The non‐academic student experience:what is it and why is it important?

Roshani de SilvaCara Garnaut

University of South Australia

Overview•The higher education environment

•Implications for the student experience

•The non-academic student experience

•What students say

•What is the non-academic student experience and why is it important?

Federal Government Reform•Targets:

•2020 - 20% low SES

•2025 - 40% of 25-34 year olds at least a Bachelor level qualification

•Demand driven funding system

•Mission based-compacts

•Reward funding from 2012

•New student experience survey

Impact on the Student Experience

•More students

•Even greater diversity amongst the student body

•Impacts on space, facilities and support services

•A focus for:

• government (measuring student satisfaction and delivering funding)

•TEQSA – quality and standards

•myUniversity - reputation

The Student Experience

academic and non-academic experience

The Student Experience

What is the non-academic student experience?

The Student Experience

•The non-academic student experience, some examples:

•clubs & organizations •residential halls & orientation events•social media •study abroad

•The non-academic student experience - difficult to define?•generation gap•institution specific•student specific•staff specific

What students say...the analysis

•Analyse student comments on non-academic experiences

•Survey instruments:•Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)•Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ)•UniSA study abroad survey

•Comment extraction – CEQuery

•Comments were not mutually exclusive

•Qualitative analysis in two sections

What students say...

•Survey instruments•AUSSE (2008 & 2009) •CEQ (2004 to 2009)

•AUSSE Questions:•What are the best aspects of how your university engages students in learning?• What could be done to improve how your university engages students?

•CEQ Questions:•What are the best aspects of your program?• What aspects of your program were most in need of improvement?

What students say...AUSSE and CEQ

What students say...

Comment sub categories:

Asso – Clubs & AssociationsSpor – SportsComn – CommunicationSocl – SocialOrie – OrientationComm– CommunityFaci – FacilitiesNetw – NetworkingConf – ConfidenceAtmo – AtmosphereExch – Exchange ProgramDiv – Diversity

What students say...AUSSE and CEQ

What students say...

•Categorical comments - Best Aspects (BA) & Needs Improvement (NI)

•Ratio: BA/NI

• Overall Average BA/NI for each survey categoryStudent satisfaction

• [Categorical BA+NI]/Total BA & NI in all surveys Importance

What students say...AUSSE and CEQ

What students say...What students say...AUSSE and CEQ

What students say...

Questions:

•Do you think that going on exchange contributed to your academic development, if so how?•How would you describe the way of life in your exchange destination?•What is the best way to meet people?•Do you have any suggestions for what to do on weekends?•Briefly describe the highlights of your exchange experience

What students say...study abroad

What students say...

Key findings

•Personal development•build confidence•realise independence•develop social skills•enhance communication skills

•Many references to ‘people’

•Develop graduate qualities

What students say...study abroad

What students say...

•The enablers:

•living on campus

•clubs and societies

•social events on campus

•being in an unfamiliar environment

•different experiences

•Few references to physical spaces on campus (e.g. bar, gym)

What students say...study abroad

How would you describe the way of life in your exchange destination?

What is the best way to meet people?

Do you have any suggestions for what to do on weekends?

Briefly describe the highlights of your experience

What is the non‐academic experience?

•Multifaceted

•Several components, some more important than others

•Understand these components and students’ levels of satisfaction

•Not necessarily facilitated by having permanent spaces on campus

•Academic and non-academic experiences should complement, rather than compete with the other

Why is it important?

•Personal development

•Social connectedness

•Life-long friends

•Develop networks

•Graduate qualities

•Add-value to the overall student experience

•Ensure students complete their studies

Strategies going forward

•Conduct analysis on student comments to identify the unique components of the non-academic experience

•Use these as differentiators in an increasingly competitive market

•Foster increased opportunities for non-academic student experiences by working closely with students