It is a truth (almost) universally acknowledged, that students should sit at the heart of – and take an active role – in their learning.

By inviting students to work with their teachers to shape course materials, activities and even assessments, co-creation appears to offer a textbook solution.

However, giving students greater agency over their learning is not without its challenges and some educators may find the idea of ceding control over their teaching decisions troubling.

On this week’s podcast, we speak to a leading proponent of co-creation in higher education, who has researched and published extensively on this pedagogical approach, as well using it in her own teaching.

Catherine Bovill is a professor of student engagement and head of the programme design and teaching enhancement team in the Institute for Academic Development at the University of Edinburgh. She is also a visiting fellow at the University of Bergen in Norway and the author of dozens of research papers and a couple of books focused on co-creating in teaching and learning.

She explains why and how educators should bring elements of co-creation into their teaching offering examples of how it can work in different contexts and addressing oft-voiced concerns.

For more insight and advice on making co-creation work in your teaching, check out our latest spotlight guide: The practicalities of co-creation with students.