1

Student Engagement Strategy: every student, every journey2015-2018

2

Dr Chris Haslam, Pro-Vice Chancellor Student Experience and Corporate Development

Jonathan Harper, Chester Students’ Union President

Going back to its founding mission and values, the University places its students at the heart of everything it does. Across campuses, faculties, academic and support departments we endeavour and commit to meet the needs of our diverse student population. We believe that the most inspiring higher education environments are those in which the students are active co-creators of knowledge and co-producers within their academic learning communities. We firmly believe that by working in close partnership, the University and the Students’ Union can positively and creatively enhance the students’ academic learning experience. Every student has a voice and we want to listen!

Foreword

3

Vision“To embed a culture in

which every student on every journey at the University of Chester has the opportunity and support to shape their

own academic learning experience in partnership

with the institution.”

The University of Chester celebrates its 175th Anniversary in 2014-15, which reminds us of our considerable journey from a small teaching college to a distinguished institution of international repute. At the heart of this University has always been the willingness to improve the academic learning experience with, as opposed to for, students.

We recognise that student engagement can be used to refer to a number of various aspects of the student journey including student participation in their own academic learning which will be addressed in

the revised Learning and Teaching Strategy. The aim of the Student Engagement Strategy: every student, every journey (2015-2018) is to further embed student participation in academic quality assurance and enhancement processes which is applicable to all students irrespective of their level, mode or location of study.

Together we will strive to build upon existing processes and develop creative projects to ensure every student feels able to contribute to the academic learning community at the University of Chester.

Introduction

4

PartnershipStaff and students working

in collaboration at every level of the institution

Mutual respectThe recognition of the pivotal

but different contributions made by staff and students

in shaping the academic learning experience

InclusivityThe continuous

embedding of an open and accessible academic learning environment for

all students

InnovationThe creative, proactive

approach to student engagement in order to challenge and develop

existing structures by taking measured risks

DialogueThe ongoing open

and inclusive dialogue between the University

and students throughout the student journey

People-orientatedThe move from policy to

practice driven by enthusiastic and committed

staff and students

Values

5

To engage students meaningfully in University governance and decision making

For 2015-2018, the University’s strategic objectives for student engagement in academic quality assurance and quality enhancement are:

To further embed student engagement in academic quality assurance and quality enhancement processes

1To engage students in the enhancement of learning and teaching practices across the institution

2To support the role of staff and students in student engagement practices

34

Strategic Aims

6

To further embed student engagement in academic quality assurance and quality enhancement processes1

Measures of Success

A) Student representation on all appropriate boards and committees of the University

B) The recruitment of paid student faculty representatives

C) The development of a Student Academic Representative system (StARs) three year plan

D) Consistent evidence of the student voice in quality processes such as; Annual Monitoring Reports (AMR), Faculty Annual Audits (FAA), Quinquennial Reviews (QQR), revalidations and validations

E) Consistent evidence of the student voice in University structures such as; Boards of Study and Student/Staff Liaison Meetings

F) Consistent evidence of the student voice in the enhancement of relevant support departments

G) The continuation of institutional support for the CSU Above And Beyond Awards

H) Relevant student engagement practices recognised through the Chester Difference Award (CDA)

I) Relevant partnership work recognised through the University Performance Review and Development Plan

J) The publication of a Student Engagement annual review

K) The implementation of an annual University of Chester student engagement conference

L) The publication of relevant student engagement work on the University website and appropriate internal communications

M) The publication of relevant reports, papers and participation at external conferences

Key supporting objectives

1.1 Build upon the current student academic representative system (StARs) to ensure a partnership approach at every level of the institution

1.2 Explore opportunities to further develop dialogue with students throughout relevant academic quality assurance and enhancement processes

1.3 Seek to recognise and reward staff and student partnership work

1.4Seek to disseminate best practice within and outside of the University

7

2Key supporting objectives

2.1 Develop projects to increase student involvement in enhancing learning and teaching practices

To engage students in the enhancement of learning and teaching practices across the institution

Measures of Success

N) The recruitment of paid Student Assistants for Learning and Teaching Enhancement (SALTE) within the Learning and Teaching Institute (LTI)

O) The use of the student voice through the Above And Beyond Awards to recognise and celebrate good practice

P) The availability of 10 funded collaborative project opportunities for joint staff and student proposals

Q) Students and Senior University Teaching Fellows working in partnership on projects to enhance learning and teaching within Faculties

R) Strong presence of the student voice within learning and teaching action plans (LTAPs)

8

Key supporting objectives

3.1 Work in partnership with CSU to develop tailored and accessible training and resources for student representatives

3.2 Provide support for staff involved with progressing student engagement within relevant academic and support departments

To support the role of staff and students in student engagement practices 3

Measures of Success

S) The development of an online training resource for student academic representatives

T) 80% of registered StARs trained every academic year

U) The publication of guidance for students and sabbatical officers involved with relevant University committees, boards and panels

V) The development of guidance for chairs of relevant committees, boards and panels

W) Guidance and support available for the implementation of relevant student engagement projects

9

Key supporting objectives

4.1 Embed meaningful student engagement within University governance and decision making on each level of the institution

Measures of Success

X) Accessible and transparent information relating to University decisions communicated to students throughout the academic year

Y) The development of collaborative projects between senior management and/or University Council and the student body

Z) The recruitment of a pool of students to work with Human Resources and appropriate staff within departments in the recruitment process of new student facing staff

To engage students meaningfully in University governance and decision making4

10

Underpinning the success of every student, every journey is a commitment to evidence based change. In order to effectively monitor and review the impact of the strategy, the University will:

1. Conduct an internal audit of student engagement within academic quality assurance and strengthen procedures where appropriate.

2. Develop a student engagement network consisting of staff and students to embed localised vision and responsibility.

3. Develop mechanisms for monitoring, evidencing and reporting the breadth and depth of student engagement across the institution in relation to this strategy.

Supporting PoliciesChester Students’ Union, Strategic Plan (2015)

Student Support and Guidance, Student Academic Representative Policy (2014)

The University of Chester, Learning and Teaching Strategy (2013)

The University of Chester, Vision 2020 (2015)

Monitoring Impact

11

The glossary below refers to Student Engagement within academic quality assurance practices specific to the University of Chester.

Academic learning communityA place in which a student engages with their academic learning experience including but not limited to, the classroom, professional placements in the community and online.

Academic learning experienceThe experience of the student with regard to the quality of; learning and teaching, assessment and feedback, the organisation and engagement with student learning hours, academic support, and opportunities for personal development within the curriculum.

Academic quality assuranceQuality assurance is the process for checking that the academic standards and quality of higher education provision meet agreed expectations. (QAA, 2012).

Student voiceThe opportunity and accessibility for all students to express their opinions through a number of mechanisms as an individual, as a collective body or through the Students’ Union.

Students as partnersThe active engagement of students as collaborators in learning, teaching, curriculum design, research, quality assurance, quality enhancement and institutional decision making.

Student bodyIndividual students, groups of students on a particular programme, level of study, student representatives or sabbatical officers in the Students’ Union depending on the context of the situation.

Student engagement (within quality assurance) A culture in which every student on every journey at the University of Chester has the opportunity and support to shape their own academic learning experience in partnership with the institution.

Glossary

12

For more information, please contact Student Engagement, Academic Quality and Enhancement: studentengagement@chester.ac.uk