2. Education with closer ties to research and practice
The University of Copenhagen aims to provide highly creative learning environments and to enhance the quality of degree programmes. Research must permeate all degree programmes, and students' commitment and active participation must influence and contribute to research. Developing learning environments through a stronger focus on the ties between research and education is therefore central.
The University provides education for a wide range of jobs, both nationally and globally, and must support students' career planning and clarify how the programmes can be used to allow individuals to realise their potential. We must develop the ties between programmes and practice to ensure that graduates bring analytical insight and academic skills to the job market.
2.1. Learning environments with inspiring research-based teaching
The basic philosophy of UCPH is that its permanent academic staff should be engaged in both research and teaching. It is primarily through the interaction between lecturers and students that the connections between research and education are forged. We will strengthen the integration of research into teaching. Students should experience closer interactions with academic staff and contribute to creating intensive learning environments. Our point of departure will be the development of innovative and evidence-based teaching across the University.
More students should have a more active role in research as part of their education, so that, to a much higher degree, they experience being part of a research community; equally, academic staff must, to a much higher degree, experience the joy of developing and challenging different areas of research together with their students. In this way, we can harness the strength of new generations’ ideas and visions for the future.
WE WILL
- Promote challenging learning environments that provide more space for formal and informal meetings between academic staff and students
- Provide a strong framework for all academic communities to contribute to making programmes research-based and openly acknowledge excellent teaching
- Further develop models for student involvement in research activities and make it a credit-bearing element of their programme
- Strengthen and coordinate the University’s initiatives to further enhance educational practice and share new evidence-based teaching methods, including sparring, feedback, tutorials et cetera
2.2. Close affiliation to practice and the job market
On the basis of research-based teaching, our students must be given the opportunity to work with challenges presented in practice. They must be allowed to apply their expertise and skills during their education – for example through case studies and other practical elements as well as the programme’s own research practice. This is a vital part of developing students' academic expertise and interdisciplinary skills, and will strengthen their ability to translate research-based academic knowledge into resolving specific and often complex societal issues.
Closer ties to practice and concrete cases from the surrounding world will help equip students even more for tomorrow's job market. At the same time, it will allow students to raise awareness of their own skills as well as foster important networks that can be a valuable asset both before and after graduation.
WE WILL
- Strengthen students' opportunities to work with practice-oriented elements in the classroom, for example through case-based and problem-oriented teaching methods that also strengthen their interdisciplinary collaboration skills
- Support students' career planning, and demonstrate how programmes can be applied in the job market, including strengthening initiatives to ensure that students have the requisite skills for innovation and entrepreneurship
- Set up talent programmes in collaboration with external national and international partners
2.3. Digital teaching
In line with the overall ambition of enhancing the quality of teaching, we will develop and disseminate the use of digital teaching methods. Such methods must underpin the quality of teaching, increase learning intensity and help free up time for increased interaction between academic staff and students.
WE WILL
- Develop and disseminate the use of digital teaching methods in order to link teaching and e-learning.
- Strengthen lecturers' digital teaching skills and ensure knowledge-sharing across academic disciplines.
Four focus areas
- Preface and introduction
- 1. Attracting, developing and retaining academic talent
- 2. Education with closer ties to research and practice
- 3. Collaboration and societal commitment – nationally and globally
- 4. One unified and focused university