A focus on student mental health services: Nightline
In the last of our Student Mental Health and wellbeing series, this blog focuses on Nightline, a student support service run by volunteer students, which provides help during out of work hours. We look at why these support services are much needed and which steps that can be taken to set up a Night line on campus.
HEFCE prospective students good practice guide
This guide will help higher education providers follow good practice in supplying easily accessible information for prospective students.
Exploring institutional practices in the post-digital age
The 15th annual Academic Practice and Technology conference included discussions around student engagement and digital provision and provided an opportunity to expand on ideas that can improve the link between students and institutions. Steve Dawes writes on the Association for Learning Technology blog about how the event showed that there is still a willingness to use digital technology to help students individually as well as part of a group.
University libraries need to start putting the student first
A good library is an important weapon in keeping student satisfaction levels high, writes Ben Hickman from consultancy Alterline. But in an article for the Guardian Higher Education Network he adds that all too often they don't reflect the needs of the student of 2017 and like other parts of universities, must change their culture.
To Get The Most Out Of Your Degree, Make A Difference Abroad.
As part of our Student experience series Shayle Havemann discusses the career value of international experience through volunteering and internships for students to assist them with their pursuit to the career of their dreams.
How universities can use learning analytics to boost retention
Boosting retention is an area where learning analytics could have a big part to play in supporting fair access. Universities pulling together access agreements for next year should have learning analytics in their sights according to Jisc's Phil Richards and Joel Mullan.
CATS: The inspiring journey of a young man’s triumph over adversity
Earlier this year Efficiency Exchange published a blog by Ellie Dunstone, a student at the University of Cambridge who is involved with the CATS student society there. In this blog, James Adams, the founder of CATS, shares his personal journey of how CATS developed. Like we saw with Ben Stone, founder of Student Coin, James saw an opportunity to create more value in his university life, not just for him, but others too. CATS benefits students physically through raising awareness of signs and symptoms or cancer aswell as providing valuable skills that can enhance the employability of their volunteers.
The virtual open day – bringing the campus to the applicant
Clearing is often about making quick decision but how do you equip those students to make those choices when they haven't visited your university? Holding a virtual open day helps those students make an informed decision by offering them a glimpse of university life without setting foot on campus.
Split in dropout rate trends across UK – HESA
Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency reveals slight increase in dropout rates in England and Wales generally, though Scotland and Northern Ireland saw a decline in the number of students not completing their courses.
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.
