Updated 090715

Leeds Curriculum

What is the Leeds Curriculum?

• The distinctive Leeds curriculum has research at the heart of student education across all disciplines

• Characteristic of a research-intensive Russell Group University

• Shaping a student’s learning journey in both depth and breadth

Its distinctiveness lies in three key elements:

1. Research-based Learning (RBL) – research at the heart of a student’s academic experience

2. Core Programme Threads – Ethics & Responsibility, Global & Cultural Insight & Employability

3. Broadening – opportunities to expand knowledge, skills in the context of 10 Discovery Themes

Leeds Curriculum

What makes the Leeds Curriculum particularly distinctive?

• A student’s learning journey begins with learning about the latest research from academics many of whom are engaged at the cutting-edge of research in a chosen discipline

• Then a student develops the necessary research skills and academic knowledge - to engage in the research process within that chosen discipline or disciplines

• Culminating in a final year project; experiencing research first-hand (RBL) - supervised and supported by academic staff who are often themselves experienced researchers

Leeds Curriculum

What else is distinctive? Core Programme Threads –

running through every programme; to enable our students to understand the connections between their discipline and the wider world

• Ethics & responsibility - engaging in ethical issues to demonstrate how, to act responsibly and professionally and to make informed decisions

• Global & cultural insight - opportunities to engage with and value multiple perspectives, eg social, geographic, political, economic, legal, environmental, and technological. Also acknowledging and appreciating the implications of diversity

• Employability – raising awareness of key attributes and skills and developing these to become more employable

Leeds Curriculum

Broadening – within and/or outside a degree programme including:

Hundreds of ‘discovery’ modules on offer across 10 different Discovery Themes that:

• provide a co-ordinated and structured series of related modules to explore a specific subject, issue or skill which lies beyond the core content of a programme

• broaden intellectual horizons and explore key questions that will affect a student’s future life

• develop intellectual flexibility that will enable a Leeds student to compete and contribute in the workplace and in wider society

• provide opportunities within and outside of their studies to enrich and broaden experience; for example - study abroad, work experience

Leeds Curriculum - Discovery Themes

Discovery Themes and modulesThe 10 Discovery Themes are:

1. Creating Sustainable Futures

2. Enterprise and Innovation

3. Ethics, Religion and Law

4. Exploring the Sciences

5. Language and Intercultural Understanding

6. Media, Culture and Creativity

7. Mind and Body

8. Personal and Professional Development

9. Power and Conflict

10. Technology and its Impacts

Leeds Curriculum – Discovery Themes

Discovery Themes website

To assist our students in making informed decisions detailed information on all the discovery modules are on a dedicated website

Simply:1. log on to the Portal 2. go to LeedsforLife 3. go to Broadening tab on menu

http://leedsforlife.leeds.ac.uk/broadening

Discovery Themes FairsIn September and May in the Great Hall - to enable students to seek advice and guidance in choosing their discovery modules