the update to the Australian Science Threshold Learning Outcomes .
Update the ACDS guide for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Project lead: Susan Howitt	The ACDS has led the way in WIL for Science students. The Science Work-integrated guide was established some years ago and stands in need of review to include the range and benefits of opportunities for students to develop employability skills, including internships, field trips and practical intensives. In 2023, the ACDS will engage the teaching and learning leadership of Australian university science, through its Teaching and Learning Centre, to review and expand the Science WIL Guide and will also take the opportunity identify challenges for implementation and propose strategies to overcome them..
Engaging and supporting nationally recognised experts and leaders in Science Teaching and Learning Project lead: Susan Howitt Contributors: Brian Yates, Melissa Brown, Liz Johnson, Merlin Crossley	The ACDS through its Teaching and Learning Centre works with science faculties and their stakeholders to promote advances in quality teaching and learning practices in science and mathematics. A major focus for the ACDS is to identify policy issues and seek to identify and promote consensus, providing a strong national voice on teaching and learning. In 2023 the ACDS will establish a national Teaching and Learning Fellowship program (ACDS Teaching and Learning Fellows) to support leaders who drive and advocate for excellence in Australian university science teaching and learning. The ACDS will support the fellows in national advocacy for their findings and more generally as advocates for sound policy development in university science and mathematics education.

Driving sustainable research excellence and research translation, and advancing the development of the next generation of global science leaders

Goal	Approach
Enhance the Research Leadership profile of the ACDS Project leads: John Bartlett, Mark Buntine Contributors: David Coutts, Katherine Fairfull-Smith, Bronwyn Gillanders, Steven Reddy, Eric Wapstra and Coral Warr	The ACDS has developed a strong national community of practice for university science teaching and learning. It would like to achieve the same in respect of research. In 2023 the ACDS will: – establish an ADR working group to identify issues and opportunities including to re-establish the annual National Research Forum (NRF) and guide future initiatives including working towards establishing a virtual ACDS Centre for Science & Innovation; – host the NRF as a face-to-face event at the University of Adelaide to reengage with the Associate Deans Research and provide ongoing support for an active ADR community of practice.
Extending the culture of university science Project leads: John Bartlett	The “Extending the culture of university science” webinar series aims to enable those responsible for leadership in science faculties that support the conduct of science research to explore the ideas and insights of key stakeholders on challenges and solutions for creating a research culture more inclusive of translational research. One focus of the series is on exploring how science faculties, who are highly focussed on curiosity led research, can respond to increasing demands for research impact and engagement with research end-users. On the other hand the series hopes to raise awareness of the value of curiosity research among external stakeholders, and to ensure that universities are not under pressure to sacrifice good science in response to demands for change. The ACDS will hold webinars each involving chief scientists, university research leaders and leaders of key industry and government bodies that impact science research in Australia.
Evidence-based lobbying to drive improved research sustainability and translation Project lead: Brian Yates Contributors: John Bartlett, Virginia Kilborn	The 2020 Higher Education reforms have separated government funding for teaching and research. While a reduction in teaching funding has already been implemented, and transition funding for teaching and research provided, long-term changes to research funding have yet to be finalised. It is critical that these changes recognise the full cost of research and inclusively enable research translation. In 2023 the ACDS will refine/develop the position statement on sustainability and translation of research in university science, determine the evidence available to support this position statement (or how the evidence might be obtained), and develop a plan for promoting the ACDS position

Elevating the profile of Australian university science

Goal	Approach
Showcasing Australian university science and the ACDS Project lead: Brian Yates Contributors: John Rice, Glenda Key	Australian university science is now quite diverse, in its research, the roles of its people and its organisation. It is engaged in translational research to a much greater extent than in earlier generations, and its people can be basic researchers, industry oriented researchers, teaching focused, and entrepreneurial leaders among many other things. Science is often organised into multi-disciplinary disciplinary units such as science and engineering or science and health, rather than stand alone science faculties. The ACDS is committed to promoting an authentic contemporary picture of Australian university science. It will do this through the activities displayed on its website, but most importantly through its magazine Australian University Science creating opportunities for advocacy and debate on key policy issues relevant to university science. While earlier issues have focussed on translational research and the contributions of university science to issues such as energy, health and food and water security, future issues will also highlight the unique character of fundamental research and its interplay with translation. The ACDS has formed a Communications Subcommittee to oversee its website, direct production of the magazine, and to plan communications strategies around these resources.
Enhance the value and reputation of the ACDS within university science faculties	It is essential that members of the ACDS fully benefit from their membership and see this as valuable resource, an opportunity for strategic networking, and a portal for influence within the Higher Education sector. To achieve this, the ACDS will continue to run multiple events, such as interactive sessions with key leaders across a range of organisations, including a Dean’s Mentoring Program that provides confidential and independent support and guidance for Deans, and a sounding board for problem solving and strategic planning.
Strengthening the organisational structure and legal identity of the ACDS Project leads: Melissa Brown, Mark Buntine, Brian Yates	Since its inception the ACDS has variously been supported by member universities in the conduct of its business and has not had a separate legal entity from its members. In 2023 the ACDS will complete a review its organisational structure and business model and take to the membership a proposal for the future legal structure of the Council.
Supporting equity, diversity and inclusion in university science Project leads: Melissa Brown, Brian Yates, Andrew Woodward	Cultivating talent and promoting the full inclusion of staff and students from across the social spectrum is fundamental to advancing the scientific endeavour. The lack of diversity in university science (staff and students) represents a loss of talent. The ACDS is committed to the principles of EDI and seeks to share policies, practices and decision-making frameworks that redress issues of access, equity, diversity and inclusion for staff and students. The ACDS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion webpage includes quick links to further information including Government data sources and reports, frameworks, and strategies. Member universities are invited to contribute exemplars of their initiatives and strategies that formalise their commitment to EDI in university science and have broader application to other universities.