This video can be seen alongside others from the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Open Lecture series and annual conferences on the EDU Vimeo channel.
Student engagement now occupies a prominent focus in UK universities. However it is a complex concept and also confused by the ambiguity between the term being used to describe collective developments such as student representation rather than how individual students engage. The notion of ‘students as partners’ seems to be emerging as a way of integrating student engagement and creating a different sense of positioning of students and HE. We have been creating such a model of students as partners within the context of a large degree; including student led policy making, peer mentoring, co-design of the curriculum and many student led projects. In this lecture Colin and Ruth explored these concepts and consider policies and practices which enhance engagement and partnership but also problematise the issues.
Colin Bryson is an advocate and practitioner of student engagement and partnership. He strives to practice that at Newcastle University and adopt the disposition of letting go ‘control’ and has been aided immensely in that endeavour by a host of super-engaged students who are willing to share and take responsibility. Colin is the Chair of RAISE and has been awarded an NTF for his work.
Ruth Furlonger has recently graduated from Combined Honours at Newcastle. She took a leading part in engagement and partnership activities throughout her degree. She is now carrying on that work in a full-time capacity as Student Engagement Coordinator for the Combined Honours Centre.