Students as Change Agents
Dr Cassandra Saunders
Office of the DVC (S&E)
Student Evaluation, Review and Reporting Unit (SERRU)
Students Matter Forum 2013
Hobart, 23rd September
http://www.utas.edu.au/student-evaluation-review-and-reporting-unit/
Overview


Drivers:

Integrating students into educational change

UTAS Student Experience Plan (2013-2015)
Students as Change Agents:

What is it?

Where did it originate from?

What’s involved?

How can you get involved?
Student Evaluation, Review and Reporting Unit (SERRU)
Integrating Students into
Educational Change
EMPHASIS ON THE STUDENT VOICE
Students as evaluators of
their HE experience
(the Student Voice)
EMPHASIS ON
THE UNIVERSITY
AS DRIVER
Students as participants in
decision-making processes
Integrating
students into
educational
change
Students as partners, cocreators and experts
EMPHASIS ON
THE STUDENT
AS DRIVER
Students as agents for
change
EMPHASIS ON STUDENT ACTION
(Dunne and Zandstra, 2011)
The Student Experience Plan
(2013-2015)

Institution-wide strategy

UTAS students provided with opportunities and support on
all aspects of their university experience

5 broad goals:
1)
Provide students with opportunities to have a strong voice through
representation and active engagement in university life;
2)
Provide an inclusive and welcoming experience for all students in their
transition into, through and out of university;
3)
Provide timely administrative, academic, cultural and learning support
for current and prospective students;
4)
Respond to student and stakeholder feedback to improve the overall
quality of the student experience;
5)
Facilitate inclusive and accessible learning in a community environment
Goal 1

5 key strategies:
1)
Provide opportunities for students to be active contributors
to improvements at the University;
2)
Develop students as change agents in researching and
presenting solutions with fellow students;
3)
Provide opportunities to participate in conversations and
debates;
4)
Enact a comprehensive and effective approach to student
representations; and
5)
Provide opportunities for students to lead and engage their
peers in learning

What is Students as Change
Agents?
New initiative

Facilitated by SERRU

Encourage students to improve and enhance their
university experience


Action research project

Topic can focus on any aspect of the university experience

MUST relate to an issue encountered at UTAS
Examples of topics:

Assessment and feedback;

Student engagement in lectures;

Seminar experiences;

Online learning and sustainability
Where did Students as Change
Agents originate from?

University of Exeter (UK):


First established in 2008:


Highly regarded in engaging students as active partners
>100 student projects
Examples of projects include:

employability;

essay-writing guides;

language tuition;

academic assessment and feedback practices;

integrating new technology into teaching practices.
What is involved?

Projects will run between March and July, 2014

1,000 word case study:


project description and why it is important

methods uses

key research findings and any outcomes

proposed recommendations

feedback from staff and/or students about what was
gained by undertaking the research
Present findings at annual Students Matter Forum

funding available
What will students gain from being
involved?

Student voice drives the student university
experience

Participation will:


support change

be valued by fellow students and impact on future students

may benefit wider university community
Personally:

research and organisational skills

 employability

Vice-Chancellor’s Leadership Award
Project Funding, Support and
Outcomes


SERRU is available for central support and to help:

develop the research question and methods of data
collection and analysis

seek out background literature

talk to staff or students

design and produce and end product

disseminate your findings
Staff representatives:

Develop/discuss research question and endorsement
Staff representatives from each School are needed
How to get involved

Decide on a topic and research question that is of
interest to you

Discuss your idea with potential team members

Discuss your idea with your School’s Staff
Representative


Complete the application form


Still to be finalised
Applications due by: February 28th, 2014
Applications will be reviewed and informed within 2
weeks
Further Information & Contacts

Students Matter Workshop

http://www.utas.edu.au/student-evaluation-reviewand-reporting-unit/students-as-change-agents

Contact:
Dr Cassandra Saunders
Email: Cassandra.Saunders@utas.edu.au
Phone: (03) 6324 3153