Collaboration Across Disciplines: Experience from HEA Subject Centre

Dr Kwansuree Jiamton

Health Sciences and Practice Subject Centre

M25 LT Meeting: Taking Collaboration to the Next Level

20th November 2009, UEL.

Academy Developments

LTSN has been incorporated in a new body,

The higher education academy

Since 1st may 2004 (launched October 2004)

Along with

The institute of learning & teaching in higher education (ILTHE),

The body for professional accreditation

And also the national coordination team (NCT)

For teaching quality enhancement

Mission of the HE Academy

To help institutions, discipline groups and all staff to provide the best possible learning experience for their students

HE Academy Structure

• HE Academy Executive in York• 24 Subject Centres

24 Subject Centres

Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine

Bioscience Health Sciences and Practice

Social work and Social policy

Sociology, Anthropology and Politics

Physical Sciences

Engineering Psychology Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Materials Education in the Built Environment

Maths, Statistics and Operational Research

Information and Computer Sciences

Economics Legal Education

Languages, Linguistics and Areas Studies

English History, Classics and Archeology

Philosophical and Religious Studies

Art, Design & Communication

Performing Arts

Hospitality and Leisure Studies

Business, Management, Accountancy & Finance

Education

Subject Network

Subject Network

Health Sciences & Practice Subject Centre

based at King’s College London

Health Sciences & Practice Subject Centre

aims to

• promote the development of good practices in health care through enhancing the quality of learning, teaching and assessment, both in higher education institutions and in practice based education

Audience:

• Academic and academic support staff in health related disciplines, Health Professions, Students

• Professional Bodies, Discipline Associations

Speech &LanguageTherapy

MentalHealth

ComplementaryMedicine

HealthPromotion

& Education

Gerontology

Audiology

Nutrition&

Dietetics

Chiropody&

Podiatry

Nursing,Midwifery& HealthVisiting

Radiography

Pharmacy

OccupationalTherapy

PublicHealth

EnvironmentalHealth

HealthcareEthics

RehabilitationSciences

Optometry&

Orthoptics

Physiotherapy

OtherRelatedsubjects

Subject Centre Activities

1. Information & resources• on-line databases & resources • publications/journals• consultancy/advice/enquiry

service

2. Engagement• workshops and conferences• department based activities• special interest groups• departmental contacts• practitioner networks

3. Profile & awareness• newsletters • e-bulletins• surveys and needs analyses• subject community events

4. Brokerage• links with Subject/Professional

Associations • funding projects• creating partnerships and

collaborations• facilitating discussion of key

subject issues

UK Network

Supporting 20+ health related disciplines across UK

• 9 Core Staff• 20+ Advisory Board• 8 Learning and Teaching consultants • 60+ Subject Advisers (specific disciplines) • 350+ Key contacts in Health Science and Practice

Departments of UK HEIs• 10 Special Interest groups (SIGs) – 50-200+ each• 2500+ Mailing lists• Links with professional bodies and other related

organisations

How we manage…

• Practical view– Having a clear goal what we would like to achieve

• How technology can help?

• Some conceptual idea to consider:– Collaborative Approach to the Management of e-Learning

(CAMEL)– Collaborative Skills

Challenges

• Different disciplines, different style.• Busy life! Too many things to learn!• From JISCmail list,

e-Discussion Boardnow Social Media, e.g. Ning.

Lesson Learned

• Collaboration with clear aims• Communication: Open, inclusive and transparent• E-mail is their preference, not web-based• More verbal conversation, less text -

Skype, Instant presenter, Elluminate, etc.• A clear plan before establishing online communities• Staff Development• Moderator/s – Online Community Management??• Technical support

Thank you

Dr Kwansuree Jiamton

Kwansuree.jiamton@kcl.ac.uk

Health Sciences & Practice Subject Centre

King’s College London

Room 3.12, Waterloo Bridge Wing

Franklin-Wilkins Building

150 Stamford Street

London SE1 9NN

http://www.health.heacademy.ac.uk