Redefining student success in a changing world

After more than three decades of teaching drama and theatre in higher education, followed by leadership roles at the school, faculty and university levels in the United Kingdom, Professor Carole-Anne Upton remains passionate about the academic world. “Universities are all about people and ideas, and it’s a huge privilege to enable people to learn and be transformed by their encounter with ideas,” she said.

In June, Prof Upton took on a new challenge as deputy vice-chancellor, Singapore, at James Cook University (JCU).

Established in 2003, JCU Singapore is a campus of JCU Australia, which ranks among the top 2 per cent of universities globally, according to the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the 2023 ShanghaiRanking Academic Ranking of World Universities. In 2016, JCU became the only Australian institution in Singapore to be awarded university status under the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Prof Upton, whose career has increasingly focused on international education, views JCU Singapore as a vibrant campus that excels in education, research, innovation and engagement with the public, business and community sectors.

“Having been in Singapore for more than 20 years, JCU Singapore is a mature organisation with a truly international community,” she shared. “There’s a real buzz of ideas around the place!”

SHAPING 21ST CENTURY STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

In an era marked by rapid technological, societal and environmental shifts, educators face the challenge of preparing students for a future that is still unfolding, observed Prof Upton. She believes that a problem-based and collaborative educational approach is essential to developing learners who can tackle urgent global challenges, such as climate change, health and inequality, social and economic sustainability, and geopolitical strife.

“Collaboration must happen at all levels – international, multicultural and interdisciplinary. No single discipline or group can address the major problems facing us all,” she said. She added that educators must work closely with students to understand their needs and aspirations, while maintaining dialogues with employers to keep pace with the evolving workforce landscape.

At JCU Singapore, for instance, researchers from diverse international backgrounds collaborate with the aquaculture industry to improve the safety and sustainability of warm-water species. This work aligns with the university’s mission to create a brighter future for life in the tropics and beyond through impactful education and research.

“Universities are part of the rapid changes affecting our societies worldwide,” reflected Prof Upton. “We must adapt to ensure we continue serving individuals and societies by graduating students who are highly skilled and also creative, curious, empathetic, confident, resilient and adaptable – essential qualities that will enable them to thrive in the future.”

IMPARTING SKILL SETS FOR A CHANGING FUTURE

Observing that the ongoing shift in higher education from knowledge acquisition to skill development is accelerating, driven by the increasing accessibility of information, Prof Upton stated that critical and intellectual skills – beyond information retrieval to evaluation, contextualisation, analysis and synthesis – have become essential for successfully navigating the complexities of the modern world across all fields.

“In addition, what some call ‘soft’ skills – I don’t think they are soft at all! – such as collaboration, creativity, empathy, active listening, negotiation and pitching are core skills associated with theatre practice,” noted the former lecturer in drama and professor of theatre at three UK universities. “The arts and humanities have often been perceived as less valuable compared to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects. But I see that coming full circle now, as artificial intelligence (AI) requires us to prioritise creative and human-centred work practices and to push our collective imagination through design thinking, with and around AI.”

Prof Upton predicts that generative AI will unlock unprecedented possibilities in research, as well as provide truly customised learning experiences and more efficient support services for students. However, she also acknowledges the challenges it presents, particularly with regard to academic integrity and data protection, for example.

“Our challenge is to ensure that students are using these new tools effectively to support their learning, not just to pass their exams,” she said.

JCU is exploring the potential of generative AI on multiple fronts, from a university-wide AI-enhanced innovation programme led by JCU vice-chancellor and president Prof Simon Biggs to research on responsible AI use in education spearheaded by Dr Jasper Roe, head of department, Language School, at JCU in Singapore.

CELEBRATING HIGHER EDUCATION

Prof Upton is looking forward to working with her new colleagues in Singapore and Australia, as well as JCU’s board of directors, to further enrich the university’s academic environment and expand beyond the traditional core metrics of student success to include a more holistic definition. 

“While I’m pleased to note that JCU ranks highly in terms of graduate employment and salary outcomes, my personal definition of success is a student who graduates with the hunger and capacity to keep learning throughout their life,” she shared.

For Prof Upton, Teachers’ Day serves as an opportunity for educators to reflect on the lives they’ve impacted through their work. “It is the human success stories that make our jobs so rewarding. We all share an ambitious mission, but if as a teacher you can create a brighter future even for one person, that is cause for celebration!”

Learn more about James Cook University and the suite of university-level programmes offered at the JCU Singapore campus.