Dr Rehan Shah has been awarded a Mathematics Interdisciplinary Collaboration grant by the London Mathematical Society (LMS) for organising a one-day workshop focused on designing effective pedagogical approaches for teaching mathematics to large student cohorts across undergraduate STEM disciplines

As part of this initiative, Dr Shah, in collaboration with his colleague Dr Samantha Hayward (University of Bath) who leads the newly formed 'Cauchy Club' community of practice for mathematics educators at Bath, will spearhead the organisation of an in-person workshop event to be held in June 2026 at the University of Bath, featuring session talks and interactive hands-on activities led by himself, Dr Hayward, Dr Waleed Ali (University of Bath) and Dr Rob Wilson (Cardiff University).

The persistent growth in undergraduate student cohorts has led to significant challenges in the effective teaching of mathematics across STEM disciplines. With student attention spans becoming shorter, the traditional teaching model featuring one lecturer engaging with a class of several hundred students is in dire need of reform. To ensure that students learn effectively amidst retaininghigh levels of learner satisfaction, it is crucial that educators investigate alternative approaches to teaching, specifically regarding large cohorts.

The aim of this workshop is to disseminate the learnings and best practices that have arisen the work of all the external collaborators and from the University of Bath’s ‘Cauchy Club’ to the wider, external community of mathematics educators with a view to expanding and creating an interdisciplinary cross-institutional community, while also motivating participants to form related staff communities among educators within their institutions.

The workshop will be of interest to a wide range of lecturers and education staff (particularly early-career academics) involved in the teaching and assessment of mathematics- based modules in higher education. It will also provide a valuable opportunity for cross-institutional discussions about teaching, learning and assessment in mathematics and related STEM disciplines. The involvement of several influential mathematics educators delivering and leading various sessions will facilitate diverse discussion and sharing of ideas. Participant feedback on the workshop and feasibility to develop a shared community of practice will be gathered through an anonymous survey form distributed to attendees at the end of the workshop.