Student Partnership Agreement

Background QAA Chapter B5 – Expectation – ‘Higher education providers take deliberate steps to engage all students, individually and collectively, as partners in the assurance and enhancement of their educational experience.’ (2012:6) NUS – A manifesto for Partnership – 'Partnership means shared responsibility - for identifying the problem or opportunity for improvement, for devising a solution, and - importantly - for co-delivery of that solution. None of this can happen without dispute, so the question becomes whether that dispute is occurring in good faith on both sides and whether students and their representatives are enabled to take a full and active part in that debate’ (2012:8). HEA Framework – A conceptual model – ‘For partnership to be embedded and sustained beyond documents, projects and initiatives, it needs to become part of the culture and ethos of the institution. Developing strong partnership learning communities which engage staff and students is key to this’ (2014:4)

HEA Framework The conceptual model for students as partners in learning and teaching in Higher Education. It describes four overlapping areas in which partnerships among students, and between students and staff, in learning and teaching may be located. (Healy, Flint and Harrington, 2014)

SPA development Student Learning Partnerships/Student Representation Policy Working Group set up Current literature and sector agenda used as a starting point Developed with diversity in mind – students, staff, campuses, modes of study, programmes and communities. Replaces Student Representation Policy… but forms one strand of an overarching ‘Student Engagement Enabling Plan’

Fit with current plans Directly aligned with – UWS Corporate Strategy – Enabling Plans and School Operational Plans – SAUWS Objectives Also developed from – Feedback from SAUWS Mass Membership Survey – NSS Scores – Elected Officer Manifesto’s pledges ( )

Our Values for Partnership Equality – staff and students are treated equally Democracy – the right of every individual’s voice to count Mutual respect – this should be between: staff and students, amongst students themselves, staff across the organisation. Diversity – the experience of all individuals who engage with the development and enhancement of UWS is valued and carries the same status Collaboration – between staff and students and a spirit of recognition of what can be learned from each other Sustainability – learning, knowledge and skills which continue to evolve and maintain their relevance to societal needs

Targets for Education… – Assessment and Feedback Each Programme to evidence to APPC the Number of students given feedback on formative and summative assessments, including exams, by end of AY The results will feed into future Feedback Campaigns. – Academic Societies Each School will have at least 1 Academic Society by end of AY

Targets for (cont.) Student Welfare and Wellbeing… Run at least 1 proactive financial awareness campaign during AY Run at least 1 proactive wellbeing campaign during AY Internationalisation… Provide at least 1 student led integration event each Trimester for home and international students Provide at least 2 student led networking events for home and international students as a means for sharing experiences of study abroad. Each School to develop a plan of action to encouraging students to study abroad

Achieving the SPA Utilisation of expertise and perspectives from the whole learning and professional community will be critical to the success of the agreement and its outcomes Scope for innovation and creativity with the use of enhanced and capable technology given our geographical spread and intentions to expand our global reach. SPA signed off by the UWS Principal and SAUWS President

References Higher Education Academy (2014) Framework for partnership in learning and teaching in higher education. [Online] Available: partners-framework-action [Accessed: 17 June 2015]. Healy. M, Flint. A and Harrington. K (2014) Engagement through partnership: students as partners in learning and teaching in higher education. Cited in Higher Education Academy (2014) Framework for partnership in learning and teaching in higher education. [Online] Available: framework-action [Accessed: 17 June 2015]. National Union of Students (2012) A Manifesto for Partnership. [Online] Available: for-partnerships/ [Accessed: 13 April 2015]. Quality Assurance Agency (2012) UK Quality Code for Higher Education, Part B: Assuring and Enhancing Academic Quality, Chapter B5: Student Engagement. [Online] Available: [Accessed: 16 June 2015].