Rethinking pathway academic calendars: Leveraging the student voice and experience in an intensive delivery mode

Authors

Keywords:

intensive mode of delivery (IMD), block teaching, student voice, pathway programs, heutagogy

Abstract

This study investigated the student experience of an established intensive mode of delivery (IMD) at a university-owned pathway provider. It employed a quantitative student survey, followed by semi-structured focus group interviews. The outcomes were twofold: (1) findings from the primary research and (2) reflections on the extent to which the student voice can play a role in such decisions. Informed by this research, and with the student voice as one of several key inputs, the institution took the decision to amend aspects of the existing academic calendar to increase incubation time, revision opportunities, and vacation time. This research also evidenced that, with support and opportunity, pathway students can provide rich insights into a range of matters that impact them. The article makes the case that rigorous decision-making can be achieved with students as partners and through the systematic inclusion of the student voice in a university’s operational fabric beyond matters restricted to education.

Author Biographies

  • Pamela Humphreys, Macquarie University College

    Associate Professor Pamela Humphreys is the Director of Macquarie University College and the EMI Centre. Pamela is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE, Senior Fellow of IEAA, a TEQSA Expert, and an elected Board member of NEAS. She publishes in the areas of pathway student success, English language and literacies in higher education, language assessment, and EMI.

  • Yulia Kharchenko, Maynooth University

    Dr Yulia Kharchenko is a lecturer and postgraduate programmes director in Applied Linguistics and TESOL at Maynooth University, Ireland. Her research focuses on equitable approaches to teaching in linguistically diverse educational settings, English-medium instruction, academic writing, and intercultural learning in higher education. She has taught and conducted research in Australia and Ireland.

  • Onur Ateş, Macquarie University College

    Dr Onur Ateş is the Associate Director of Macquarie University College. Onur is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and an Associate Fellow of IEAA. Onur is also an Adjunct Fellow (Associate Professor) in the Department of Economics in Macquarie Business School (MQBS).

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Published

2026-10-08

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): Inaugural Issue

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Pamela Humphreys, Yulia Kharchenko, Onur Ateş

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Humphreys, P., Kharchenko, Y. ., & Ateş, O. (2026). Rethinking pathway academic calendars: Leveraging the student voice and experience in an intensive delivery mode. Journal of Pathways Education and Research, 1(1), 41-53. https://pathway-education.org/index.php/jper/article/view/18