Student Induction
Student Representation
Quality Assurance Services
Collaborations and Partnerships
Group
Context
“Putting students at the centre of our activities and
providing a flexible and relevant curriculum with excellent
teaching and learning”, Theme 1, The Strategic Plan
“We want to put students at the heart of everything we do
at QAA, to help you to be active participants in shaping your
own education. For us, student engagement is about giving
all students the opportunity and encouragement to get
involved in quality assurance and the enhancement of
higher education”. Quality Assurance Agency
Focus of development session
Induction
Representation
Students
Engagement
Entitlements
Student Induction
• To welcome students to the institution and to
assist the transition of students into higher
education or onto the next level of study
• Partner responsible for devising student
induction programme
• University support through the Link Tutor /
Franchise Coordinator
What do students want?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Opportunity to make friends
Pre-induction information
Learning involved – will they cope?
Benefit of the course
Flexible induction programme to fit around
other commitments i.e. family, jobs
Research undertaken by Nottingham Trent University / University
of Bradford
University expectations of induction
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Course Handbook
Student Entitlements
Academic Principles and Regulations
Course content and structure
Support available
Relationship to the University
Student Charter (if applicable)
Full list available in Operational Guidance for Franchise
Delivery
Student entitlements
•
•
•
•
•
VLE
Feedback
Personal tutor
External input into course development
Clear information about assessment and
expectations around feedback
• Clear information about the course and support
available
Full list of student entitlements available in Course
Handbook template
Start of the academic journey
Clear
expectations
Student success
Flexible
assessment and
regular feedback
Explicit
requirements
Support during
first year
What is student engagement?
The UK Quality Code for Higher Education B5:
• Improving the motivation of students to
engage in learning and to learn independently
• The participation of students in quality
enhancement and quality assurance
processes, resulting in the improvement of
their educational experience
Expectation of B5
Quality Code, Chapter B5, Indicator7:
“Higher education providers take deliberative steps
to engage all students, individually and collectively,
as partners in the assurance and enhancement of
their educational experience”
• Representation of the student view through formal
mechanisms
• Opportunity to be involved in quality enhancement
and assurance
Mechanisms for involving students:
what might these include?
Mechanisms for involving students:
• Questionnaires, eg, end of module / year
• Student representative structures
• Research activities – focus groups
• Student membership of committees
• Student consultation events
• Student involvement in new projects
• Student dialogue with decision makers
• Online discussion forums
• Formal quality processes, eg, annual monitoring and
review, mutual review, periodic programme review
Course reps
• Sustained strategy of student involvement
• Importance of the feedback loop
• One per level per course, nominated by
students
• Improve quality
• Create a culture of student engagement
What do course reps need?
•
•
•
•
Access to training and on-going support
Regular access to senior staff
Mutual sharing of information
Information about mechanisms to collate
feedback from students
• Involvement in decision making
• Ensure students feel rewarded for
involvement
Additional resources
• Leeds Metropolitan Student Union
• National Union of Students / Higher Education
Academy Student Engagement Toolkit
• Centre for Learning and Teaching
Questions
collaborations@leedsmet.ac.uk