The Academic Board met on 13 August 2026. It considered the mid-cycle review of MIT’s research master’s degrees, student outcomes, academic integrity and the processes for approving courses. Several matters will return to the Board with detailed proposals later in the year.

Welcome

The Board welcomed Professor Stephen Teo, MIT’s new Research Director and an ex officio member of Academic Board, and Mr Patrick Delmastro, Manager, Academic Services and Administration, who attended as a guest. The Board recommended the reappointment of Associate Professor Di Bolton as an external member for a further two years; the Board of Directors will consider that recommendation.

Research degree review

The Board accepted the panel report on the mid-cycle reviews of the research master’s degrees and endorsed its recommendations. These address course structure and curriculum, the student journey and supervision, assurance of learning at AQF Level 9, and the resources and leadership needed to sustain the courses. The review also recognised strengths in the programs.

Both Schools provided initial responses, which were supported by the Board. A formal report on their responses, including any proposed course changes, is due at AB 26.6 in October. The Board asked for further attention to be given to the cluster model of research supervision and its effect on students. Course changes will go through the Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC) and Academic Board for approval, with material changes notified to TEQSA.

Data Analytics course review

The full review of the Bachelor and Master of Data Analytics had taken place shortly before the meeting. The panel report was still being prepared, so the Board did not consider its recommendations at AB 26.5. A further online Board meeting was planned for September to consider the report and the School’s preliminary response after LTC consideration. (Subsequently, it was decided to delay AB consideration until meeting AB 26.6 in October.) Reaccreditation proposals will follow through the normal approval process.

Scrutiny of course proposals

For each course accreditation application, the Board approved a process whereby a small group of LTC members, with other relevant MIT staff where appropriate, will examine the application in detail and advise the full committee. This will give LTC a focused review before it makes a recommendation to Academic Board. At this stage, this is an informal process, which, if found to be helpful, may be solidified into policy at a later stage.

Student outcomes and academic integrity

The Board considered the 2025 student academic outcomes report and endorsed its recommendations. Undergraduate progression (essentially the “pass rate” averaged over all units) was generally in the low eighties, while postgraduate progression was in the mid to high nineties. Attrition (essentially those students who commence a course but do not progress into their second year of studies) rose in 2025 after an improvement in 2024. The Board accepted proposed course attrition and progression targets for 2027 and requested deeper analysis of the marked variation in attrition between different student communities (for example, source country, or source agent).

The Board also accepted the 2025 Academic Misconduct Annual Report and endorsed its five recommendations. Members noted that the report records identified breaches, not the total incidence of misconduct. Both Schools continue to focus on assessment design, prevention and the difficult task of identifying misuse of generative AI.

Graduate attributes and AI

A preliminary comparison of graduate attributes at other institutions began discussion of the possibility of a whole-of-MIT review of Graduate Attributes, Course Learning Outcomes and Unit Learning Outcomes. The Executive Dean will bring a project proposal and timeline to AB 26.6. The work is intended to consider how graduates demonstrate disciplinary capability in an environment shaped by AI and other emerging technologies; the detailed scope and timetable have yet to be agreed.

Research and academic governance

The Board accepted the Research and Scholarship Report, written by the previous Research Director, covering January 2025 to June 2026. The Board noted that a separate annual account of progress against MIT’s Research and Scholarship Plan is also required annually, and has already been presented and accepted in 2026.

The Board approved its Annual Report to the Board of Directors – a new initiative that will require a report to be presented early in each calendar year.

Proposals for the 2026 Teaching and Research Excellence Awards are expected at AB 26.6.

Looking ahead

The next scheduled Academic Board meeting is on 15 October 2026. It is expected to consider the Schools’ formal responses to the research degree review, the proposed graduate attributes project, and the Teaching and Research Excellence Awards processes. The separate consideration of the Data Analytics review was planned for September. (Note: as mentioned above, this review will now be considered at the October meeting.)

Professor Doug Grant
Chair, Academic Board
September 2026