A Night of Insight and Inspiration: Professor Joanne Wright Visits Mandelbaum House

With the commencement of the new semester at the University of Sydney, Mandelbaum House was fortunate to host a presentation by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Professor Joanne Wright. Prior to joining the University of Sydney, Professor Wright was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) for the University of Queensland (UQ). Professor Wright has an extensive history of academic leadership roles for many years, starting with her position as Dean of the Faculty of History and Social Sciences at Royal Holloway University of London in 2002. Professor Wright, talked to students about Sydney University’s ‘2032 Strategy’ and particularly the initiatives concerned with teaching and learning.

The evening commenced with an Acknowledgement of Country, paying tribute to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and was followed by a captivating digeridoo performance by Logan Culley, accompanied by Izzy Coleman on the clapping sticks. To add to a night filled with resident talent, the audience was treated to a beautiful piano performance by resident Marc Koshy.

The presentation by Professor Wright began with an examination of sector-wide student survey results on overall experience, which revealed that the University of Sydney’s performance in this area had fallen short of expectations. Professor Wright noted that this has been the case for several consecutive years, demonstrating the need for renewed focus and improvement for increased student satisfaction.

Professor Wright identified three principal avenues through which this renewal process will be implemented. The first involves a concerted effort to elevate the quality of teaching in the classroom. This entails equipping educators with targeted professional development, fostering innovative pedagogical practices, and ensuring that teaching is both intellectually rigorous and responsive to diverse student needs. The second strategy focuses on simplifying the curriculum across all programs. Streamlining course structures and removing unnecessary layers of complexity will promote clearer progression pathways for students, reduce administrative burden, and enhance the coherence of academic offerings. The third pathway centres on assuring that all graduates leave the University equipped with essential learning outcomes and contemporary capabilities, especially with respect to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). By doing so, the University seeks to ensure its graduates are not only knowledgeable in their chosen disciplines but also adaptable, resilient, and prepared to contribute meaningfully to society.

Professor Wright’s presentation to the residents of Mandelbaum House was an engaging and interactive exchange, offering students a valuable opportunity to pose thoughtful questions and contribute their own perspectives on how the University of Sydney might enhance its student experience. Students posed a wide array of questions, spanning topics from the practical implications of AI in education to the pressing need for robust and effective mechanisms of teacher evaluation. For instance, one student suggested to Professor Wright that, given the inevitability of AI playing a pivotal role in the future workforce, it is essential for students not only to learn how to use AI effectively but also to cultivate and retain their own independent knowledge and skills. The concept of enhanced teacher evaluation also emerged as a priority of considerable interest among the Mandelbaum residents, with many expressing curiosity about how frequently such evaluative surveys should be conducted, the most effective timing for their administration, and the processes by which these measures would be implemented.

Overall, Professor Wright’s message highlighted the importance of the University of Sydney’s urgent need to revitalise its approach to teaching and learning in response to sustained underperformance in student experience metrics. The evening concluded on a celebratory note as Professor Wright presented an award to the highest academically performing Mandelbaum House student from the previous semester, recognising their dedication, hard work, and excellence. This fitting finale not only honoured individual achievement but also reinforced the values of academic aspiration and continuous learning that had been at the core of the evening’s discussion.

It was a wonderful night, one that blended cultural appreciation, student engagement, and the sharing of transformative ideas, leaving residents with a richer understanding of the University of Sydney’s educational vision and the steps that are being taken to shape its future.

Article: Mike Smith (Mandelbaum House resident)

Photography: Ofer Levy