THE WARWICK STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Kate Hughes – Director of
Student Services
Stuart Thomson – Students’
Union President
Just think…..
There are c.300 million PowerPoint users in the world presenting
c.30 million presentations each day
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About 1 million presentations are going on right now 50% of which are
unbearable (conservative estimate!)
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550,000 people are asleep right NOW during the middle of a
PowerPoint presentation!
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What is the Student Experience?
It is about Everything!
“The student experience is the totality of the experiences students have
in all areas of university life – academic, social life, belonging and well
being, personal security, housing, food and finance”
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
SOME QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
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Is there a gap between student expectation and experience?
If a gap does exist is it: acceptable, reasonable and inevitable?
Four critical factors influencing success identified by Yorke and
Longden in2004:
Flawed decision-making about entering the programme
Events that impact on students lives outside the institution;
Failure to cope with the demands of the programme, and
Students’ experience of the programme and of the institution
WHO PERSISTS AT UNIVERSITY
WHAT DATA SHOWS
Knowledgeable about the university before they arrive
 Knowledgeable about their subject area and demands
before their course begins
 Ability to cope with the academic and social
challenges of university life
 Recognise and acknowledge the support both
academic and non academic which they receive
 The crucial nature of the first year university
experience
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THE WARWICK STUDENT EXPERIENCE
• What Makes It Distinctive?
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Campus Based University
International Mix
PG/UG Mix
University and Students’ Union collaboration
The Type of student that Warwick attracts - demanding
THE SU/UNIVERSITY RELATIONSHIP
• Critical Partners
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Trust, honesty and mutual confidence
Intangible benefits from a strong SU
Open Communications channels
Reaching out to all the university
Understand the role of your SU
Universities and their Unions report 2006
The Warwick Way
THE UNIVERISTY SIDE OF THINGS
Rich integrated network of support:
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Senior Tutor & Personal Tutors
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Residential Tutors & Wardens
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Careers Centre
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Centre for Student Development & Enterprise
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Warwick Volunteers
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Counselling Service
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Disability Services
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Mental Health Team
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University Health Centre
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Chaplaincy
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Student Funding
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International Office
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Security
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Nursery
THE STUDENTS’ UNION SIDE OF THINGS
The Kit Kat Analogy
WHAT WE DO – WARWICK SU
Clubs and Societies
Events
Welfare and Support
Education – SSLC System and the QAA
Representation
International Issues
Skills development
Driving the University Agenda
Communications
Entertainment
Democracy
Commercial Services
SE valued by some, not by others
SOME HEADLINES
Lord Young – Minister For students
“vital for this country and its future to improve the student experience”
November 2008
QAA and HEFCE – Need to ensure students play a role in shaping their
education
Student Barometer (Summer Wave 2008)
- satisfaction with student support 87.4% (5th of 14)
- ranked 1st – clubs and societies, worship facilities
- 2nd – learning spaces, careers advice, opportunities to earn money, faith
provision, graduate school;
- 3rd – course content, multicultural environment, sports facilities and
student finance office
International Student Barometer (Summer Wave 2008)
satisfaction with student support 86% (RG average 87%)
- 1st – faith provision, careers advice, quality of accommodation,
opportunities for PhD students to teach
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
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Students as consumers – the “health club”
Internationalisation
Changing PG/UG balance
Diversity of community
Increasing parental involvement
Access to resources and facilities – 24/7
Support services vs. self-help
Re-definition of the “campus”
Employment and employer expectations
Increasing alumni engagement and support
Global economic uncertainties - soft funds
Expectations and aspirations – lifestyle
Fees and part time work
WHAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE
THE WARWICK EXPERIENCE
DISTINCTIVE?
• What will our students and stakeholders
need, want and expect in the future?
• How can we make the most of the resources
and facilities we have in challenging economic
times?
Over to you…..