Strategy and Partnership in Student Engagement

Luke MillardHead of Learning Partnerships

Centre for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching

In the 20 minutes…

An overview of:

• Vision for student engagement at BCU• Partnerships for student engagement• Embedding student engagement

The University context

• ~24,000 Students• 8 Campuses• 6 Faculties • Vocational approach • Localised and well defined communities• Commuter population

Vision

• Generating the Learning Community across 8 Campuses

- (From consistent NSS/SES Feedback)

• Co-creation of the learning experience

- Recipient / Consumer / Participant / Partner

• Activities to be student led and delivered at the interface!

Partnership

Partnership with the Students’ Union from creation

• Genuine Partnership dialogue

• Secondment of SU’s Head of Engagement

• Creating the student engagement ‘state of mind’

• Continuing joint developments (SAP, StAMP, CoLAb,

OpportUNIty, What Works?)

A state of mind….principles

• Student engagement as mainstream activity• Students at the centre of design and delivery• Students, where applicable, to be paid

• Meaningful partnership not necessarily equal

SU Benefits

What have we

been doing?

Four main areas of development

• Development of new content:– Learning / resources / assessment approaches / curriculum focus

• Consultation:– Survey / networking projects / community building /student

engagement focus• Employability:

– Employment / professional practice and placement experience• Thematic:

– Employability / progression / retention / social media

SAP Number of applications Number of projects awarded

2009/10 52 25

2010/11 83 47 (73 Inc. Rolex)

2011/12 105 (120) 53 (65)

2012/13

BIADELSSCentral ServicesBCBSTEEPMEHealthTotal

11947

18177

73

56

Student Academic Mentors…

2011-12: 22 projects (~65 students engaged) 2012-13: 23 projects (~100 students engaged)

£1000 per project to pay for student time

• Discussion Group Mentoring• Workshop Mentoring• One on One Academic Assistance Mentoring/Coaching• Teaching Assistant Mentoring • Course Induction Mentoring• Employability Mentoring• Placement Mentoring

Collaborative Projects…

• Broadening the Learning Community• New for 2012/13: Building upon SAP and StAMP• Large-scale, cross-disciplinary projects that

provide opportunities for student and staff partnerships

• Mentoring provided by senior students• Process will be at least as important as product• 23 projects at £10k (max) per project• ~200 students engaged

• 1165 Student Jobs on campus since Sept 2012• 18 Standard Student Job Descriptions– Administrator, Researcher, Technician, Marketing,

Ambassador• Positions throughout the University• Dedicated University based HR team (located

in SU)

What does it mean for Students …?“I’ve had a chance to sit on the staff side and see things from

their perspective. It is great to be able to get this kind of work experience, where you know

your input is valued and has an effect. Working at an equal level like this has been very fulfilling,

as it has shown how you can learn by working as equals in collaboration on a project”

What does it mean for Students…?

Employability • 86% SAP aided studies• 59% SAP was only activity involved in at University• 92% of those in jobs talked about SAP in

application• 75% in jobs talked about SAP in interview

• 75% of students not in employment didn’t put SAP on their CV

Aligning the Message

• University (satisfaction and progression)– Recruitment, Retention, Reputation

• Students (skills development, employability, wider experiences)

• SU (wider engagement with students – prospective and academic)

Recognition

QAA…features of good practice• the close and sustained partnership between the

University and its students that enhances the learning experience

• the promotion of innovation in learning and teaching achieved by the Student Academic Partners Scheme.

THE award for outstanding support for studentsSecured Internal support across Faculties

University Mission From the new corporate plan:

“To be an exemplar for student engagement, working in partnership with students to create and deliver an excellent university

experience and achieve high levels of student satisfaction and graduate employment.”

“We welcome the Students’ Union as a critical friend and partner of the University and we will particularly welcome the contribution it

can make in encouraging student representation and feedback. Together we will ensure that we can meet students’ wider social, cultural, sporting, wellbeing and personal development needs.”

What does it mean for Staff …?

“...this SAPs thing has already started to infect ideas that are going on in the faculty about how

we do define our relations with students …. Because we are stuck with this absolutely

horrendous thing of customers which I think is so wrong. I think it could have a significance way beyond the SAPs project itself in that we are

entering uncharted waters about how students view themselves and how staff operate in

academia and it is really up for grabs.”

What does it mean for Staff…?

Creating the Learning Community…

National Student Survey

B11.4 Within my course, I feel suggestions and ideas are valued.55

60

65

70

75

80

2009201020112012

Creating the learning Community…

National Student Survey

B11.5 I feel part of an academic community in my college or university.58

60

62

64

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

2009201020112012

Our opinion

• Student engagement should be a state of mind not a policy

• Nor a one off project or a series of individual projects, but an initiative, a belief

• Students need to be at the core• Staff engagement is easy to forget • Organisational buy-in is crucial (SU and

University)

Challenges…

• How can we broaden the attraction of student engagement activities to encompass the majority not a minority?

• What do we mean by a partnership with students?

• Long term, can the SU and the University work together?