Staff Feedback Forum 3pm-5pm, 22 March 2017

NCI and Student Engagement NCI is one of five Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) involved this academic year in a pilot project entitled NStEP – the National Student Engagement Programme – which among other actors directly involves the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Within the context of this project, student engagement is defined as: The investment of time, effort and other relevant resources by both students and their institutions intended to optimise the student experience and enhance the learning outcomes and development of students, and the performance and reputation of the institution. NStEP aims: to develop student capabilities to engage in quality enhancement and assurance activities at all levels of the higher education system; to support institutions in developing processes and activities which support/facilitate the meaningful engagement of students; to strengthen the value placed on student engagement across Ireland and develop tools and resources to support a common understanding and build effective practice; and to lay the foundations to develop work beyond the pilot phase to inform the implementation of a national student training programme and increase capacity to take work further

Get involved, have your say, make a difference Get involved – We want to hear our students’ views on how best to offer feedback about the NCI experience. We’re looking for volunteers who want to get actively involved in shaping policy on how and when we gather and use your feedback. Have your say – We want to know how you want to tell us about the totality of your experience in the classroom, about our services, regarding the support we offer. You can participate in person or by contributing to our online discussion. Make a difference – Get directly involved in NCI - its present, as well as its future. Student Feedback Forum 3pm-5pm, 8 March 2017 https://qanci.wordpress.com/2017/03/09/student-feedback-forum

Quality Assurance Handbook Chapter 3: Programme Development, Delivery, Evaluation and Review In terms of programme evaluation and reporting, our currently stated QA practices regarding student feedback centre on three main formal mechanisms: 8.2 Learner Feedback 8.2.1 Class Representative Feedback 8.2.2 Module Evaluation 8.2.3 Services Evaluation For example, with regard to module evaluations, it states: This is carried out in Week 8 of the Semester by the School. The survey is anonymous, The primary objective of this survey is to obtain the views of Learners on their experience in the module delivered. The learner is invited to assign a rating to a range of issues relating to the presentation of a module or module component as he/she experienced it. The completed questionnaires and analysis are returned to the Dean to School and to the individual lecturer. The Dean of School reviews the results of the survey with the individual lecturer. Results of the survey are communicated with Associate Faculty by post. The Quality Assurance Handbook is in need of review …

European Standards and Guidelines (ESGs) Historical role of students in external review and agency governance Stronger emphasis of role of student in internal quality processes – ‘internal partner’ In terms of evidence-based informed teaching, the ESGs refer to on-going monitoring and review, as well as arguing that institutions should ensure that they collect, analyse and use relevant information for the effective management of their programmes, including student satisfaction. Student Centred Learning Teaching and Assessment Design and approval of courses Students and staff are involved in providing and analysing information and planning follow up activities Student involvement in programme review and self assessment Go to http://www.enqa.eu for more details

HEA working group recommendation Co-led (staff and student) self-evaluation of formal and informal practices and opportunities Co-author a student engagement policy In terms of feedback and the feedback loop, this report argues that institutions should welcome and encourage open and prompt student feedback, adding that suitable measures should be put in place across an institution to ensure that students are facilitated in providing feedback. Go to http://www.hea.ie/ for more details

Developing Student Engagement in Ireland Three Drivers of Student Engagement HEI as a Critical Institution HEI as a Site of Democratic Citizenship HEI as a Learning Community

Developing Student Engagement in Ireland Principles Consistency of Values Feedback Students as Co-Creators Professionalism Student as Partner Principles Inclusivity and Diversity Collegiality Transparency Democracy Self-Criticism

Developing Student Engagement in Ireland

Focus on enhancement and change 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 Go to http://www.sparqs.ac.uk/ for more details

Some questions … Stephen Cleary (NCISU President) Please feel free to follow up directly with: Stephen Cleary (NCISU President) Seán McMahon (NCISU Vice-President) Jonathan Lynch (Student Retention & Attendance Coordinator) Deryck Tormey (Student Experience Coordinator) Sinéad O’Sullivan (Director of Quality Assurance) Maurice FitzGerald (Quality Assurance Officer)

Your answers …