University of Brighton Staff Development Conference 2008

The changing nature of student life: what does it mean for us? Margaret Wallis and Jayne Raisborough

Widening participation  Government policy - universities will attain a 50% participation rate of young people (18-30 years) by 2010  “innovations include ways of making higher education attractive and accessible to disadvantaged individuals and communities” Aim 3 - Corporate Plan

University Centre Hastings

The reality  “I shouldn’t be here. University is not my sort of place.”  Caring responsibilities  Financial difficulties  Mental health issues  Poor experience of school  A lack of self confidence, self esteem and self belief

The student’s viewpoint “I don’t know anyone that has left university because they can’t handle the work academically…times when I have really struggled it has not been because of the work, it has been because of the way …you feel isolated.” Stephen, D and O’Connell, P. (2008) Teaching in Higher Education

What does it mean for us? “As student numbers have grown bigger and bigger you have got much less personal connection. I think this probably gets over to the students that many staff appear hurried and harassed … How can you use engaging methods with such large numbers of students? You can only ‘fire fight’.” Stephen, D and O’Connell, P. (2008) Teaching in Higher Education

“Universities are like refugee camps” Stuart Laing, Pro-Vice-Chancellor

FALMER EXPERIENCE

Student work  Summer work  Weekend work  Outside of the university  ‘on top’ of their university week?

57% Regular term-time work Average 16 hours 25 hours or over The Winn Report :Fleischer & Chalkley (2007)

Add ‘ad hoc’ work… 70% of our students, at times, are employees

Impact? 64% ‘negative impact upon studies’:  reading/ prep/ ‘extras’  75% too tired - social activities reduced  Not making ‘proper’ friends at university

Smash & Grab  What do they HAVE to read, when and WHY?  Students are TIME POOR  We feel the brunt – we are time poor too!  Students DISENGAGE from university community  Reports of loneliness and homesickness – … What can we do?

….and finally some thoughts about a perfect day at the University of Brighton