Bridging the gap between theory and practice in higher education

“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.” – Manfred Eigen

It’s almost certain that every one of us has experienced this at one time or another; you’re sitting listening to the lecture wondering – what is he saying, what does it mean, what relevance does it have for my understanding or my career?

The lecturers in your university only tell you things you should know, but you’re not entirely sure why it’s so important to understand these things.

Does this scenario sound familiar? Because in many universities, students are disengaged from the learning process because they’re not urged to get involved.

Due to developments in education technology and shifts in the employment market, the higher education landscape has changed a lot over the past decade; no longer are universities looking purely towards regimented classroom learning, assignments or exams as a means of teaching students and evaluating their ‘success’; instead, valuable, applicable, hands-on methods of teaching have proved much more effective for this.

According to studies, students who practise what they’re learning first-hand are three and a half times more likely to retain that knowledge than when they’re sitting in a lecture room, hand-scribing notes.

As a result, more and more institutions are now implementing student-centred teaching (or learner-based teaching), which moves the focus to the student and gives them more control over their learning.

A prime example of this can be seen in the work of Monash Australia, where major changes in pedagogy have taken centre-stage as universities seek to transform the overall student experience. By shifting the focus directly onto their learning outcomes, there’s an opportunity to ensure all students reach their goals and enhance the reputation of their host institutions as global hubs of excellence.

When it comes to creating an effective learning environment for all students, Monash University Malaysia is an example of a world-class institution, fostering several learning models: