@lthechat.bsky.social A4. I don't think there is enough support for people who move into HE mid career from professional roles. #LTHEChat

Sorry to hear that Niall - I've found I can have some great conversations with professional colleagues - they may be doing an MSc in an interesting topic part-time; or many people have a stake in education through their children - moving conversation on from their child to education more broadly.

@lthechat.bsky.social A2 In the writing up stage of my PhD. I had a great supervisor, but really missed the supportive group of peers I'd had in my MSc, and the previous year when I had methods classes with other PhD students and interaction with project participants. #LTHEChat

@lthechat.bsky.social A1. I think it can be if you are the only person from your discipline or with particular research interest in your academic unit - your colleagues might be perfectly pleasant - but don't share any of your academic or teaching interests. #LTHEChat

#LTHEChatA5 I think more resourcing to bring groups of teaching colleagues together who contribute to a programme - its all good us making our own module wonderful - but it has far more impact when its implemented across a programme and a collective activity.

#LTHEChatA4. Activism takes many forms - joining a march or a protest; being active in a union; doing a joint project with your students and a voluntary group; or trying to get a professional body to put more emphasis on sustainability. None of these are better or more important than another.

#LTHEChatA3 I would spend a month working out what we could stop doing - without ill effect - to make room and free time for all the exciting things we want to be doing. We can't just all do MORE STUFF, and get even more tired and burnt out. Can we stop running that optional module with 6 students?

And PBL can give them some really useful skills to use in their career - either as chemists or in careers outside chemistry

Have you seen that new thing on ITVX that shows the view of Earth from the space station - very moving and also educational!

Exploring with them how its changed up until now; making sure we cover ecological principals - which remain sound despite the policy changes; and having an discussion with prompts about how it could change in the short and medium term; and being open about not having all the answers.

Several universities including King's and Anglia Riuskin are doing some interesting modules in this - where students come together across many disciplines...

Great suggestion Dom - I've seen this applied to voluntary climate action but it applies at work too - we will be more motivated and more likely to spend time reviewing and changing our teaching materials if these align.

Agreed - a few universities have started to structure this - and have it as someone's job to have conversations with colleagues about how to build sustainability into their module.

#LTHEChatA2 I would recommend having a coffee with a colleague who has already started - this might be in your own department or at a conference in your subject area. Have a friendly and open conversation with them about how to approach it. Something that is too rare in academia these days.

Not through a series of 20 lectures that last three hours....

Excellent point - much of the harm we are doing to the our climate and natural systems is by people with degrees.

#LTHEChatA1 They need to be able to cope with change and uncertainty. I'm preparing learning materials for a group of ecologists right now. The laws and regulations the session is about is being changed right now in Parliament. They need to be able to cope with change in their future careers.

I agree the hidden curriculum is a thing for staff too. Those early in their career but also those new to UK higher Ed