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Inclusive Structures and Care-Rooted Approaches - How does IATL do it?

IATL is the nest for education innovation at Warwick and aims to advance the academic discourse on Inclusive Structures and Care-Rooted Approaches and to create models for their implementation.

Discover how IATL achieves this exploring practical examples that can benefit you and your Department:

Supporting Mature and Part-time StudentsLink opens in a new window

IATL contributed to an OfS-funded project, entitled Positive Digital PracticesLink opens in a new window, which involved a collaboration with the Open University, the University of Bradford, and Student Minds. Dr Elena Riva (IATL), led the positive project pedagogies project, establishing inclusive, compassionate practices in technology-enhanced learning that supported mental well-being.

Part of this project specifically looked at inclusive practices to support students' sense of belonging and wellbeing within the learning setting. Mature, part-time, commuter and distance-learning students often experience feelings of isolation and lack of integration within their learning community.

The project findingsLink opens in a new window identified the learning environment as a crucial place where inclusion can be fostered and championed through teaching practices, by i) promoting problem- and team-based learning among mature students as a means to generate cohesion, and ii) identifying with students suitable pedagogic practices that can be adapted and applied across modules and learning opportunities to foster an enhanced sense of belonging.

Giving Voice to the PGR Community

IATL's Elena Riva, together with Louise Gracia (WBS), co-led a cross-institutional pedagogic intervention entitled 'Potential Advantage' aimed at improving the supervisory experience of Warwick's PGR community.

The OfS-funded project took place between 2018-20 with Warwick receiving an investment of £276,000. Interventions, such as workshops and activities, were offered to over 100 PGR students and used problem-based and team-based practices to solve issues affecting their learning and well-being.

The national importance of these pioneering participatory pedagogy practices was featured in the THELink opens in a new window, while an article assessing the value of using co-creation to tackle common issues experienced within the supervisory relationship was published in the Journal of Further and Higher Education.Link opens in a new window

Inspiring EU policy

Appointed by the European Commission for their expertise and research in the field, Dr. Elena Riva and Wiki Jeglinska (IATL), along with Prof. Kate Lister from Arden University, have compiled a report exploring mental health and well-being issues for staff and students in European higher education, examining institutional and national approaches to support mental health, and providing recommendations to shape the European Union prospective policies aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing across Higher Education Institutions through holistic, whole-institution approaches.

Explore the report 'Student and staff mental well-being in European higher education institutions - NESET' Link opens in a new windowand engage with the subsequent call for action published by WonkHE 'Helping students means taking university staff wellbeing seriously'.Link opens in a new window

Improving Student Wellbeing LiteracyLink opens in a new window

IATL has led on the co-creation of the online module Understanding WellbeingLink opens in a new window, open to all students.

This ground-breaking module has been taken by over 7000 Warwick students and adopted by 3 other UK Institutions and by the University of Copenhagen.Link opens in a new window

With support from the Enhancing Research Culture Link opens in a new windowFund, IATL is initiating a project focused on co-creating wellbeing literacy resources tailored specifically for PhD students and postdoctoral staff, ‘Building Wellbeing Literacy’Link opens in a new window

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Delivering the 'Community Values' Education ProgrammeLink opens in a new window

IATL's previous Director, Professor Jonathan Heron, was the Academic Lead for the Community Values Education project, initially co-led with the Dean of Students' Office, established to develop activities and resources to promote a strong values-driven community at the University of Warwick.

The aim was to develop an environment that promoted equality of opportunity, values diversity, and where students and staff could work and study free from discrimination and harassment. Initial work included developing the Active Bystander Intervention Workshops and a range of values-based teaching activitiesLink opens in a new window.

Exploring New Pedagogies through the
IATL Pedagogic Reading ClubLink opens in a new window

IATL’s Pedagogic Reading ClubLink opens in a new window meets fortnightly, providing an open space for the entire department to come together, share ideas, and connect. Held during working hours, it’s an opportunity for community-building across roles, while discussing the latest trends in higher education and aligning with IATL’s strategy.

The sessions offer networking and professional development, regardless of prior knowledge, and engage with key publications by leading academics. Topics for 2024/5 include AI in pedagogy, student research, enterprise-infused curriculum, and compassionate leadership.

Developing Healthy Digital Spaces

HealthyMindEdLink opens in a new window, a project funded by the European Union, involves collaboration with three other key EU institutions across the continent. IATL has been awarded these funds to raise awareness of student and teacher wellbeing and equip university staff with the skills to create digital learning environments that promote health and wellbeing.

The project will develop policy recommendations based on international research, along with an interactive online platform offering methods, pedagogical approaches, best practices, and resources for promoting mental, physical, and social wellbeing in digital higher education. At its core, the project views wellbeing as a multi-dimensional concept, focusing on cognitive, emotional, physical, and social capacities.

By providing innovative teaching strategies and pedagogical methods, HealthyMindEdLink opens in a new window supports educators in fostering balanced, supportive digital environments that encourage both academic success and holistic personal development.

IATL is continually innovating...

Join us in shaping the next phase of innovation with IATL and our next practice!

There are numerous ways for both staff and students to get involved, from exploring a range of curricular and extracurricular opportunities Link opens in a new windowto applying for fundingLink opens in a new window.

Whether you are interested in enhancing our curriculum or participating in our diverse activities, there are plenty of avenues for engagement.

IATL is continually innovating...

Join us in shaping the next phase of innovation with IATL and our next practice!

There are numerous ways for both staff and students to get involved, from exploring a range of curricular and extracurricular opportunities Link opens in a new windowto applying for fundingLink opens in a new window.

Whether you are interested in enhancing our curriculum or participating in our diverse activities, there are plenty of avenues for engagement.