Teaching at the Faculty of Life Sciences

 

The Faculty of Life Sciences integrates research and educational activities in the sense that research based education provides students with the latest research results and findings within their area of interest. Academic staff have research and teaching responsibilities thus bringing research directly into the classroom.

 

Problem-based learning

Teaching is to a large extent bassed on case studies from real life scenarios which are dissected in groups. The problem-based learning approach prepares the students for the variety of situations which they will encounter as graduates. Only real problem-solving can lead to real knowledge.

 

Cooperation and communication

A majority of courses comprise group work where students have discussions on specific topics or prepare an oral or written presentation together. Some courses are also based on group work where students work in groups of four to five, submit a written report and pass an oral group examination. Group work encourages cooperation between the group members and strengthens students’ interpersonal skills. Students become acquainted with different learning styles and opinions, making their approach more interdisciplinary.

 

In general, the tone between students and teachers at the faculty is quite informal, so feel free to approach teachers with any questions or queries.

 

Critical thinking

Danish higher education is characterised by an analytical approach. This means that students are encouraged to compare, analyse and evaluate knowledge – they are not taught to accumulate and reproduce knowledge. You will be expected to form your own opinion based on the knowledge you gain, and discussions with teachers and fellow students are an integrated part of course work. The exchange of ideas is an essential way of gaining knowledge and also a central part of the intercultural experience.

 

Attendance

At the Faculty of Life Sciences, it is not compulsory to attend courses. This means that there is no checking up on your presence in class, and therefore it is your responsibility to attend classes. However, some practical exercises and lectures are compulsory, and some courses may require the submission of a written report in order to sit the exam. Please check the course descriptions to see if there are any compulsory activities.

 

Also, it is important to remember that the block structure means that courses are very intensive, and missing classes also means missing a lot of information.