Development Consultant Engaging students in online, distance learning and transnational education Simon Varwell Development Consultant sparqs

About sparqs Student Partnerships in Quality Scotland. Scotland’s national agency for student engagement in quality. Funded by Scottish Funding Council. Works with all universities and colleges, and their SAs. www.sparqs.ac.uk Find all our training, guidance and publications Sign up to our newsletter Submit student engagement practice to our Resource Library!

About sparqs Our four strategic areas: Supporting students Supporting institutions Supporting the sector Developing a culture

Supporting institutions Annual Support Visits: request for support on ODL Ongoing consultancy: our awareness of increased TNE activity Project work: Resources and guidance Training and capacity building Networking and sharing

A definition of transnational education “higher education institutions deliver their education services in another country rather than the students travelling to the foreign university to study. It can include but is not limited to branch campuses, distance learning, online provision, joint and dual degree programmes, flying in faculty for short courses, or mixed models (known as blended learning).” The UK Higher Education International Unit, The Scale and Scope of UK Higher Education Transnational Education, 2016 http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and-analysis/reports/Documents/International/scale-and-scope-of-uk-he-tne.pdf

Joint and dual degree programmes Blended learning Branch campuses Distance learning Flying faculty Online provision Joint and dual degree programmes

Joint and dual degree programmes Blended learning Branch campuses Distance learning Flying faculty Online provision Joint and dual degree programmes UKHEIU definition to branch campuses, distance learning, online provision, joint and dual degree programmes, flying in faculty for short courses, or mixed models (known as blended learning

UKHEIU definition Blended learning Branch campuses Distance learning within Scotland and rUK Distance learning outwith the UK Flying faculty Online provision Joint and dual degree programmes UKHEIU definition

sparqs’ ODL project UKHEIU definition Blended learning Branch campuses Distance learning within Scotland and rUK Distance learning outwith the UK Flying faculty Online provision Joint and dual degree programmes UKHEIU definition

sparqs’ ODL project sparqs’ TNE project UKHEIU definition Blended learning sparqs’ TNE project Branch campuses Distance learning within Scotland and rUK Distance learning outwith the UK Flying faculty Online provision Joint and dual degree programmes UKHEIU definition

sparqs’ ODL project ? sparqs’ TNE project UKHEIU definition Blended learning sparqs’ TNE project Branch campuses Distance learning within Scotland and rUK Distance learning outwith the UK Flying faculty Online provision Joint and dual degree programmes UKHEIU definition

ODL project – 6 universities (plus 1 Irish HEI) TNE project – 6 universities 2016 meetings to explore concepts and practice Individual and collective institutional work, background research and development Autumn 2017 review meeting Winter 2017/18 final materials

ODL project Engaging students: Supporting institutions: Individual engagement; Representation Supporting institutions: Strategy; Technology; Development Sector perspectives: Data; Sharing

TNE project Students working with their institution in shaping the direction of learning Feedback; co-creation; review; delivery; course representation; SA connectivity  Formal mechanisms for quality and governance Oversight; staff development; SA responsibilities; SA support Influencing the student experience at national level Enhancement activity; SA networks; Data

Student Engagement Framework Focus on enhancement and change Valuing the student contribution Appropriate resources and support A culture of engagement Students as partners Responding to diversity

Practices Recognition of the issue: Focussed engagement: Audits and reviews of provision (Dundee, RGU) Dedicated committees (Dundee, Edinburgh Napier) Focussed engagement: Specific communication channels and officers (RGU) Adapting campus provision to ODL/TNE world, not vice-versa: Online course rep training (Edinburgh, Stirling and others)

Challenges Definitions – aren’t all students online students (even partly)? Diverse global views of SAs and student engagement. Staff-led forums versus student-led forums: Value of both, but importance of sharing. Resources For students’ associations at all levels of operation. Diverse student cohorts: ODL has high numbers of mature, part-time and PGT students…

Talking of PGT… A quick advert!

PGT course rep training New training materials for course reps on taught postgraduate courses. See our poster! Resource pack (including materials and guide) available at the sparqs stall… …along with lots of other goodies!

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Opportunities National drivers: Non-traditional becoming mainstream: Growing research Strong culture of sharing National documentation – TNE review handbook; Quality Code B10 Non-traditional becoming mainstream: Thinking outside box Diverse student experiences Core sector culture of partnership: If students are fully involved, the solutions won’t be far away.

Contact Simon Varwell, Development Consultant simon.varwell@sparqs.ac.uk +44 7815 938966 www.sparqs.ac.uk ODL and TNE projects page: http://www.sparqs.ac.uk/institute.php?page=525 Find out more at our stall