Writing an abstract is a fantastic opportunity to develop interdisciplinary skills. We learn to unpack our concepts and communicate in language that non-specialist audiences can understand. We become more effective at conveying our value to different research cultures and more aware of our position within the landscape of academic disciplines. We form novel connections between disciplines, which can help us generate new ideas and methods, and even entire disciplines.

From 2024/2025, students will summarise their innovative projects and ideas as interdisciplinary abstracts. These will be submitted with their assessments, and our streamlined submission process enables them to send their abstracts directly to ICUR, Reinvention, and the IATL Assessment Exhibition. The rationale is to integrate research and engagement practices into the curriculum, and to democratise access to research opportunities. Students will learn to see themselves, not as passive "banks" of information, but as co-creators of knowledge and researchers in their own right. This fits our inquisitive approach to teaching and learning: on any IATL module, students and staff are encouraged to develop new ideas, approaches, questions, and answers.

The challenges facing the world require global approaches, collaboration between disciplines, and a dynamic culture of student-led research. Writing abstracts is a chance for students to explore the implications of their research beyond their disciplines, to form new insights by integrating methods and concepts from multiple disciplines, and to look “beyond disciplines” at solutions and knowledge that apply directly to societal challenges. By embracing these approaches and ways of thinking, students are taking steps towards producing their own inter- and trans-disciplinary research.

All undergraduate and postgraduate IATL modules are research-infused. Students (and staff) are encouraged to explore topics in new ways that bring together and merge disciplinary viewpoints as well as experiential knowledge and socio-emotional learning. Our streamlined abstract process is a sector-leading example of a 'research-infused curriculum' that other departments and faculties can integrate into their own teaching practices.