Published: 15 September 2021 at 15:11
Second year undergraduates* will be starting the first-ever Ruskin modules a week today, on Wednesday 22 September.
Ruskin modules are an exciting innovation in ARU’s curriculum to give our students an entrepreneurial edge in the workplace. Collaborating with students and staff from other courses will help students to question their own perceptions, appreciate the perspectives of others and develop a shared understanding.
The ability to collaborate to tackle complex problems, and to be able to think critically, creatively and flexibly have been identified as skills needed to flourish in the future by the World Economic Forum and are increasingly desired by employers.
Anglia Learning and Teaching’s Elaine Brown, who is Institutional Lead for Ruskin Modules, said: “Our approach recognises that whilst subject disciplines remain important, on their own they are not sufficient to tackle global and societal challenges. We need new ways of thinking to thrive in a changing world.
“Ruskin modules bring our students together from other courses across ARU to find new ways to tackle ‘wicked’ challenges – global societal or cultural concerns that are uniquely difficult to resolve.
“These interdisciplinary modules enable our students to develop new skills and amplify existing ones. Skills such as critical reflection, reasoned argument, and the confidence to question established ways, prepare them for the future.”
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide the reference framework for each Ruskin module. From examining the concept of social justice to identifying the ethical principles needed for our growing use of Artificial Intelligence, ARU’s Ruskin modules provide a unique and inclusive learning opportunity for tomorrow’s global thinkers and leaders. There are 19 new Ruskin modules that are tackling wicked problems in September 2021.
Ruskin modules have already been recognised for their focus on sustainability and ARU has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Next Generation Learning and Skills’ category at the Green Gown awards 2021. ARU is also a finalist in the Outstanding Entrepreneurial University category of the Times Higher Education (THE) magazine’s annual awards 2021 and the Ruskin modules are a great example of how ARU strives to deliver outstanding, creative and innovative programmes.
First year students will choose their Ruskin module in Module Planning in Tri 2, 2021/22. If students are in their third year, they can still get involved (and paid!).
Colleagues can find out more about the Ruskin modules on Canvas.
*From September 2021/22, most level 5 students will take a 15 credit Ruskin module. Where courses are accredited by a Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) such as the GOC, GMC, HCPC, NMC or SWE, students have been asked to contact their Course Leaders for advice.