At the University of Lincoln, fostering a strong sense of belonging is not just a goal - it's a fundamental part of our Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Strategy (TLSES).
Our commitment to building a supportive and inclusive community revolves around the concept of Sense of Belonging (SoB). The SoB strand is one of the key pillars alongside Curriculum, Student Support and Diverse Delivery. It's about creating an environment where students feel connected, valued and empowered through:
- Co-Creation and Collaboration
We actively involve both staff and students in shaping the university experience. Collaborative projects led by the Sense of Belonging Taskforce bring together academic, professional service and Students' Union members.
- Beyond the Curriculum
We encourage student engagement in extracurricular activities, clubs and societies, fostering a sense of community.
'Building Belonging' collaborative project
A valuable opportunity to build belonging was facilitated by Advance HE’s Building Belonging Change Impact Programme which became a driver to develop what belonging might mean and design approaches to proactively foster belonging, such as the pilot project ‘Academic Success for International Students’.
Our journey towards understanding belonging captured the meaning of ‘Belonging at the University of Lincoln’ as multifaceted, collectively forming a comprehensive model based around several core themes:
- Social Bonds: Building connections with peers, staff and the wider community.
- Community Engagement: Active participation in university life.
- Inclusivity: Ensuring everyone feels welcome and valued.
- Cultural Identity: Recognising and celebrating diverse backgrounds.
Academic Success for International Students - a pilot project
As our university grows more diverse, supporting international students becomes paramount. The ‘Academic Success for International Students’ pilot targeted postgraduate taught students in International Business/Computer Science.
The key components of the pilot are:
- Diagnostic Evaluation: students underwent a personalised comprehensive assessment to gauge their baseline language and academic skills, allowing us to tailor support effectively.
- Embedded Workshops: over eight weeks of language and study skills workshops embedded into students' timetables, specific needs were addressed to enhance their academic journey.
- Pre and Post Surveys: students completed surveys at the start and end of programmes, exploring their sense of belonging.
Outcomes
Participating in the Advance HE project yielded significant outcomes including:
- Foundation: we now have a solid understanding of belonging and its foundations.
- Model and Definition: the SoB model shaped our approaches to fostering belonging at UoL.
- Measurement Tools: we've developed robust methods to assess the impact of belonging initiatives.
- Network Building: connecting with similar initiatives across the HE sector enriches our practices.
Our commitment to building belonging isn't just a project - it's a continuous journey.
By prioritising relationships, inclusivity and cultural identity, Lincoln is a university where every student feels they truly belong.
Claire Randerson is Dean of International and Postgraduate taught students and Professor Kate Strudwick is Dean of Teaching and Learning at the University of Lincoln.