Robert Gordon University’s Welcome Leadership Group formed in May 2020, comprising a diverse group of RGU colleagues and students. Bringing together students, professional and academic staff within the team, the Welcome Leadership Group benefits from a richness of perspective.
The Welcome Leadership group is led by Julie Strachan, Head of Department for the Enhancement of Learning, Teaching and Assessment and Filippo Antoniazzi, Director of Student Life. Members of the Welcome Leadership group include Laura Binnie, Head of School of Health Sciences; Karen Cross, Academic Strategic Lead, School of Creative and Cultural Business; John Isaacs, Head of School of Computing; Brenda Paver, Academic Strategic Lead, Aberdeen Business School; Damilola Adesanya, President of Education and Welfare, RGU Union; Julie Guest, Director of Academic Administration; Laila Obiagwu, President of Communication and Democracy, RGU Union; Kirsty Campbell, Learning Analytics and Partnership Lead; Lynne Loveday, Academic Skills Coordinator; Daniel Massie, Project Coordinator (Learning Experience); and Rachel McGregor, Academic Support Lead.
The team came together to devise and coordinate a new virtual Student Welcome for students joining and returning to the university in September 2020, acknowledging the educational disruption that students had faced and the ongoing requirement for online learning due to Covid-19. The success of the newly implemented Student Welcome is evident in a broad range of measures:
- responses to the Welcome survey further confirms the value placed on Welcome by students.
- high overall satisfaction; feedback gathered through institutional mechanisms suggests the subsequent impact of Welcome on students’ confidence and preparedness for study throughout the first semester.
- greater efficiency and sustainability of practice in student inductions
- extended reach of fresher’s activities.
A catalyst for wider School-based enhancements, The Welcome Leadership Group’s collaborative work in 2020/21 delivered positive outcomes for students and staff during a period of immense challenge and change. Following this success, the team have gained ongoing responsibility for Welcome and led further developments that have demonstrably enhanced the student experience and transitions practice at the university.
