Overcoming Barriers to Support Interdisciplinary Education at Warwick
Summary
With over 25 years of experience in higher education, Debbi is an expert in teaching, assessments, programme and course coordination, quality assurance, curriculum development and reform, student recruitment and selection, mentoring and coaching, and pastoral care at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
In this case study, Debbi highlights key institutional challenges for interdisciplinarity at Warwick. She shares her vision for the Interdisciplinary Staff Hub, outlining her expectations for the platform. She suggests how the development of such a platform can enhance interdisciplinary learning and teaching at the university.
Dr Debbi Marais
Director of Postgraduate Education,
Warwick Medical School
University of Warwick
As the Director of Postgraduate Education at WMS, a Principal Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, and a Chair in Health Sciences Education, Debbi Marais is a strategic leader in enhancing student learning by improving teaching quality, establishing effective organisational policies for supporting an integrated approach to academic practice, and promoting innovative teaching practices to improve the overall student experience at university.
See Debbi’s full bio here.
Highlights
“The whole point of interdisciplinarity is that you link with people that you don't usually work with.”
“People understand interdisciplinarity differently.”
“I do think that buy-in from the top structures is really, really important.”
Further Resources
Curious to learn more?
Please find information on the Debbi’s further insights and related work in interdisciplinarity and education below:
Institutional Review of Interdisciplinarity Opportunities
You can also contact Debbi at: D.Marais@warwick.ac.uk