102: Delivering change: collaboration, resilience and the student voice
A case study on working in partnership to introduce a ‘one stop’ student office in departments at Lancaster University

This interactive presentation, with questions and discussion, will use the introduction of a ‘Combined Student Office’ model across seven academic departments at Lancaster University as a case study in delivering change through collaborative working across professional services (departments, faculties and central divisions) for the benefit of both students and academic staff. We will outline why and how the combined student office model (UG, PGT, PGR) was developed and the intended benefits from a department, faculty and institutional perspective to service users – students and academic staff. We will explore the development and implementation of the concept and honestly and openly highlight the successes, challenges and failures encountered along the way.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand how working in partnership with a common goal can help to overcome the challenge of resistance to change
– Understand how collaborating can build a resilient cross-disciplinary team, improving the resilience of a project and ultimately helping to overcome challenges and obstacles that may be met on the way
– Understand how using the student voice can be used not only to improve the student experience but also to support ideas for change and reduce resistance to change from professional services and academic staff

Speakers:
Sarah Sweeney MAUA, Faculty Manager, Science and Technology, Lancaster University
Bitten Brigham MAUA, Departmental Administrator, Lancaster University

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management
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102: Developing a whole institution approach towards an inclusive student welcome, induction and transitions experience in partnership with Kent Union

Developing a whole institution approach towards an inclusive student welcome, induction and transitions experience in partnership with the Students’ Union and how it supported a digital-first approach in 2020 at the University of Kent.

This session will describe the work to develop a University-wide, student-centred approach to strengthening welcome, induction and transitions activities to enhance the student experience for launch in the 19/20 academic year. The overall aim and objective of the work is to improve retention, student success and outcomes at key junctions of in the student journey

The work will shared as a short case study that exemplifies partnership and collaboration and how taking this approach can ultimately lead to highly creative and successful outcomes. Delegates can expect to understand the key short and longer-term enhancement goals and how this framework was adapted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic for 2020. We will also briefly explore the learning points – the challenges and the benefits (both expected and unexpected) that have emerged from taking a collaborative approach as well as the wider application of the review outcomes/ideas.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand the collaborative approach undertaken across an institution in partnership with its student union to enhance welcome, induction and transitions and deliver a single welcome week communications campaign
– Gain insight into taking this approach, its adaptability, and consider the key learning points to date

Speakers:
Melissa Mulhall MAUA, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor Academic Planning, Bath Spa University

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Marketing | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management
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102: Scaling up active collaborative learning for student success

The great challenge for Higher Education—the one that matters—is ensuring that all students succeed, regardless of their background. This workshop will consider a successful pedagogic response to the challenge: strategic, widespread use of active collaborative learning, presenting the findings from our extensive and empirically-based project at NTU and offering delegates an opportunity to explore the adoption of active collaborative learning at scale in the context of collaboration across an institution with our guide.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand the theory of SCALE-UP and ‘flipped learning’ pedagogies
– Identify the benefits of SCALE-UP’s use, particularly in addressing unexplained barriers to student success
– Consider how to develop SCALE-UP for widespread-use by collaborating with stakeholders: from academic practice to timetabling

Speaker:
Dr Tony Churchill, Senior Educational Developer, Nottingham Trent University

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Quality | Research | Planning | Equality and diversity | Teaching and learning

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

Within the session, we will discuss how we have used Realist Review and Evaluation methodology to examine the ways in which Social Prescribing may impact upon student wellbeing. We will discuss the design and some early findings from the realist review and Group Concept Mapping Studies. The research undertaken so far has produced a logic model illustrating how Social Prescribing may be implemented within a HE environment, with a specific focus upon three key areas i.e., access to the service, qualities of the Social Prescribing link worker/navigator, and the nature of the resources and assets.

Speakers
Professor Carolyn Wallace, Professor Health & Care Services, University of South Wales, Associate Director, Prime Centre Wales and Director, Wales School for Prescribing Research

Dr Mark Davies, Senior Lecturer, University of South Wales

Session Format:
Hot topic

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | General administration

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management

2020 was as challenging as it was unexpected. The future is blended with learners as co-creators. But what are we actually aiming for?

Over 5 months towards the end of 2020, Jisc led an initiative to understand the sector’s response to COVID-19 and to explore the future of digital learning and teaching. Steered by a group of 14 Vice-Chancellors, the work sought to understand 2020, prepare for 2021 and, most importantly, to be inspirational with respect to 2030.

This session will reflect briefly on a tumultuous 12 months and then outline a digital future which alters fundamentally the way in which learning is created, delivered and received.

Speakers
Jon Baldwin, Executive Director Higher Education, Jisc

Session Format:
Hot Topic

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Teaching and learning

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

NUS is campaigning for an education system that is fully funded, lifelong, and accessible. The pandemic has surfaced many inequalities in our education. In this keynote speech, Larissa will reflect on the challenges facing higher education and the need for a comprehensive reform of the education system following the disruption of Covid-19. She will discuss the specific priorities for students, and how institutions, students’ unions and students can work together in partnership to address these.

About Larissa

Larissa Kennedy is the NUS National President. Larissa was formerly Education Officer and Deputy President at Warwick Students’ Union, and has worked as Advocacy and Campaigns Officer and Plan International, a global gender equality charity. In a volunteer capacity, Larissa is the UK’s representative to the Global Secretariat at Youth for Change, was formerly a member of the British Youth Council’s trustee board, and U.K. Youth Delegate to the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

A keynote from Rosie Tressler OBE to share what Student Minds has been learning throughout the pandemic, from the development of online support and the Student Space programme to sustaining long term change through the University Mental Health Charter.

About Rosie

Rosie is the CEO of Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity. Student Minds develops innovative approaches to support healthy university communities, collaborates on research, and empowers students, university professionals and connected communities to create change. Rosie has been working on the issue of student wellbeing for several years. She became the charity’s Chief Executive Officer in 2015, following a number of different roles at Student Minds managing volunteering, campaigns and university relationships, and she has been undertaking a Churchill Fellowship to explore preventative approaches to student mental health in Canada and Australia.  

503: How to give students ownership of their student communications

Research shows that the more engaged students are in their learning the more successful they will be. The exact same is true for your student communications strategy. This workshop will give you practical tips to give students real ownership and choice in their communications, so that they are more successful at university.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand why giving students ownership of student communications and information sharing is so powerful in building a vibrant and engaged student community
– Gain an understanding of practical initiatives and examples that are currently being utilised across the UK higher education sector to give students ownership of their student communications
– Create a plan of how they can implement similar initiatives within their own institutions – taking the theory and putting it into practice

Speaker:
David Gilani FAUA, Head of Student Engagement and Advocacy, Middlesex University

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Events | Marketing | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
General administration | Mid-level management
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503: Serious student welfare incidents
What does a coordinated, effective and efficient response look like?

How effectively does your institution respond when there is a serious student incident? When there is a case of meningitis or TB, for example, or when a student is arrested for a serious offence such as a sexual assault, how well do all the relevant parts of your institution work together to manage the incident? What happens when a student dies? How effectively does everyone work together to offer support to the student’s family, friends, and the wider student and staff bodies?

In this short practical session, we will reflect on some of these important themes, starting with a quick fictional case study and exploring the components of an effective response. We will also discuss how holding ‘case conferences’ within institutions can make a significant difference to the efficiency and effectiveness of a university’s response to these serious and complex incidents.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand why it is important that universities have protocols in place to manage serious student incidents
– Reflect on how well your own institution is currently performing on managing serious student incidents and spot opportunities to enhance procedures in their own institution
– Take back some practical information to your own institution on how ‘case conferencing’ can ensure that all of the relevant teams are working well together to manage an incident

Speaker:
Levi Pay, Director, Plinth House

Session Format:
Combined sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Legal | Student services | Governance | Teaching and learning | Registry | General administration

This session is aimed at:
Mid-level management | Senior management

This session will explore how and why Solent have moved from attendance monitoring to developing a system of learning analytics using SEAtS to support student success. Understanding and monitoring different forms of student engagement help to inform personalised information, advice and guidance offered to students throughout their time at Solent. This session will include a practical activity for you to experience how learning analytics can enhance the quality of support for learning.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to…
– Understand how learning analytics can be used to enhance the quality of student support
– Evaluate the value of learning analytics as a tool to improving student retention and success
– Appreciate the operational process of embedding SEAtS learning analytics into student support processes

Speakers
Alexandra Banks, Deputy Head of Student Experience (Achievement), Solent University
Louise O’Donoghue, Student Achievement Team Leader, Solent University

Session Format:
Individual one hour sessions

This session will be of interest to those working in, or with an interest in:
Student services | Equality and Diversity | Teaching and Learning

This session is aimed at:
New to the sector | General administration | Mid-level management | Senior management