Teaching Approach
Teaching at the Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD)
At IGHD, our teaching is both values-led and research-informed. We are guided by Queen ¶¶ÒõÊÓÆµt University (¶¶ÒõÊÓÆµ)’s core commitments - valuing the individual, promoting social justice, fostering intellectual curiosity, pursuing excellence, advancing environmental sustainability, and supporting ambition - and bring these to life through student-centred, critically engaged learning. Drawing on our interdisciplinary research and strong links with policy and practice, we enable students to engage with real-world global health and development challenges, develop independent and reflexive thinking, and build the skills needed to make meaningful contributions in diverse professional contexts.
A holistic student experience
Guided by the ¶¶ÒõÊÓÆµ Student Experience Strategy, we adopt a holistic approach that supports each student’s unique journey, enhances employability, and promotes health and wellbeing. Our curriculum is built on three pillars:
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Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Celebrating the global backgrounds of our student body.
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Students as Partners: Engaging students in the evolution of their own learning.
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Sustainability and Social Justice: Embedding ethical responsibility across all programmes.
Interactive and research-led learning
We offer both on-campus and online programmes. While our on-campus classes have a typical cohort of 25 students and thrive on real-time dialogue, our asynchronous online programs utilise innovative teaching methodologies, including recorded insights and interactive discussions to ensure the same high level of engagement and academic rigor for both full- and part-time learners. Whether delivered on-campus or online, our programmes are characterised by a commitment to an interactive, research-led teaching approach where the open exchange of ideas is prioritised. We bridge the gap between theory and practice through a consistent pedagogical approach that includes:
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Case-Based Learning: We use contemporary, real-world examples to bring complex concepts to life.
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Research-Informed Teaching: Leveraging our staff’s active engagement in applied global research to provide ‘live’ insights.
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Diverse Assessment: Assignments are designed to foster critical thinking, practical application, and alignment with your specific professional goals.
Beyond the classroom
We place the student experience at the heart of our work. Recognising that academic success is inextricably linked to physical, mental and psychosocial health, we emphasise holistic wellbeing for students both on and off campus. Our goal is to ensure you thrive personally and professionally, leaving IGHD fully prepared for an ambitious career, further study, and global impact.