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Professor Stuart Brand. USING STUDENTS TO IMPROVE THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE. Professor Stuart Brand – Director of Learning Experience Edge Hill University 17 April 2013. Birmingham City University. 2 4,000 students 8,500 PT Six faculties Creative and professional practice courses
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USING STUDENTS TO IMPROVE THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE Professor Stuart Brand – Director of Learning Experience Edge Hill University 17 April 2013
Birmingham City University 24,000 students 8,500 PT Six faculties Creative and professional practice courses Strong Widening participation Multi-campus: consolidating to 3 main sites
Context from 2007 New Director of Learning and teaching with new brief New L & T Strategy Need for significant curriculum redesign: RoLEx Focus on shift from passive learning to active engagement
Evaluation: conclusions about student engagement “Laudable and ambitious aspiration “ “Cultural change needed – empowerment of students to allow, encourage and empower them in co-creation of learning processes” “First important step towards a culture in which student learning is at centre of academic activities”
Motivations for Engagement University (satisfaction, progression and retention) Students (payment, wider development) Staff (resource, better courses) Voluntary vs. reward based engagement (varying models) Do we discriminate if we don’t pay?
Why? (Kuh 2009) “…. Virtually every report ….emphasized to varying degrees the important link between student engagement and desired outcomes of college” Student engagement literature review (2010) – V Trowler for HEA
Institutional change (Bensimon, 2009) “…productive engagement is an important means by which students develop feelings about their peers, professors and institutions that give them a sense of connectedness, affiliation, and belonging, while simultaneously offering rich opportunities for learning and development.” Student engagement literature review (2010) – V Trowler for HEA
Is this a new requirement of academic staff? Existing good practice in all faculties Unless owned locally, unlikely to work Avoid at all costs adding to the compliance regime
Student Academic Partners Scheme: a new development in late 2009 Joint Development Group Pressure of timescale Purpose: culture change Strong cross-institutional support SU as employer New avenue for proactive student involvement Barriers are being broken down Students empowered in academic action
Criteria for selection Evidence of partnership Alignment with goals of L and T strategy Value for money: realistic plans Theme – varies annually
Types of project Development of new content/ learning/resources/ assessment approaches – curriculum focus Consultation/ survey/network projects/micro-community building/student engagement focus Employability, employment, professional practice and placement experience
Types of project Development of new content/ learning/resources/ assessment approaches – curriculum focus Consultation/ survey/network projects/micro-community building/student engagement focus Employability, employment, professional practice and placement experience
Who participates? Estimated demographic breakdown of StAMP participants by academic achievement Demographic breakdown of SAP participants by academic achievement
Mentoring activities Teaching Assistant Mentoring Workshop Mentoring One to One Academic Mentoring/Coaching Resit Mentoring Discussion Group Mentoring Placement and CV Advice Mentoring
Staff quote “Although we set up the project brief we explained to them that was in it for them is that they learn how to project manage something and how to deliver against objectives. This is supposed to be a student mentoring project with support from the faculty…its important that we don’t make it difficult for the students to take the lead on this. It is supposed to be student led peer support.”
Student Quote “I know there are services available that help students like the Centre for Academic Success but this is more through students and they know more because they experienced it last year and they know what the first years are going through as it is still fresh in their minds. It is really helping them and I’ve had some good feedback...I was speaking to a mentee last night and she said I’d be completely lost without the mentors. She is re-sitting and even though she did it last year she has said she is getting a new insight from her mentor and helping her to concentrate”
Wider developments HEA/BCU Students as Partners: http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/news/detail/2012/students_as_partners_call 10 participating universities – range of initiatives