Christine Slade

The benefits of embedding experiential learning in the education of planners

Abstract In a future of complexity, uncertainty and fragmented governance we envision planning graduates who will be better prepared for the real world of planning as a result of an experiential learning (EL) approach in undergraduate tertiary education. In this paper, we present the findings of an Australian research project in which planning educators developed and tested a range of experiential planning principles based on sound pedagogical theory. Embedding EL principles and activities within the planning curriculum provides a structured programme of engagement between theory and practice over the four years of an undergraduate Australian planning programme, including opportunities for work-integrated learning. Students gain experience in negotiated decision-making involving a wide range of interactions with planning practitioners. Students become more adaptable—cognizant of mechanisms influencing change, and recognize the value of lifelong learning founded on critical reflection. We propose that a more systematic approach to integrating experiential learning in tertiary planning education culminating in ‘work integrated learning’ would provide a vehicle for further partnerships with responsive local practitioners and communities. Finally, this paper also argues that applying experiential learning does not compromise the quality of planning education based on greater academic rigour.

Institutional Capacity of Local Government to Embed Food Security into Policy

Food security policy making is on the agenda of a number of councils and manifests itself in various forms. This chapter primarily examines influential factors in the local government policy-making process when seeking to embed accessible and affordable culturally appropriate, fresh, healthy food, particularly for socially vulnerable groups. It also explores the diverse responses from councils in order to incorporate food security into policy. Although local government plays important roles in food insecurity solutions, legislative, resource and organizational mechanisms and practices limit local government activity. State and federal governments need to acknowledge the food security agenda as an important sustainability issue and provide inter-governmental support to local government initiatives through legislative provisions and increased funding.

‘Just turn to us’: the persuasive features of contract cheating websites

Abstract Academic integrity is important to universities and students must abide by codes of academic conduct around assessment. Students are, however, subject to multiple pressures around assessment, some of which can push them to cheat. Modern contract cheating websites are the fronts for sophisticated, commercial operations that offer individually written assessment items for a fee; to combat their use we need a better understanding of the tools they use to persuade students to become customers. In this study we examined the persuasive features of 11 highly-visible contract cheating websites and mapped these features to a previously used persuasiveness framework. We find that contract-cheating websites use a variety of credibility, interactive and informative features designed to persuade students to use their services. In addition, the sites offer low-cost, customisable products available in very short timeframes. We suggest ways in which educators can encourage academic integrity by talking with their students about how the websites promulgate their ‘just turn to us’ message.

Baseline survey of current experiential learning practice in Australian and New Zealand planning schools

Experiential Learning (EL) activities within higher education planning programmes provide opportunities for students to learn workplace skills and knowledge within ‘real-world’ contexts. Despite the documented theoretical benefits of EL there is a lack of information on current EL practice in tertiary institutions. Researchers undertook a baseline survey of current EL activities and associated assessment practices used in accredited university planning schools in Australia and New Zealand. Survey responses were received from 18 universities, with 15 out of 23 accredited planning programmes in Australian universities and 3 out of 4 equivalent planning programmes in New Zealand universities. The survey results suggest that some planning programmes are using EL activities to a greater extent than others and there is a diverse understanding and inconsistent vocabulary associated with EL activities. While having a guest speaker was the most used EL activity less than half were linked to assessment. By comparison, other EL activities, such as work experience, always had an assessment component. The survey provided a foundational understanding of current EL practice to inform a larger multi-university research project Experiential Learning in Planning Education (see www.usc.edu.au/explearning) which aims to develop a consistent approach to EL and resource materials for tertiary planning education.

Local governance for social sustainability: equity as a strategic response to neoliberal constraints in food security initiatives

ABSTRACT Scholarly literature recognises the importance of social sustainability as part of the wider sustainability agenda. A wide array of concepts such as equity, social justice, democratic government, social inclusion, social capital and quality of life are thought to constitute social sustainability. Local governments are charged with delivering social programs and services to their constituency, but market logics and performance-based institutional cultures, along with limited authority and funding, constrain their capacity to respond to new initiatives. We analyse two case studies in Victoria, Australia, to explore how elements of social sustainability are articulated and operationalised within local government. Each case study involved State-level and local government partnerships in health-promotion initiatives to improve food security. Analysis was conducted on 50 primary policy documents, 22 secondary data documents and 27 interviews. Findings reveal that a systems-based or integrated approach to social sustainability was not workable but not completely ineffective. Equity was prioritised by local government in both case studies, and well acknowledged as interconnected with other social goals. Although constrained in its capacity to deliver new initiatives, local government responded to neoliberalising ideologies, as well as its constituency, by strategically focusing on a particular goal, such as equity.

A Strategic Approach to Institution-Wide Implementation of ePortfolios

The introduction of ePortfolios at the University of the Sunshine Coast was a key component of the university’s Blended Learning Strategy: 2014–2016. The main purpose of this three-phased project was the embedding of ePortfolios across program curricula, particularly focused on student learning enhancement. The use of ePortfolios is a way universities can meet the industry push for work-ready graduates and the corresponding necessity for students to develop lifelong learning habits. In practice, however, such an implementation is not always easy to achieve. The aim of this chapter is to present the lessons learnt from one approach of implementation through an action research frame based on the critical reflective narration of processes undertaken by the ePortfolio team in the Learning and Teaching Unit. Key success indicators centre on strategic planning and responsiveness, effective leadership, stakeholder management, communication and program sustainability, and confirms the importance of firmly maintaining project objectives. The use of an agile and multi-faceted approach, facilitated by ongoing yet responsive critical reflection process is necessary to achieve effective integration of ePortfolios into multiple programs across an institution.

Critiquing food security inter-governmental partnership approaches in Victoria, Australia

Food security is an issue, not only in developing countries but also in developed economies such as Australia where people from vulnerable groups cannot access affordable and appropriate food on a daily basis. Agencies emphasise the need for collaborative approaches to such complex, multi-sectoral challenges. This article analyses two inter-governmental partnership approaches facilitating local governments response to food insecurity in 12 municipalities within the state of Victoria. We focus on the partnership approaches to collaboration, processes and structures, and collective outcomes. The comparative data analysis from in-depth interviews and document analysis of project-associated materials and municipal policies provides insight into the different partnership approaches. Results suggest that while strategically designed and focused inter-governmental partnerships can build local government capacity to respond to food security, there are systemic, regulatory, and resource barriers in play. In conclusion, the implications of these findings for future inter-governmental approaches to address complex challenges are considered.

Law and governance of water resources: the challenge of sustainability

Douglas Fisher is the author of numerous texts on law relating to environment, natural resources and water. This latest book continues Fisher’s meticulous textual and linguistic analysis of legal doctrines and instruments in relation to water resources. Thematic organisation of material is Fisher’s forte and the structure of this book shows the thought put into achieving a rational presentation of the large amount of material on the subject. The book has seven parts, starting with the challenge of sustainable water resources governance, the formal structure of governance, the normative structure of international arrangements, the normative structure of national arrangements, evolving international arrangements, evolving national arrangements, and lastly, innovations for achieving sustainability. Readers will find the material relatively easy to locate because of this thematic framing and the detailed contents pages. In an effort to make the material accessible, each part also begins with a two page overview of its subject matter. Parts I and II which relate to the challenge of sustainability and the formal structures of water governance present material covered elsewhere, both in Fisher’s own work and in others’. What is useful is the brief presentation of models of governance, including in New Zealand through the Resource Management Act 1991, in the European Union, and through the Draft International Covenant on Environment and Development. Because this is a textual analysis, considerable attention is given to exploration of concepts such as ‘balancing norm’ (p. 32) and ‘interstitial normativity’ (p. 33). Normative structures are covered in Parts III and IV. In chapters relating to the international sphere, Fisher continues to explore what is meant by interstitial normativity the relationship between legal and paralegal rules and in language familiar to legal theoreticians explores norms and the Grundnorm underlying the management of international watercourses. With regard to the latter, Fisher postulates that the fundamental norm in international law appears to be the equitable and reasonable utilisation of water in conjunction with protection of the environment and prevention of pollution. In the same manner, Parts V and VI deal with evolving international and national arrangements. The sweep of material attempts to build a bridge across international law and domestic law, and this is no mean feat. Although one can see why material covering international law is separated between the normative structures (in Part III) and the chapters in Parts V, which deal with concepts such as the human right to water, conflict and cooperation, I suggest that the thematic Australasian Journal of Environmental Management Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2011, 61 68