International Conference on Enhancement and Innovation in Higher Education Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow 9-11 June 2015 Welcome

Eddie Simpson Dan Gilmour Dorothée Leslie Collaborations - smoothing the transition experience

Background to collaborations Undergraduate tripartite arrangement – BSc (Hons) Sustainable Architectural Design – BSc (Hons) Renewable Energy Technologies Post-graduate partnership with ESCT – MSc Construction Management

Undergraduate Collaboration Role of Regional Articulation Hub Transitions advisers – Pre-recruitment – Recruitment – Support during delivery

Post-graduate collaboration Single source for applicants All employer sponsored 2 year preparation for MSc

Challenges for smooth transition Student travel – Undergrad – Post-grad Operational delivery – recruitment, registration, timetables, examination arrangements, student support services, academic calendars, communication between teams and with students Team cohesiveness Student identity

Benefits Each organisation used their strengths to influence curriculum design and delivery Sharing of best practice at all levels within the management and delivery teams Flexibility by each partner to help solve operational problems as and when they arose

Successes Improved understanding across teams of the different UG/PG experiences for students Quality Review outcomes Strong academic teams for future developments Students have accessed courses that would not otherwise be available with positive results. – 3 undergrad students have gone on to set up their own company

Future developments Undergraduate – Colleges involved in portfolio review to continue to develop opportunities for courses where College teams are still taking a major role in the student experience – Staff opportunities to undertake teaching between institutions – e.g. Abertay staff at Dundee and Angus College for HND and Dundee and Angus College staff on degree courses

Future developments Post graduate – ESCT involved in portfolio review and strengthening the long-term prospects of the course to ensure its relevance to employers Successful model of delivery for each partner; seeking to exploit this model of delivery further

Case Study 1: The collaborating College Experience Dorothée Leslie Director of Curriculum (HE)

The why and how … Strategic commitments - Renewable Energies, Engineering - Access and Inclusion - Partnership and Employability College Regionalisation -Opportunity to look at roles and responsibilities (HE) -Regional economic drivers and College remit -Progression pathways, aspirations and shorter learner journeys -Enhanced partnerships and learner experience -Further opportunities

Case Study 2 Dan Gilmour

The why and how … Effective long term collaborations require: Time to jointly develop trust and close working Leadership and flexibility Well defined procedures In depth understanding of operational issues Institutional importance and value of collaboration Commitment

Conclusions Collaboration is successful in providing student transition that reduces the stress of unfamiliarity of the HE experience; but requires resource support in addition to academic team contributions Long lead in of 2 years prior to joining a course enables early engagement with teaching staff and provides reassurance to students On-going support an essential part of the student experience