Student Experience and Engagement SIG
About the Student Experience and Engagement SIG
AHEP’s Student Experience and Engagement SIG was launched in April 2019 to bring together staff within this diverse field of work. We want to create a hub of activity for all of those working within the areas of student experience and/or student engagement. We also want to help those working in other professional areas to understand more about student experience and engagement work.
We’re delighted that over 200 people have already joined the SIG and we’re keen to ensure that this keeps growing to encompass every region – and eventually every institution – in the UK.
What can you expect from the Student Experience and Engagement SIG?
– Give you a space to SHARE best practice, methods of working, and approaches to enhancing the student experience – Create opportunities for you to LEARN about this relatively new and exciting area of work within higher education
– Facilitate COLLABORATION between different institutions on innovative projects to improve the student experience
– Help you to CONTRIBUTE to wider debates around the sector through online discussions, conferences and other events
To access more information and become a member of this SIG, sign into your AHEP account. Not an AHEP member? Join now!
Meet the Coordinators
We are currently looking for a coordinators to join the Student Experience and Engagement SIG coordinating team. Please apply here by Sunday, 30 November and ensure that your letter includes answers to the following questions:
– What interests you about becoming a Coordinator of this SIG?
– What skills and experience can you bring to the role that you feel would benefit or complement the existing work of the SIG?
– Do you have any ideas for how you would develop the SEE SIG provision, in the current HE climate?
We will be in touch in December to arrange a call with Siobhan and Nissy.
Siobhan Dumphy, Student Experience and Engagement Lead Coordinator
Associate Director, Education
Kings College London
Siobhan has worked in Higher Education since 2009 in a range of roles across Library Services, Employability, Student Recruitment, Marketing and Student Engagement; her experiences across these roles have led her to be passionate about the student journey and providing students with the best University experience possible. This passion feeds perfectly into the work she undertakes with the AHEP SEE SIG where alongside David and Chris she brings together colleagues from across the sector to share best practice and engage in a supportive community with student experience at its heart.
Siobhan is currently a Associate Director at Kings College London.
Nissy Cheema, Student Experience and Engagement Deputy Coordinator
Liaison Officer (Conduct and Resolution)
University of Warwick
Nissy works at the University of Warwick as a Liaison Officer in the Conduct and Resolution team, supporting individuals who have disclosed being affected by bullying, harassment, discrimination, hate incidents, sexual misconduct and/or relationship abuse. As well as supporting individuals with a trauma informed approach, she leads on institutional projects, campaigns, and workshops in this space.
Prior to this, she has held leadership roles in UK HE across Registry, Student Services and Partnership teams in Assessment, International Student Support, Regulation, Policy and Compliance.
Nissy is passionate about celebrating diversity and difference on the learning journey, addressing gender-based violence on campus, and creating a sense of belonging for GEM (Global Ethnic Majority) students in Higher Education.
Nissy’s role as one of the Deputy Coordinators for the Student Experience and Engagement SIG allows her to learn, share and collaborate with others in the sector who are part of the student experience and engagement community.
Shani Louison-Thomas, Student Experience and Engagement Deputy Coordinator
Campus Manager
Arden University
Shani has worked in Higher Education since 2018, beginning her career as a Student Support Advisor before moving into her current role as Campus Manager at Arden University in 2020. In this post, she leads cross-functional student-facing services – from wellbeing to careers and student engagement – to create a joined-up, supportive, and inclusive student experience.
Her work is shaped by a deep commitment to widening participation and to supporting students from diverse backgrounds to succeed. As a mature and late-diagnosed neurodivergent student herself, Shani draws on her lived experience to advocate for inclusive practice and to champion students navigating higher education alongside complex life commitments.
Shani is currently studying an MA in Education Leadership at Wrexham University and has recently joined the AHEP mentoring programme, which she describes as pivotal in her career development. Her role as Deputy Coordinator of the Student Experience and Engagement Network allows her to connect, collaborate, and share best practice with colleagues across the sector who are equally committed to centring the student voice.