Responding to student voice: Principle of practice cards - revised instructions for using online
Publication Date: 02 Jun 2020
A Student-led project
We work with students and staff from across the Scottish higher education sector to deliver a student-led project in each year of the Enhancement Theme. A Steering Group, which has a student chair and involves input from a range of staff and students as well as sparqs, provide direction for the project. Each project aims to develop policy, practice, resources and networks around common issues and areas of interest.
In 2017-18, the Responding to Student Voice project explored policy and practice. It examined the ways in which institutions and students’ associations respond to student feedback. During this project students and staff worked together to develop a set of core principles that underpin policies and practices relating to responding to student voice in a range of contexts.
Sector-wide activity
Principles
We produced a resource pack based on a set of card that sets out a series of interrelated principles of practice. Staff and students worked in partnership to design and shape the cards, aimed at improving policies, processes and practices around responding to student voice.
Responding to student voice: Principles of practice cards
Publication Date: 13 Nov 2018
Responding to student voice: Principles of practice cards (editable version)
Publication Date: 16 Nov 2018
Responding to student voice: Introductory sheet
Publication Date: 16 Nov 2018
Responding to student voice: Planning sheet
Publication Date: 12 Nov 2018
Responding to student voice: Principles of practice poster
Publication Date: 12 Nov 2018
The whole two-day workshop was about sharing the Scottish approach to Quality Enhancement, including the significant emphasis placed on student partnership and engagement. The student voice cards were perfect for illustrating the different levels at which this works in our own sector and to help our Sri Lankan colleagues to consider the relevance to their own context. We placed emphasis on the role that students had contributed to the development of the cards and associated resources on the QAA Enhancement Themes website. The cards themselves were then used as a tool to initiate discussion about the diversity of student engagement approaches and possibilities. The conversations triggered by using the cards as prompts were rich and hugely thought provoking.
Katrina Swanton
Edinburgh Napier University
Research
We gathered evidence through a consultation with the Scottish higher education sector and a scan of international practice to form our student voice principles of practice. We have published a report on the findings of this research, comprising a literature review, interviews and surveys.
Responding to student voice: Insights into international practice
Publication Date: 12 Nov 2018
Examples of practice
Alongside, and in support of, the principles of practice, the Responding to the Student Voice project sought to identify and share a wide range of examples of practice. We have drawn resources from a project event aimed at sharing effective practice and from the institutional and student association/union.
Pressing Escape will cancel and close this dialog
Sector ‘think-tank’ event: Responding to student voice
On 26 April, 2018, we held a Student Voice Think Tank event in Glasgow. Institutions had the opportunity to learn about the different approaches students’ associations use to communicate the impact of the student voice. The event contributed to the development of our principles of practice and provided a range of examples of practice. View our Wakelet to find out more about the event
Event resources
- Capturing and responding to student voices: exploring innovative alternatives (PPTX, 2.93MB) | Liz Austen (Sheffield Hallam University)
- Sketch-note of Liz Austen Keynote (PDF, 0.06MB) | drawn by Katrina Swanton (Edinburgh Napier University)
- Work in Progress: Celebrating enhancements achieved in partnership at school and course levels (PPTX, 7.47MB) | Kirsty Campbell (Robert Gordon University) & Kerry Harrison (Robert Gordon University Students' Association)
- Nothing Ever Gets Done: Demonstrating the Impact of the Student Voice (PPTX, 0.54MB) | Matt Adie (University of Stirling Students’ Union)
- Enhancing the Student Representation System to close the feedback loop (PPTX, 0.16MB) | Bobi Archer (University of Edinburgh Students’ Association)
- How to win module feedback and influence practice? (PPTX, 0.38MB) | Julie Blackwell Young (University of Abertay)
- Engaging the student voice and closing the feedback loop with technology (PPTX, 4.63MB) | Anish Bagga (Unitu) & David Watson (University of Greenwich)
Curated examples of practice and useful resources from around the sector
We have selected examples of practice and resources to showcase a range of approaches to responding to student voice, as well as the formation and sharing of policy and strategy around this activity.
Student voice ‘hub’ pages
- Student voice | University of Edinburgh
- Student Voice | University of Southampton
- Student Voice | Liverpool Hope University
- Student Voice | University of Plymouth
- Student Voice: Share your student voice and make difference | Manchester Metropolitan University
Responding to student voice resources
- Your voice has been heard | University of Aberdeen
- “Your voice has…” webpages | Nottingham Trent University
- Your voice matters blog | University of Brighton
Student Associations/Unions
- Student voice | University of Strathclyde Students’ Union
- Your voice, your ideas | Queen Margaret University Students’ Union
- School Presidents | University of St Andrews Students’ Union
- Booklet explaining student voice (PDF, 1.04MB) | University of Dundee Students Association
- Student voice website | Robert Gordon University Students’ Union
Policy and strategy resources
- A guide to student voice for staff | University of Plymouth
- Closing the loop: actions and improvements | The University of Auckland
- Revitalising the Student Survey Process at Heriot-Watt University: Closing the feedback loop and how do we know we have made a difference? (PDF, 0.77MB) | Heriot Watt University
- Closing the feedback loop models (PDF, 0.80MB) | University College Dublin
- ‘Closing the loop’ blogpost | Sheffield Hallam University
- Obtaining and responding to feedback from students: University Code of Practice (PDF, 0.44MB) | University of Glasgow
- Policy for listening to and responding to the student voice | University of Portsmouth
Sector views and related resources
- The Student Experience Partnership resources | The Student Engagement Partnership (TSEP)
- Student Partnerships in Quality Scotland resources | sparqs
- Use and Abuse of the Student Voice | Stella Jones-Devitt and Jill LeBihan (Sheffield Hallam University for AdvanceHE)
- Researching student voices | Liz Austen (Sheffield Hallam University for Wonkhe)