Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

The CATS Campaign: raising cancer awareness among students

In the second blog of our student experience series, Ellie Dunstone, a student at the University of Cambridge, shares with us the experience of the society she is involved with, the Cancer Awareness in Teenagers and young people Society, also known as CATS. Universities have a wide range of societies run by students which include sports, lifestyle choices, religion, hobbies and health. Societies can be valuable to students, learning skills which can support them in their future careers, supporting their own mental and physical health as well as others, demonstrating that there can be more to the student experience than the course.

Student Records Officer Conference – key issues

Today, the Efficiency Exchange team is at the Student Records Officer Conference in Loughborough. Here are a selection of posts that focus on some of the issues that will be covered during the day and on other subjects that might interest delegates.

How to make volunteering matter to university students

Do you want to get more from your university experience than just your degree? Are you someone who wants to help in the community, but feels a student life won't offer the time to get involved? In this blog Joe Crook from the University of East London, talks about volunteering, student life and explains how it can all fit into a busy student lifestyle.

Student engagement monitoring survey

Royal Holloway has launched a survey into how Higher Education institutions monitor student engagement. They plan to use the findings to help them design their support for academic departments as they advise their students.
gignerbread men

Using service design techniques to map the student journey

Some universities are attempting to map the student journey in order to better understand the student experience. In this blogpost consultant Jean Mutton explains how service design techniques can help to develop a deeper understanding about what is driving students.

Encouraging Students to ‘Study Happy’

As part of our Student Experience series, Rebecca Woolley from the University of Warwick shares their Study Happy programme with Alice in Libraryland tea parties and mindfulness sessions for students. The library offers a range of activities and aim to improve the whole student experience.
Message in a bottle

Student communications: cutting through the noise

Keeping students informed about life at university is complex but Suzanne Wigley of the University of Derby likes a challenge. She shares what they've been doing to ensure students have the information they need and also reveals what didn't quite work.

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.

Survey shows facilities a key factor in students’ choice of university

Research released by AUDE shows that facilities are key for two thirds of UK students when choosing university, with the library being cited as the most used university facility. Some 85% of the 2,000 surveyed say they are learning, socialising and living in clean and well maintained university buildings.

Journey to the centre of the student experience

Mapping the customer - or in this case the student - journey is not in itself a new or innovative concept, however a small team at Lancaster University, approached the project in an innovative way. The project’s head, Claire Povah, explains its approach.