Policy-makers and university leaders claim that interdisciplinary education has the potential to bring about profound changes for higher education as such and for public good. According to this reasoning, interdisciplinary education will prepare students to contribute to finding ways to cope with “wicked problems,” from climate change to levelling social inequalities. Such preparation involves academics and students from different disciplines collaborating on teaching and learning, as well as students learning to integrate and use knowledge from different disciplines.
Researchers and students from three Circle U. universities will discuss how they have (or not) taught and learned to collaborate and to draw on knowledge and skills from different disciplines.
- What do students learn about collaboration and integration of knowledge and skills in an interdisciplinary program?
- What do academics teach about collaboration and integration – or think they are teaching – in interdisciplinary programs or courses?
- What are the benefits and challenges we can identify from the experiences of students and academics?
The Café will consist of three parts. First, students will reflect on how and what they are learning in an interdisciplinary program. Then we invite academics to react to the students’ discussion. In the final part, students will have the last word before we open the discussion to the Café audience (live).
Contributors
- Jakob Sønstebø, UiO student leader, student in the Honours program mathematics
- Line H. Thorstad, UiO student leader, student in the Honours-program philosophy
- Anja Røyne, UiO INTED co-director, Sen. Lecturer, Center of Teaching and Learning in Science
- Sandy Tubeuf, Professor in Health Economics, Université Catholique de Louvain
- Darren Williams, Reader in Developmental Neurobiology, King’s College London
15:15 |
Welcome Introduction |
15:30 |
Students in conversation |
15:50 |
Academics in conversation |
16:15 |
Students in conversation |
16:30 | Open discussion online and in person |
17:00–17:30 | Reception |
What is Circle U. and Circle U. Café?
Circle U. is our European University Alliance, and your chance to cooperate with colleagues all over Europe. Circle U. Café is our meeting place at UiO and takes place at Scene HumSam in Georg Sverdrups hus. At Circle U. Café we discuss topics relevant for European higher education and research.