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Explore challenges and opportunities in involving students in extracurricular opportunities outside the timetable. Learn about initiatives focusing on student engagement, personalization, and academic outcomes. Discover how Kingston University promotes student participation and wellbeing through tailored programs and accessible resources.
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Improving student success through opportunities outside the timetable. Julia Millette, Student Enrichment Manager June 2019
Discuss in pairs then feedback What challenges are there getting students involved in opportunities outside of the timetable? What opportunities are there in getting students involved? Challenges and opportunities
Focus on ‘getting in and getting on’ Measures Learning Environment including peer-to-peer interaction and extra-curricular activities. Emphasis on personalisation for retention, progression and attainment Contributes to KPIs including reducing the attainment gap Data links taking part with improved progression and wellbeing Context
KUextra provides a single point of access to opportunities fostering attributes and behaviours which enhance future life chances and allow our graduates to flourish. It enables: Staff to advertise and monitor attendance Students to browse, book and gain Kingston Award points Students involved in development – from scoping to initiation, implementation and launch.
Kingstonstudents 55% BME, 42% mature, 12% disabled 44%+ of all registered students are first generation to HE (49% of first degree students) 62% of registered students in 2017/18 from disadvantaged background* Over 200 students each year are care-experienced, young adult carers or estranged from their family 59% of all UK domicile first degree students in 2017/18 commuted at least 50 minutes to campus. 27% of UK domiciled first degree students entered through Clearing in 2017/18. 29% of Home/EU first degree students entered with a BTEC qualification in 2017/18 *Disadvantage measured using POLAR quintile 1 or 2, index of multiple deprivation quintile 1 or 2 and NS-SEC 4-7
Commuter students TSEP report recommendations 16: Work with commuter students as partners to raise awareness of engagement opportunities and their value, and to provide engagement opportunities in more commuter student friendly ways (e.g. using technology, delivered where students live, developing new services tailored to their needs, encouraging, recognising and rewarding a wider range of enhancement opportunities, e.g. outside of the HEP). 19: Look at introducing more commuter-student friendly social opportunities, including activities during the day, or immediately after teaching ends, or which can be accessed flexibly or remotely.
Liz Thomas The hidden curriculum, hot knowledge and institutional culture Lack of understanding so commuter students feel ‘othered’: expectations are of ‘traditional students based on staff’s own experiences. Trip to the institution needs to be worthwhile as practical and financial implications to travelling. Generally prioritise academic engagement, less so enrichment and social engagement. Other engagement not valued, focus on ‘getting a good degree’ and graduate employment. Lower engagement likely to be contributing to poorer outcomes for commuter students. Inclusive curriculum can overcome some barriers to engagement and success
Improving outcomes Kingston University impact reports show that, despite their average tariff points being lower, students who participate in opportunities have up to 15% better progression rates.
Improving wellbeing WONKHE commissioned a surveyin Jan 2019 (1615 responses from 103 universities). 16% of students said they felt lonely daily basis, another 30% said they felt the same weekly. The figures were worse for Disabled, Black and Minority Ethnic, International students, and those students living at home were in a similar position. https://wonkhe.com/blogs/only-the-lonely-loneliness-student-activities-and-mental-wellbeing/
Improving wellbeing Almost half of all students say that their mental health is one of their top three concerns – a figure that varies significantly depending on the number of friends that they have. WONKHE survey
Improving wellbeing WONKHE survey
Improving wellbeing Friendships appear to be related to participation in opportunities outside of the timetable. WONKHE survey
WONKHE survey conclusions More involvement in activities is linked to better wellbeing and less loneliness. Barriers Practical – commuting, no time due to course workload, part-time job or family commitments Background – fear that schooling or class would mean that others were better at activities Culture – off-putting culture focussed on alcohol and hedonistic behaviour Solutions Sustained effort throughout the year, not just at the start Focus on facilitation of friendship and less on having to pay for or join groups Access and participation barriers apply to enrichment as well as academic activities
Barriers to particpation Timing Cost Others more skilled No-one to go with No time Amount of information Location
It is hard to sift through so much information to find activities I would like to be involved with. I prefer being able to tell someone what I am interested in so that I can get alerts when something relevant comes up. - L6 Student
Co-creation Scoping – student focus groups Motivation for study was to improve life and career success. Prefer info only about opportunities in line with interests. Preferred to access opportunities on smart device. Initiation Students input into requirements, MSc UX prototype, testing. Implementation Students reviewed solution, 110 signed up to user testing. Regular focus groups, plus 6 interns help with marketing I like what you’re doing. This is the first time I’ve felt like my institution cared about my personal development. My experience at other institutions has been different. - L7 Student
It would be great if we can have something on the mobile app which, when we click on it, will let us know what events are happening at our location. As a commuting student, sometimes I have a wide gap in-between lectures and would like suggestions on what I can do to pass time.’ - L6 Student
Opportunities in one place, so students can discover and book.
Data 800 events, 1400 sessions 2500 students signed in (96% booked an event) 4500 event bookings Demography of KUextra users reflects Kingston University student population, apart from: Gender – 20% more females users Median travel time – users 36 minutes, overall 48 minutes
Impact • Live a life as well as study • New experiences Gain new skills • Meet new friends Take part in sports • Taking part in one thing leads to other opportunities Improve life and career success
Marketing Awareness – prospective students find out more Sign in – current students asked to Discover KUextra Book – encourage students to browse and book Stay engaged – remind to browse and book
Activities, events and opportunities on KUextra will benefit you personally and academically. One place to find a range of opportunities whatever your interests. Taking part in one thing can lead to other opportunities. Marketing and comms KUextra is an easy and accessible way to get this information. Key messages to students
Marketing and Comms Staff workshop on guided learning hours template Staff meetings and emails Prospectus, open days Pre-arrival comms and summer schools Welcomeevents booked on KUextra Freshers’, enrolment queues, induction framework Sept open office, Oct Careers and Enrichment Week All year lecture shout outs and roadshows Screens, table talkers, posters, social media, e-bulletins
Phase 2 development Completed consultation process with students and staff Phase 2 aims to improve functionality in line with comparable systems (Eventbrite, FIXR) • Redesign look and feel • Content – format text, add links, docs, videos, images from bank • ‘Favourite’ events, add events ‘booking not required’, dietary and accessibility requirements • Ticketing and payments for events • Event management, including pre and post event comms to attendees • Integrate with other KU sites – UKS, Events, use social media scanning tool • Reporting capabilities for ‘single source of truth’ to inform future planning
Questions Contact Julia Millette, Student Enrichment Manager j.millette@kingston.ac.uk 0208 417 3134