This theme will explore the strategic and operational opportunities for academic departments to increase breadth and depth of disciplinary connections in learning. Through this theme the ITLR Review Panel will consider with departments how this facilitates all students to expand their subject awareness through interdisciplinary learning / activities, particularly regarding Interdisciplinary Pedagogy and Vision and Student Learning Beyond Disciplinary Boundaries which are two of the strategic drivers set out in our Education Strategy which enable student progression and positive outcomes. 

The panel will affirm the different approaches and practice and confirm areas of good practice that will strengthen our institutional approach and ambition into our next Education Strategy. Where evolvement of ambition or interventions are identified, the ITLR Review Panel will seek to understand enablers required to support further transformation.  

This theme will explore the pedagogical operation of opportunities for BL within academic departments to further embed blended learning to an extent that is appropriate for the discipline in question. Warwick understands blended learning to mean that learning and teaching activities are designed to be delivered and engaged with onsite activities being included as integral parts of these activities.  

The ITLR Review Panel will consider the ambition, readiness, and progress of the department towards the embedding of BL in ways that enhance its disciplinary context and student experience. The theme seeks to focus on the deliberate, planned combination of campus-based and online learning activities and how this can strengthen inclusion and student engagement and attainment, rather than the reactive nature of pandemic online learning activity development necessitated during the institutional response.  

The panel will affirm the different approaches and practices and identify areas of good practice that will strengthen our institutional approach and ambition for our next Education Strategy. Where evolvement of ambition or interventions are identified, the ITLR Review Panel will seek to understand enablers required to deliver transformation. 

Departments and panels are encouraged to draw upon the QAA’s Building a Taxonomy For Digital LearningLink opens in a new window and the programme-level EMBED self-assessment tool.  

“Education for sustainable development empowers learners to take informed decisions and responsible actions for environmental integrity, economic viability and a just society, for present and future generations, while respecting cultural diversity. It is about lifelong learning and is an integral part of quality education.” (UNESCO, n.d.). This theme will therefore explore the opportunities which exist for the academic department to work with staff, students and other stakeholders to contribute to a more just and sustainable world. 

As part of this theme, the ITLR Review Panel will look to understand how the department is already/or is planning to embed ESD into teaching and assessment, and/or through extracurricular activities and community engagement. The panel will consider how the department plans to equip staff and students with the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to support and enact sustainable development. The review may therefore include how the department works with, or contributes to, other departments/service areas delivery of ESD as well as any civic or community engagement.  

Departments and panels are encouraged to draw upon the QAA and Advance HE’s Education for Sustainable Development Guidance. 

The panel will affirm the different approaches and practices and identify areas of good practice and examples of cultural change towards sustainable development that will strengthen our institutional approach and ambition of our next Education Strategy. Where opportunities for innovation and transformation in ESD are identified, the ITLR Review Panel will seek to understand enablers required to support the department to facilitate change. 

Our Co-Theme Leads for ESD have created an excellent resource which departments may want to make use of as part of their reflections. This is available in the School for Cross-faculty Studies: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/schoolforcross-facultystudies/esdLink opens in a new window