A first-year journey at Edinburgh Futures Institute
by Cassandra, from Canada, studying Planetary Health (MSc)
As I stepped into the newly minted corridors of the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) last September, what was once the Royal Infirmary, complete with Florence Nightingale wings and three-story tall wards with floor-to-ceiling windows, there was a palpable sense of anticipation for what lay ahead. As an international student embarking on the inaugural year of the MSc in Planetary Health, I found myself at the nexus of innovation and inquiry, while also being a bit nervous not only about being in a new space but as a student on a course the first time it was running, there were no past student testimonials or experiences to go off of. I had no idea what to expect.
So in writing this I’d like to share a bit about what it’s like to be a student at Edinburgh Futures Institute, specific to my experience on the Planetary Health MSc. Initially, what struck me most profoundly about EFI was the way the programmes were designed with a commitment to breaking down silos and transcending boundaries. Unlike traditional postgraduate programs, where cohorts remain insular, EFI embraced interdisciplinarity, diversity and dialogue, creating an ecosystem where students from different programs and backgrounds converge, and can mingle and collaborate.
The teaching style at EFI was unlike anything I had encountered before. Rather than adhering to a rigid curriculum dictated by disciplinary boundaries, it embraced a participatory and future-facing approach. Lectures and seminars became dynamic forums for dialogue and debate, where ideas intersected and collided, giving rise to new insights and perspectives. The faculty, drawn from diverse disciplines, served as guides and mentors, challenging us to think critically and encouraging us to explore uncharted territory. It was also new in that all the programme core modules are taught in ‘intensive style’ – sounds scary I know – but it really just means that modules are condensed to five weeks, so you can focus on just a couple of topics at a time. Lectures are also taught over two full days, rather than one-hour slots every week. While some students weren’t a fan of the format, I personally really thrived in this environment! It’s a great way to stay engaged in the topic of focus rather than forgetting about the last week’s lecture before the next one!
At the heart of EFI’s ethos lay the principle of co-creation – the art and practice of collaboration. Whether in the classroom or beyond, we were always encouraged to work together (yes, there’s lots of group work on these courses! but it’s good experience I promise), drawing on our collective expertise and experiences to address the multifaceted challenges of our time. We all learned together how to work with other people from different fields of expertise, and how to effectively communicate with people from diverse disciplines, which is something I hadn’t experienced in my undergraduate degree.
Also central to EFI’s mission was the recognition that data has become essential to tackling the problems of our modern world. From ethical decision-making to innovative problem-solving, data literacy has been woven into the fabric of EFI’s teaching, and there are several mandatory EFI wide modules around data use and ethics that all students will take.
As I reflect on my time at EFI, I am struck by the richness of the experience and the transformative impact it has had on my perspective. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, participatory learning, and a commitment to ethical innovation, EFI has equipped me with the skills and knowledge to address the challenges of our time but has also instilled in me a sense of purpose and possibility. And as I look towards the future, I am filled with excitement and optimism, knowing that I am part of a community that is not just studying the world but actively shaping it for the better.
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