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Project TIGERS

Project TIGERS is an exemplar of Birmingham City University’s vision of transformation. The key innovation focuses on digital engagement with an external tech startup, providing video-led, mobile-first resources and tailored content to transform student experience. It is a seamless collaboration which provides inspiration to the entire sector.
Year
2019
Faculty Departments
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment
Institution
Birmingham City University

Project TIGERS at Birmingham City University (BCU) is an exemplar of the university’s vision of transformation, both of students and of partners. The project is based in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering, and the Built Environment (CEBE), which has an exceptionally diverse student population. These differing educational backgrounds require an innovative approach to provide relevant and accessible student support.

In this context, finding novel methods of maximising engagement and delivering targeted help when needed becomes especially important, and this nomination demonstrates the value of taking a collaborative team approach to this task. The project delivers digital engagement through an ongoing partnership between key internal stakeholder groups in BCU (students, academics and professional support units) and an external tech startup, Tandem Labs. At its heart sits the innovative digital platform University Assistant, the culmination of a two-year development programme, delivered through an absolute commitment to effective team-working for mutual benefit.

In effect, the University Assistant app ‘cuts through the noise’ so the most important messages are heard, and provides a feedback channel so the student voice is loud and clear in return. It is built around video-led, mobile-first resources, tailored content and an instant chat facility managed by Student Success Advisors. The opportunities this provides are hugely exciting. First, the app provides an intuitively student-friendly channel. Secondly, through hyper-relevant targeting of notifications and content, the team can nudge behaviours and positively influence outcomes. The app has achieved 97% uptake amongst the incoming student population, enabling a rapid response to well over 800 queries, and CEBE has seen a 21% reduction in withdrawals during the crucial first six months of study.

The team is delighted that students have valued and appreciated the project. Sample feedback includes: “It's like instant gratification for solving issues quickly”, and “Being able to ask any question, no matter what and have a quick, real human response is amazing”. All this has only been made possible by working with great colleagues internally, and through the innovative, commercial sensibilities of an external partner. It is a seamless, transformative collaboration, which the team believes provides inspiration to the entire higher education sector.

Team members:

Professor Nick Morton

Professor Hanifa Shah

Amar Masonde

Rosemary Ambrose-Odulaja

Stepfanie-Nicole Szabo

Cameron McCulloch-Keeble

Nathan Dewell

Sunnah Yaqoob

Liam Matthews-Dibbins

Wil Vincent

From partner Tandem Labs:

Professor Rob Pritchard

Tom Pritchard

Advance HE recognises there are different views and approaches to teaching and learning, as such we encourage sharing of practice, without advocating or prescribing specific approaches. NTF and CATE awards recognise teaching excellence in a particular context. The profiles featured are self-submitted by award winners.