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Professor David Sadler, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Students and Education), University of Tasmania delivered this presentation at the inaugural Student Experience conference in 2013. A quality student experience is a critical component when examining the attributes a university offers a prospective student. It is equally as important sector wide, in producing highly educated, well rounded and qualified individuals that make up the future of the national workforce. As a result, it is crucial for universities to assess not only ways they can improve their institution’s student experience but ways they can differentiation themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Factors that holistically impact student experience include the interconnections between student services, methods of course delivery and the use of technology along with all that this entails. The Inaugural Student Experience Conference will endeavour to address these complex and challenging issues within the context of the evolving Higher Education sector. For more information about the event, please visit the conference website http://www.informa.com.au/studentexperienceconference
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Offic
e o
f th
e D
eputy
Vic
e-C
hancello
r (S
tudents
and E
ducation)
Case Study
Students as Change
Agents
Professor David Sadler
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Students and Education)
Inaugural Student Experience Conference
Thursday 5 December 2013
Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel
Overview
UTAS contexts
Drivers
Integrating students into educational change
What is student engagement
Why is it a priority? Benefits?
Unpacking the concept of the “student”
How might it be done?
Student Experience Plan (2013-2015)
Students as Change Agents
UTAS Contexts
Personal role and background
UTAS in Australia
UTAS in Tasmania
A multi-campus university
A world-class University and the
implications
UTAS student demographics
Open to Talent
About UTAS:
Australia’s fourth oldest university
Only university in the State
Founded in 1890
Student body of 29,000
More than 90,000 alumni
More than 2,700 FTE staff
UTAS campuses Hobart
Launceston
Cradle Coast (Burnie)
Sydney (Rozelle and Darlinghurst)
Offshore programs Shanghai
Hangzhou
Kuwait
Hong Kong
UTAS Demographics
Some profile percentages (based on
current 2013 count of enrolments)
14.5% International
85.5% Domestic
58% Female
42% Male
46% 25+
33% 20-24
21% <20
44% Full-time
56% Part-time
Commencing students on basis
of admission (all students):
44% Mature Age/Other
25% Previous High Ed
19% Year 12
11% TAFE
1% Professional qualification
Definition of Student Engagement
What? A holistic concept across the agendas of:
• representation • Infrastructure • learning
• wellbeing So a holistic challenge for strategy
Integrating Students into Educational Change
Students as partners,
co-creators and experts
Why? Living our values
• Modernity • Responsibility • Partnerships
Reputational benefits
• Students (past and present) are the best ambassadors e.g. Colombo Plan
• Rise of social media as the preferred communication tool and risk of viral social media
• Possibility of national/ global recognition
Lifting performance • Growth in load – of all kinds, including
FFPOS • Increased retention • Less interstate drift • Outcomes focus of federal policy?
Why it keeps getting more important
Student Expectations (rising contributions) Governmental pressures on Universities
• Information and Guidance for informed choice e.g. MyUniversity website UES ratings for entire educational experience and quality of teaching
• diversity of providers • as govt reaction consequence of student
activism) Rankings and alignments Good Universities Guide etc Social media Student recommendations Everybody reads the reviews now before they buy a product (Trip Advisor)
Some current initiatives
• Discussions with Exeter University
• Benchmarking 2012 UES student support data with Deakin, Griffith and Canberra
• Inaugural UTAS Students Matter Forum
• Students as Change Agents Project
• Being here!
The UTAS 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
Provide students with opportunities to have a strong voice through
representation and active engagement in university life
Provide an inclusive and welcoming experience for all students in their
transition into, through and out of university
Provide timely administrative, academic, cultural and learning support for
current and prospective students
Respond to student and stakeholder feedback to improve the overall
quality of the student experience
Facilitate inclusive and accessible learning in a community environment
Goal 1
5 key strategies
Provide opportunities for students to be
active contributors to improvements at
the University
Develop students as change agents in
researching and presenting solutions
with fellow students
Provide opportunities to participate in
conversations and debates
Enact a comprehensive and
effective approach to student
representations
Provide opportunities for students
to lead and engage their peers in
learning
From where did Students as Change Agents originate?
University of Exeter (UK)
Highly regarded in engaging students as active partners
First established in 2008
>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 Students as Change Agents?
New initiative
Facilitated by Student Evaluation Review and Reporting
Unit (SERRU)
Encourages 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
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 Support
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 findings
Staff representatives
Develop/discuss research question and endorsement
Offic
e o
f th
e D
eputy
Vic
e-C
hancello
r (S
tudents
and E
ducation)
Case Study
University of Tasmania
Students as Change
Agents
Professor David Sadler
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Students and Education)
Inaugural Student Experience Conference
Thursday 5 December 2013
Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel
