One of the most common questions we get asked is about how teaching at university is different from at school. In this post, we’ll guide you through the teaching structure at university and provide an example of a module we're currently taking, The Energy Trilemma.

Teaching at university is structured differently to at school or sixth-form. The content is taught through a mixture of lectures and seminars. From our experience, lectures are taught in larger groups including everyone on the module. These are really important for communicating the key concepts and information about the topic you are studying. Our lectures are usually followed up by a seminar, which is a small group session (typically of no more than 15 students) where you can discuss readings and debate ideas, building on the content covered in the lecture.

Independent work is also a key part of university study. On a course like GSD, the mix of personal backgrounds and interest, combined with students’ passion for the topic makes seminars really engaging and thought-provoking.

We're currently taking the optional, final year module called the The Energy Trilemma, where we're exploring the challenges of the energy system (security, equity and environmental sustainability).

In a recent seminar we looked at energy security and how national energy policy needs to ensure energy supply at a reasonable price – focusing on need for diversification of supply and import vulnerability.

A great thing about the GSD modules is that sustainability is an expanding field. The topics are very current and are often in the news. Earlier in the term, we looked at the importance of the Middle East and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for ensuring global energy security. This became evident during the drone attacks on Saudi Arabian facilities. The following BBC article reports on the biggest one-day disruption to oil output: ‘Oil prices soar after attacks in Saudi facilities’.

WIDS (Warwick International Development Society) recently hosted a talk by geopolitical analyst Richard Mallinson titled ‘To the last drop: Rethinking the role of oil in regions such as the Middle East’, giving students from across the University the opportunity to further their understanding on this. One discussion point was the recent policy reforms oil-producing countries are taking to avoid associated political and economic problems.

Talks like this are happening all the time at Warwick. Societies have great contacts with speakers and industry experts, allowing you to explore wider sustainability interests.

Kristina Pugh

Final-year Single Honours GSD student

Katharine McEnery

Final-year Life Sciences and GSD student

Monday 25 November 2019