The Centre for Excellence in Learning (CEL) hosted over 30 sessions in the last academic year, aimed at enhancing student experience at BU.
From helping programme leaders to develop a cohort identity, demystifying student learning and mapping the student experience with SUBU, the impact has been far-reaching.
Through road shows, drop-in seminars, staff induction activities or bespoke workshops, CEL have worked in some way with most departments across BU.
Some departments signed up for a series of three workshops, focussing on key themes in the student experience:
- Innovative pedagogy and technology enhanced learning, hosted by Dr Debbie Holley, explores how can we add value to the student experience through creative approaches to learning and innovative use of technology
- Creative assessment, led by Anne Quinney, to explore this critical driver of student learning
- Student centred learning, led by Professor Gail Thomas, is about the student being an active participant and influencing how the learning takes shape.
Colleagues from right across BU have taken part in the lunchtime sessions, which have included:
- Mapping out an ideal student experience with SUBU
- Succeed at BU - student retention and attainment
- Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) and Student as Partners: Power, tokenism or non-participation?
- Developing cohort identity
- Celebrating Student Inspired Improvement
- Employability and the Global Agenda
- Appreciating Appreciative Inquiry
- An exploration of the potential of learning development to demystify student learning.
National Student Survey (NSS) results, which came out in August, showed student satisfaction at BU has risen by 3% in the last academic year to 82%. This is the highest that BU has achieved since the NSS survey began in 2005 and an important achievement when the sector average has remained steady.
CEL will continue these activities to enhance the student learning experience during the 2016/17 academic year. Keep checking the CEL blog for the latest opportunities.