1. Setting the scene Dr Rakesh Bissoondeeal Senior Lecturer in Economics Course Director BSc(Hons) Economics and Management Learning and Teaching Convenor

2. Economics at Aston Learning and Teaching Two undergraduate courses within the business school BSc (Hons) Economics and Management BSc (Hons) International Business and Economics …and a couple of joint courses with other schools BSc (Hons) Economics and Mathematics, BSc (Hons) Economics and Politics Teaching is largely practice-oriented Research Expertise Monetary Economics, Competition Policy, International Business, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Labour Economics, Regional Economics, Small Business Economics Engagement with practitioners For example, Goldman Sachs10,000 Small Businesses project 10,000 Small Businesses is funded by Goldman Sachs and the Goldman Sachs Foundation

3. Innovation in L&T at Aston Use of Blackboard – All lecture materials available in advance Lectures are recorded – Students can view them whenever they want Use of social media, e.g. facebook and twitter to share relevant media articles Many classrooms have been redesigned to encourage collaborative learning Office hours can booked electronically, via WASS system More emphasis, and various ways being explored, on providing feedback to students

4. Innovation and Challenges Recorded lectures and falling number of students in lectures Convenience of remotely booking office hours but many do not turn up Innovative teaching methods, teaching scores and NSS Innovative practice-oriented teaching and REF