Reflecting On Practice: Embedding Student Engagement Through Interdepartmental Partnership

Abstract

This case study will reflect on the approach that the University of Brighton Student Engagement Group (SEG) has taken towards embedding student engagement across the University and through working together on the national REACT project. The SEG comprises colleagues from Engagement and Information (Quality), the Centre for Learning and Teaching and the Students’ Union. Working together - and bringing individual areas of specialism to this partnership - has provided both a productive approach to a range of aspects of student engagement and connected three areas of the university that previously did not have a joined-up approach. The types of activities the group has focused on include: recruiting School-based Student Engagement Champions; holding a Student Engagement staff away-day; attending local meetings with Champions to establish rapport and get a good idea of the context of student engagement and who the ‘hard-to-reach’ students are within each School. This paper situates the engagement of students in co- and extra-curricular activities, towards improving opportunities for students’ active participation, and student-staff collaboration.