Oxford v-c’s course seeks to bridge science-humanities ‘divide’

The University of Oxford has launched a cross-disciplinary course that aims to bridge the “divide” between science and humanities students.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Colloquium seeks to help students develop skills relating to numeracy, data analysis, critical thinking, curiosity, imagination and communication, and has been developed by the institution’s department for continuing education.

Over the next eight weeks, 200 undergraduates from across the university will join keynote lectures bringing together two professors from different disciplines to respond to a big question and illustrate how their respective fields and research methodologies provide insights. Students will also participate in college-based discussion groups led by doctoral student facilitators, and interdisciplinary team projects.

The inaugural edition of the programme focuses on the causes, impacts and solutions to the global climate crisis.

The project was created in response to a call by Oxford’s new vice-chancellor, Irene Tracey. Giving her first speech as vice-chancellor last year, she said “the next generation needs to understand maths, but it also needs to understand itself”.

“I am delighted that the first colloquium of its kind at Oxford is launching this term, and that our students have shown such interest in this initiative,” Professor Tracey said.

“My hope is that it will stimulate broad and creative thinking and encourage our students to see the value of developing and embracing a wide spectrum of skills that can bridge the STEM, social sciences, and humanities divide, which will ultimately help us in tackling big global challenges such as climate change.”

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com