We are pleased to announce that Prof Elena Riva has published a new paper on the "ABCs of Mental Health at the University" (ABC-uni), a multi-level intervention designed to promote mental well-being across university settings. This research, the result of an ongoing collaboration with the University of Copenhagen, highlights IATL's continued innovation in higher education, particularly in the area of student wellbeing and mental health support.

The 5^th Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching Conference will take place on the 2^nd of April 2020 at the University of Warwick. It will explore a variety of issues in the theme of 'Interdisciplinarity: Learning from Each Other'.

This year’s conference theme asks participants to consider the elements of collaboration, co-construction of knowledge and practice that underpin the interdisciplinary teaching and learning experiences of students and teachers.

Read more about it and submit your abstract here.

Dr Elena Riva has been awarded funding by the Warwick Innovation Fund (£18,831) for creating the Warwick open-access online module "Understanding Wellbeing”, based on her current in-classroom module. She will work in collaboration with Dr Kathryn Woods (Director of Student Experience for the Faculty of Arts) and Kerry Pinny (Senior AcademicTechnologist, IT Services), leading a wider cross-institutional team of staff and students for the development of the online module.

The seminar is open to all University of Warwick students. Registered students will receive a certificate of participation. Places are limited. Please register to secure a place here.

This is the second of two interdisciplinary pilot seminars that draws its inspiration from the Warwick-based online peer-reviewed journal called Feminist Dissent. The module’s focus is to develop an understanding of a worldwide proliferation of fundamentalist religious movements and the global rise of conservative and racist populist movements taking place in the context of the ongoing crises of capitalism and resources.

Racism, feminism and the politics of fundamentalism in Britain is the first of two interdisciplinary pilot webinars that draws its inspiration from the Warwick-based online peer-reviewed journal called Feminist Dissent. Pragna Patel of Southall Black Sisters will lead the seminar which is open to all University of Warwick students.

Click here to register and to find out more

Elena Riva (IATL) and Louise Gracia (Dean of Students) recently co-developed a successful bid for funding from the ‘HEFCE Catalyst Fund: Supporting mental health and wellbeing for postgraduate research students’.

It will result in a collaborative, cross-institutional project co-led by IATL, the Dean of Students and the Graduate School. This project also involves Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHW), Counselling Services, Warwick Sport, the Library, and Warwick Business School (WBS).'

Dr Elena Riva and Victoria Jelicic (both IATL), together with Sarah Ashworth (Head of Mental Health & Wellbeing Support Services), have received Warwick Innovation Fund support for a project aiming to improve students’ wellbeing in the teaching and learning environment. Elena has also received WIHEA funding to organise a Masterclass looking at mental wellbeing in higher education and the challenges for academic staff.

'Sport, Philosophy and Practice' is a project which has explored the gaps and overlaps between philosophy and sport, asked how and where the curricular and extra-curricular intertwine, striven to adapt academic assessment to take into account embodied learning and expression, and reflected on best practice in the creation and development of interdisciplinary and physically active modules.