DMU takes teaching out into the city with new festival

A 10-day celebration of teaching is due to begin next week with free events across the city.

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is running its first Festival of Teaching, which takes classes out of the lecture theatre to demonstrate a host of different teaching styles and methods used by lecturers to communicate their subjects.

Many of the events are open to the public and include a mix of talks, demonstrations and practical events. They include:

-          A free Architecture  workshop at New Walk Museum - find out how students are building homes for people in poor housing around the world

-          Learn screenwriting tips from the experts as two DMU lecturers, one a former creative executive at Columbia Tristar Pictures, run classes at the Phoenix Cinema

-          Discover how shoes are made as Footwear Design students take people through the design process

-          See how Lego is being used by companies to help teach employees “soft skills” they need at work at LCB Depot

-          Can you teach people to be creative? Find out with published poet and lecturer Dr Simon Perril at King Richard III Visitor Centre

DMU was awarded Gold, the highest rating possible, in the recent Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) the Government’s first assessment of teaching excellence in higher education. 

Professor Jackie Labbe, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at DMU, said the Festival was a chance for DMU staff to demonstrate their award-winning teaching and showcase their talents.  

She said: “We are excited to present this festival featuring some of the best work from our lecturers.  We think the events planned will challenge the popular image of teaching as a one-way process.

“From screenwriting to footwear design, from dance to the science of climate change, our lecturers bring expertise and passion, and we’re proud to showcase their talents. We’d like to invite people across Leicester to come and experience these free events.”