Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

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.
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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.

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.

Developing the tools to navigate the student journey

Last week Claire Povah explained how Lancaster University mapped the student journey, in a bid to better understand their needs. Today, Chris Dixon explains how the map informed the development of apps to give students a smoother start to academic life.

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.

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.

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.
Jean Mutton

Service design for universities

Sometimes solutions are under our noses - you just need the right approach to unlock them. In this post, consultant Jean Mutton explains service design, which she says is for anyone who often thinks "there must be a better way".

Are students at the heart of our processes?

The University of Leicester has developed an approach to engaging senior leaders with the student experience. In the latest of our blogs from the nine Innovation and Transformation Fund projects, Claire King writes that the university believes it can provide valuable insight for institutions looking to develop similar approaches.

How student innovation is supporting efficiency in education

Following the shortlisting of six digital solutions for Jisc funding as part of the Summer of Student Innovation, Rosie Niven catches up with one of the 2013 winners to find out the progress of his project.