DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY
Dr. Sherene James-Williamson – Head of Department
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT At the beginning of the 2019/2020 academic year, the Department established a 5-year strategic plan (2019–2024) around six priority areas: staffing and administration; teaching and undergraduate curriculum; research and postgraduate programmes; finance and resource mobilization; outreach, visibility, and linkages and; infra- structure and work environment. The strategic plan is established on a vision for progressive and transformational change to support novel and societally relevant research and teaching while engendering a culture of staff success and happiness. The department had a change in leadership from Dr. Donovan Campbell to Dr. Sherene James-Williamson at the start of the 2022–23 academic year. The new Head of Department has since continued on the trajectory, started by the strategic plan in 2019, with additions related to: implementing the recommendations of the Quality Assurance Review (QAR), curriculum reform towards revision of courses across both disciplines to include partnerships with other departments within as well as out of faculty and unifying the department through bridging the gap between the 2 disciplines and encouraging research. To this end, 2 curriculum development seminars were held. The first of which explored the University process for preparation, submission and approval of new and revised courses and the second saw a full brainstorm session to determine where changes were required and what changes needed to be made and courses to be added. Revision and development tasks assigned. The department produced its first report post QAR. This was very well received by both Faculty and Academic boards. The department highlighted among other things, the need for new field vehicles, new computers and microscopes, and remodeling projects to improve safety and security and boost morale. The Department was engaged in a rationalization process for staffing as well as courses. The curriculum reform plans aided this process significantly.
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