Aims

Global Challenges is an all-university, interdisciplinary module hosted by the interdisciplinary School X.
Each iteration of the module tackles a great challenge of the age from a multi- and inter- disciplinary perspective.

The module provides 10 lectures outlining perspectives on global challenges. This would be introductory and assume no previous disciplinary knowledge. The ten academics who give these lectures would then individually present a ‘paper’ at a conference that all students attended in consolidation week. Each academic also participates in the recording of a podcast about his or her perspective on the global challenge.
After consolidation week, students attend five two-hour workshops in which they work in teams to create a portfolio outlining proposals for developing our understanding of and conceptualising solutions to the global challenge topic.

The module’s online archive / page will be able to store each iteration’s lectures, podcasts and conference presentations, and also the students’ outputs of 5 minute pitch videos, pitch presentations, and pitch documents.

It will serve as both a resource for scholars and interested stakeholders outside of the university, and an example of practice for students sitting the module.

Outline Of Syllabus

Water shortage and conflict – Addiction – Social mobility – Information warfare - Self and social networks – Climate change and migration - Hyperpoliticisation – Demographic ageing – Air Travel and the Environment - AI and judgment

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

As this modules is team taught by ten staff, there teaching is designed to facilitate interdisciplinary working for staff and students.
10 pre-recorded lectures for the basis of the disciplinary perspectives to the problem.
The conference day provides more specialised disciplinary perspectives.
The podcasts and the workshops bring together experts from various disciplines and model interdisciplinary work to the students.
Further support for interdisciplinary work, completing the assessment teamwork and group work will be provided by pre-recorded skills session that will be available to students in every running of the module.
Outside stakeholders will be brought into the process as appropriate in workshops or additional content.
Students have time to work on their group work in the workshops and time is allotted for group work outside of the workshops.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The conference report assesses student contribution in the formative stages of the module and gives them a task to work towards in the early part of the module.

The peer assessment ensures fairness in the contributions made by all members of the group, and encourages a pro-active mind-set towards group work.

The tasks around the pitch day test understanding of: (1) the Global Challenge; (2) its context; (3) various disciplinary and interdisciplinary solutions; (4) presentation skills; (5) teamwork and interdisciplinary work.