The Office was originally established in 1998 with the hiring of a Director of Curriculum Development and Evaluation and a Senior Secretary.

The initial responsibilities of the Director were to assist with and oversee the upgrading of the Diploma and Post-Diploma degree programmes that were originally offered by the institution when it was the College of Arts Science and Technology (CAST) to undergraduate degrees as part of the institution’s transition from College to University.

The Director, in an interview, recalls the two guiding principles offered in 1998 by Dr. Michael Fitzgerald, who was at that time the President of Thames Valley University when he visited UTech as part of the Academic Advisory Committee: “ …[President] Fitzgerald advised us to remember the two guiding principles he had learned in the transition of seven English polytechnics into Thames Valley University:

•  do not confuse status with standards, and
•  always be sure you are making new mistakes.

This advice has been the touchstone of the operation of the OCDE, and has been very valuable to the advances accomplished through the Office.

Major accomplishments of the Office, which are accomplishments of the University, include the following:

•  Upgrading of 21 three-year Diplomas to four-year undergraduate degrees by 2001
•  Introduction of outcomes-based curricula in all courses of study
•  Introduction of student-centred learning as the operational learning and teaching philosophy in the University
•  Standardisation of the value of all credit hours (including Co-operative Education credits)
•  Standardisation of course of study and syllabus formats
•  Centralised retention of all module outlines and courses of study
•  Review, approval and introduction of 16 new undergraduate degrees across all Faculties by AY 2005/06
•  UCJ and professional accreditation (and re-accreditation) of 19 undergraduate degree and Diploma courses of study by July 2005
•  Submission of 13 additional programmes for UCJ accreditation by August 2005
•  Implementation and management of University electives as part of the University core programme structure (system structure managed by the OCDE)
•  Introduction of student evaluation of instructors and course modules (conducted every semester)
•  Introduction of an on-line student registration system for University electives in 2000 (through the Multimedia Centre)
•  Management of projects in Action Research for Teaching and Learning (2001-03) and Reflective Teaching Practice (2003/06)
•  Management of a pilot of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) for advanced standing (2003-2006)
•  Management of a project in Proficiency Testing in English Language (2004/05)
•  Management of a project to introduce on-line Instructor/Course evaluation (2004-06)
•  Establishment of the President’s Award for Instructional Excellence
•  Oversight and review of structure of courses of study, syllabi and assessment strategies registered on the Integrated Student Administrative System (ISAS) for AY 2005/06
•  Development of the Academic Development Plan 2000-04 and Academic Development Plan 2006-10.