Over the past few years, educational developer Hanna Glad has been involved in two significant collaborations at LUSEM, both of which have attracted considerable attention. One reason is her participation in the Lund University Conference on Teaching and Learning, a university-wide conference held at Lund University in 2024.
The two projects in which Hanna has been involved are also presented in articles in the conference proceedings, which she co-authored together with colleagues involved in the collaborations (see fact box).
Collaboration as structure – not one-off initiatives
One of the collaborations takes place within the Bachelor’s programme International Business (IBU). It is characterised by close cooperation between language support, the library and subject teachers, as well as an active programme management that has created structures and forums for long-term development work.
The other collaboration is based within Business law, where Hanna works closely with teachers to plan, deliver and follow up teaching in ongoing dialogue – often directly in the classroom.
“In both cases, it really is a joint effort,” says Hanna. “It’s not just about me giving a guest lecture. We plan together, and in business law we also teach together. That leads to more integrated and effective teaching.”
Clear progression throughout the programme
Hanna also describes how the collaboration within the IBU programme has been built around a structured framework of recurring meetings involving all teaching staff and programme management. The aim is to ensure clear progression in students’ skills throughout the programme.
“It allows us to see where support is needed, how different efforts can build on each other, and which elements best support students’ development,” Hanna explains.
When writing, reading and subject knowledge come together
At the Department of Business Law, the collaboration has been ongoing for several years and has developed step by step. The focus is on a writing assignment in an introductory course, where language quality is assessed alongside subject content. This approach has helped students become more aware of both language conventions and how to read and interpret legal texts.
“Several teachers have noted that students have become better at reading legal cases, which is a fundamental skill in law. It started with writing, but we quickly saw how closely writing and reading are connected,” says Hanna.
Wider impact on teaching
The two projects have also had a wider impact. The structured way of working has inspired other colleagues and demonstrates that it is possible to integrate language and academic literacy support into teaching in a natural and sustainable way.
“Many people are not aware that units such as Academic Skills Services and LUSEM Library can work this closely with teaching staff. There is great potential to develop more collaborations,” says Hanna.
Hanna’s work clearly shows the value of educational developers when collaboration is prioritised. When language, subject knowledge and pedagogy come together within shared structures, the result is not only better teaching, but also stronger conditions for students’ learning and academic development.
Background
ASKS has collaborated with the Bachelor’s programme in International Business (IBU) and with courses in Business Law for several years. The current collaboration with Monika Müller at IBU began in autumn 2023, and the collaboration with Andrea Algård and Lovisa Halje in Commercial Law began in autumn 2021.
