Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

How can e-learning support higher education after and during Brexit?

As the debate over the status of international students remains unabated and uncertainties over the likely impact of Brexit still unknown, Vitaly Klopot suggests the use of e-learning as a way for universities to continue having an impact beyond geographical constraints.
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Retention levels come under scrutiny, but universities are on the case

Universities must focus on retention as much as they do on widening the pool of applications and enrolments, a report by the the Social Market Foundation suggests.

Nonbinary transgender issues at university – A student experience

How easy do you find university? Are you living a different life at university than you do when you visit home, because you don't feel your family will understand who you are? Many people feel they can't be truly honest with their families, out of fear they won't be accepted due to societal norms and ignorance. Members of the LGBT+ community may often be in this position, living a lie to those they love through fear of being rejected by friends and family. In this blog, Luc shares their university experience as a nonbinary transgender student.

Student journey map – Lancaster University

The overall aim of this project was to easily visualise and understand the complexity of the student journey. Through the project, the team wanted to identify those touch points on the student journey which were challenging and use this visual data to influence change.

Peer mentoring and welcome workshops

At Nottingham Trent University (NTU), we are seeking to increase engagement and retention through student peer mentoring and the delivery of a new Welcome Workshop. This workshop, has been co-created and co-facilitated by our student mentors, is designed to instil a sense of belonging and student agency in all undergraduate first-years starting in September 2018.

“It’s all standard behaviour.” So what is all the fuss about?

There has been a lot of awareness raised recently around gender based violence and questions around the idea of standard behaviour.  In this opinion piece,...
Student in lecture theatre

We need a passport photo not a selfie: an admission officer’s plea

Many institutions are responding to the student-funded business model by examining the ‘student journey’ in a systematic way. The Efficiency Exchange team ran a workshop at the Student Record Officers Conference to explore ideas for improving interactions with students at key points on their journey. Rosie Niven shares some insights.

ProtectED: A way forward for universities which aims to improve student safety and well-being

Student safety should be a priority for all universities, but with 39% of universities not providing sexual misconduct training for staff, and only 29% of universities with a mental health and well-being strategy, this demonstrates there is need for improvement. Lucy Winrow from ProtectED discusses student safety and understanding 'what works', driving change in national standards in the HE sector and safeguarding the student experience

What are you going to do next?

As a mature student, are you concerned that time before rejoining university was now maybe a waste or that possibly you’re going to be disadvantaged by it? Dr Douglas Hamilton shares his mature student experiences and shows students, of all ages, what can be achieved by creating your own luck and grabbing opportunities that come your way.
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Be better with digital, students tell staff in Jisc survey

Students have stated their frustration at staff's lack of training in - and inconsistent use of - technology in Jisc's digital student tracker report. The survey which involved 22,000 higher education students is one of the largest of its kind.