DEAKIN UNIVERSITY – TRIMESTER SYSTEM

Deakin University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor John Rosenberg, said today that he was mystified by a statement issued by the National Tertiary Education Union asserting that a trimester system to be introduced by Deakin University will increase the workloads of staff.

Professor Rosenberg explained "In the past, Deakin had three teaching periods: two semesters of 13 weeks duration and a summer semester of 10 weeks - a total of 36 weeks. Under the new model, there will be three trimesters, each of 12 weeks - a total of 36 weeks."

Professor Rosenberg said that staff had been consulted directly and via an on-line site.

"The structure provides more flexibility for staff in terms of their teaching. Research active staff, in particular, will benefit as they may be able to arrange their teaching in such a way that they have a longer teaching free break."

The trimester system has a number of advantages for students: it allows students to study in the trimesters which suit them - a student may study in trimesters 1 and 3 if they wish to travel in the northern hemisphere summer, or a student may study in all trimesters (assuming the subjects are available) and complete their program sooner.

Professor Rosenberg said that the University had consulted with students directly and through the Deakin University Student Association. "As soon as we explained that no student will be required to study over summer in the third trimester, the students understood that the system increases the choices available to them" Professor Rosenberg said.