Students as Co-Creators Symposium: Beyond Engagement: the emerging role of students as co-creators of their learning experience

Overview

This symposium will provide an open and supportive environment within which to share and discuss contemporary practice and initiatives relating to students as co-creators; provide evidence-informed examples and ideas to encourage student engagement, and network with like-minded peers.

The active participation of students in co-creating their learning experience can add value and insights to the student experience for staff, students and institutions, however authentic and inclusive co-creation is challenging. In this symposium we want to critically explore the role of all students as co-creators across all areas of their university experience. We invited students to identify the themes they considered important to discuss at the symposium to model co-creation and to hear this authentic critical voice.

Based on these suggestions the themes of the symposium will include:

The integration of co-creation as a continuous process within the student experience, with a particular focus on:

Co-creation of principles, visions, policies, processes and systems at institutional, departmental or programme level.
Co-creation to address structural or institutional biases and inclusion of underrepresented groups.
Co-creation in academic governance and developing strategic policy.
The benefits of co-creation for students, staff or institutions.

The four students who submitted themes for the symposium have been invited to join the plenary session for a critical reflection on the challenges of co-creation.

Booking information

Date: 26 January 2023

The Studio, Manchester

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Symposium aims

The aims of this symposium are to:

provide an open and supportive environment within which to share and discuss contemporary practice and initiatives in teaching and learning; and
provide evidence-informed examples and ideas for university staff and students to address current challenges in higher education.

Students as Co-Creators programme

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Students as Co-Creators abstracts

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Keynote speaker

Professor Catherine Bovill

Professor of Student Engagement in Higher Education
,
University of Edinburgh

Catherine Bovill is Professor of Student Engagement in Higher Education at the Institute for Academic Development (IAD), University of Edinburgh. She is a National Teaching Fellow, a Visiting Fellow at the University of Bergen, Norway, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Staff and Educational Development Association. Cathy leads a range of strategic student engagement work at the University of Edinburgh including: co-chairing the Curriculum Transformation Programme Student Engagement Strategy Group; the Student Partnership Agreement and funding scheme; and managing the IAD programme and course design team. She is considered a world leader in co-created curriculum, student-staff partnership and student engagement having published over 50 articles and books and given over 80 keynote presentations and masterclasses on co-creation in 15 countries.

Alessandra Bossoni

Edinburgh Napier University

Hi everyone, I am Alessandra Bossoni (she/her) and I am currently studying Biomedical Science at Edinburgh Napier University. I took part as student co-creator in the project “Inclusive & Decolonised Curriculum in the Biological Sciences” supported by funding from the Learning and Teaching Network at Edinburgh Napier Grant Scheme. In particular, I worked alongside another student and some university staff members to reflect on team dynamics between academics and students in co-creation projects, learn and “unlearn” around the topics of diversity and inclusion and build inclusive reading lists for Biological Sciences undergraduate courses.

I am honoured to have been invited to attend the Co-creation Symposium and I look forward to sharing ideas with you all.

Aiswarya Jayamohan

PhD student in English literature
,
The University of Edinburgh

Aiswarya Jayamohan is a PhD student in English literature at The University of Edinburgh. Their interest in co-creation emerges from the queer feminist priorities of their research and teaching, and ongoing professional engagements with curriculum transformation at (and alongside) the Institute for Academic Development. You can find them on Twitter at @ajayamoh

Ellis Thomas

MA Education student
,
University of South Wales

I am a current MA Education student at the University of South Wales. Alongside this I also work in the Students’ Union as the Student Representation Manager, where I oversee student representation structures and ensure they are effectively supported. I have been a co-chair of a strategic implementation group surrounding curriculum design principles. My interest in co-creation work is rooted in how it can enrich the student experience and increase student engagement and prospects.

Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA)

Lead Consultant (Learning and Teaching)
,
Advance HE

Dr Kay Hack (PFHEA) is the Principal Adviser (Learning and Teaching) for Advance-HE. Her role includes developing, managing and promoting excellence in teaching and learning, both generally and within STEM disciplines. She delivers a range of services to the HE sector, including supporting strategic leadership and change in HEIs and building and maintaining strong relationships with the STEM community, PSRBs, government and other organisations and individuals.

Sponsor

A leading provider of survey and evaluation solutions, evasys has more than 60 higher education customers across the UK and Ireland and over 1,000, worldwide.

evasys enables universities and colleges to streamline module evaluation and student surveys, whilst driving up response rates and helping to close the student feedback loop – and, ultimately, contributing to improvements in NSS outcomes, particularly around Student Voice.

Widely integrated with other education technology systems such as virtual learning environments (VLEs) and student portals, evasys provides instant and detailed feedback reports for course and module leaders, as well as extensive insights and management information for academic managers.

Fully supported pilots of evasys are available to allow institutions to easily understand the benefits of a central, digital system that enhances student engagement/retention and facilitates module and course leader engagement.

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