£291.5 million and a new approach to learning and teaching: how to thrive and survive in an ever shifting landscape...

The University of Northampton is currently experiencing unprecedented change; in 2018 the University will move to a new, purpose build campus in the centre of Northampton which has been funded via an HM Treasury backed bond of £231.5 million (plus £60 million funding from the Public Works Loan Board). Simultaneously, the University’s approach to learning and teaching has been radically transformed by consciously moving away from a traditional ‘lecture – seminar’ delivery towards ‘active blended learning’. This paper presentation will explain what this means at Northampton and the impact of these changes on how academic staff currently teach their students but also discuss the unknown impact upon learning and teaching beyond 2018. The presentation will also highlight what is happening “on the ground” and especially how the Learning Development team and their wider department: Library and Learning Services are tackling this challenge. For example, how the team liaises with and designs teaching sessions with faculty-based colleagues is very different to recent years; and the teaching approach has changed in that it is far more collegiate; Learning Development Tutors, Academic Librarians, Learning Designers and Learning Technologists are actively designing and delivering their teaching (face to face and online) with their peers; some examples as to how this has come about and how successful (or not!) it has been, will be presented.