Setting up a ‘Special Relationship’: Students as Co-Creators of a Research-based Curriculum
Keywords:
Co-Creation, Partnership, Mediation, Staff-Student, Archives, Research-based learning, History,Abstract
The idea of student/staff partnership has become ubiquitous in the way universities market their institutional ethos and enshrines an idealised 'dialogic structure' within curriculum design. Which universitities are actually putting this into practice and allowing their students a significant role in the machinations of curriculum design and enhancement?
This case study investigates the emerging co-operation between the University of Leeds Library, a team of Special Collections interns and the academic and student communities they reach out to. It suggests, in microcosm, a model for the co-creation of the curriculum which positions the student as co-creator, certainly, but also as mediator, tutor, mentor and communicator.
The project case study adds insight into the fascinating hybrid identity that students can occupy within the contested territory of university-wide curriculum design, and explores the complex status and authority of students and tutors as they explore fresh relationships of opportunity and expertise.
References
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Bovill, C. (2017) ‘A Framework to Explore Roles Within Student-Staff Partnerships in Higher Education: Which Students Are Partners, When, and in What Ways?’ International Journal for Students as Partners 1(1). Available at: https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/ijsap (Accessed: 7 November, 2017).
Bovill, C. (2013) ‘Students and staff co-creating curricula: An example of good practice in higher education?’ In: Dunne, E. and Owen, D. (eds.), The Student Engagement Handbook: Practice in higher education. Bingley: Emerald, 461-475.
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Jisc (2012) Researchers of Tomorrow: The research behaviour of Generation Y doctoral students. Available at: https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20140614040703/http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/reports/2012/researchers-of-tomorrow.aspx (Accessed: 12 January 2018).
Leeds University Library (2016) Strategic Plan 2016-2021: Powering Knowledge and Opportunity. Available at: https://library.leeds.ac.uk/about-the-library#activate-tab1_strategy_and_policies (Accessed: 3 December 2017).
Leeds University Library (2017) Student Support Policy. Available at: https://library.leeds.ac.uk/about-the-library#activate-tab1_strategy_and_policies (Accessed: 7 November 2017).
The National Archives (2012) Developing Access and Participation. Available at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/archives/developing-access-and-participation.pdf (Accessed: 3 December 2017).
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