Student Engagementat the University of Exeter

Charlie Leyland, Student Engagement Manager

University of Exeter Students’ Guild,& Academic Policy and Standards

Plan

• Student Engagement foundations, manifestations and successes

• Students as Change Agents

• Plans for the future

Student Engagement: Strong Foundations

• Sophisticated early model of student engagement (SSLCs, involvement on key committees)

• Strong long-standing partnership with Students’ Guild

• High rates of student representation (e.g. Guild elections)

• Long history of community action, volunteering and participation

Student Engagement: FoundationsHow?

• Governance structures • Feedback surveys• You said we did• ‘Service-based’ quality assurance and enhancement

opportunities

Student Engagement: Manifestations

• Reason for applying to study at Exeter• Teaching Awards (and its evolution)• FRUNI• Grand Challenges• The Forum• Budget Scrutiny Group• Joint role (Student Engagement Manager) between Students’ Union &

University• Plans to develop students’ role in Quality Review• Students as Change Agents

Student Engagement: A success story

• QAA Institutional Review (Commended)• National Union of Students ‘HE Student Union of the Year’• The Sunday Times ‘University of the Year’ 2013• International publications on Change Agents• National recognition for Community Care-homes project• National recognition for Virtual Law firms initiative• Sector recognition of quality of Exeter Student Experience• Government recognition (e.g. Labour Government HE Framework)• Attracts external funding (e.g. HE Academy)

Student Engagement: A success story

Student Engagement: Our model

1. Learning2. Quality Assurance and

Enhancement3. The Academic Community4. Extra-curricular activities

Student Engagement at the University of Exeter

How else?

• Support students to spot opportunities and to research, propose and make changes themselves

• Expected/ing and enabled to be true partners in their University experience

Students as Change Agents

Simple:

•Students have an idea•Do some research•Come up with solutions•Implement recommendations•Showcase & benefit

Projects this yearAmongst the 50-60 or so project initiations this year, the most

popular areas have been around:• Mentoring schemes• Employability• Assessment• Links with the teaching and research community• Module choice

Project: Student Engagement in Lectures Technology-enhanced learningStudent use of Lecture Capture; Turning Point ‘clickers’; SMS in Lectures

• Findings for ‘clickers’- Student/Lecturer interaction improved- Allows Peer comparison - Promotes discussion- International engagement improved- Increases student concentration

Recommended that increased use of these technologies

Real Change!4,000 audience response handsets were issued across

undergraduate and masters students (2009-10).This has continued for all first year students.

• Prezi http://prezi.com/rljuyz_sn8iw/change-agents-university-of-exeter/

• ELE http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2930&topic=0#section-10 or ELE All courses University Resources Students as Change ► ► ►Agents

• Webpage – www.exeter.ac.uk/changeagents • Twitter – http://twitter.com/ : UoEChangeAgents • Blogs - http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/studentprojects/

More information

Top tips for ‘Change Agents’1. Work on the aforementioned foundations to lead

and embed culture of student partnership across insitution

2. Start with a small number of projects that are manageable

3. Maintain a constantly positive stance

4. Agree roles, responsibilities and working arrangements with students

5. Have high expectations of the students but always be available in the background

Adapted from:

HEA/ESCalate publication:Dunne,E. & Zandstra, R. (2011)

Students as change agents, new ways of engaging with learning

and teaching in Higher Education

Top tips for ‘Change Agents’5. Keep in contact with students throughout a project

6. On occasion, students may need support in finding strategies to work in ways that are not seen as intrusive or threatening

7. Be sensitive to different perspectives and get buy-in to ensure change is taken on board.

8. Make sure that positive outcomes are shared with appropriate parties

Adapted from:

HEA/ESCalate publication:Dunne,E. & Zandstra, R. (2011)

Students as change agents, new ways of engaging with learning

and teaching in Higher Education

Thank you!

Time for Questions

If you have any ideas, more questions or would like more information please contact

Charlie - C.leyland@exeter.ac.uk