Implementing the HEAR: a Strategic Institutional Perspective Dr Tim Westlake Director for the Student Experience

YearWorld ranking Europe ranking UK ranking * Shanghai Jiao Tong World University Rankings * 2004 ranking relates to Victoria University of Manchester only

Manchester’s Performance in UK Newspaper League Tables to 2011 Note on dates* The Times Good University Guide 26 th 29 th 27 th 24 th 30 th 32 nd The Guardian14 th 16 th 24 th 32 nd 51 st 41 st The Independent Complete University Guide --31 st 28 th 31 st 29 th “2015 Guide” is for students wishing to enter in the year 2015, but published in 2014 and based on 2012/13 data

Manchester Response Adjustment to strategic direction – Director for the Student Experience (Jan 2011) – Vice President, Teaching, Learning and Students (May 2011) Strategic leadership for the student experience Directorate for the Student Experience (DSE) established, bringing together most student-facing activity into a single organisation – leadership and single team Towards a student-centred University

Manchester 2020 “Nothing …. ‘is currently more important than ensuring all of our students have a rewarding and satisfactory experience. Failure to achieve this will seriously damage the University’s reputation across all our activities’.”

What is the ‘student experience’? All aspects of student life; learning is at the heart of it Engagement with students Understanding our students Community; belonging; celebration Wellbeing Learning Future

A Visible Welcome September 2011 Welcome banners and introduction of the “Ask Me” campaign. September 2012 and 2013 The “Ask Me” campaign has really taken off, with Purple People becoming “Ask Me” Ambassadors and the service being extended to Halls of Residence.

The Manchester Welcome 2013 Events scheduled from the start of Orientation right through to the end Welcome Week A Celebration of coming to Manchester Opportunities for international and home students to mix Fully integrated with UMSU

Student Communications With the establishment of DSE, in 2011/12 the remit of student communications extended from recruitment and marketing to the whole student lifecycle Pre From Studentnet via Portal to My Manchester

Highest priority: Student Engagement Increased outreach My Manchester = My Learning + My Wellbeing + My Future Make the Most of Manchester think of your future, including incorporation of employability within peer mentoring

The Atrium, University Place Information, Advice & Guidance Student Support Health & Wellbeing Careers Service Events & Initiatives Study Abroad Opportunities Money Advice Quiet Study Lounge

Impact of the Manchester Response Before DSE After DSE

Manchester was part of the national pilot in 2008 and an early adopter – HEAR was fully implemented in 2009/10 Now 78 activities available for inclusion covering career development, volunteering, outreach, peer support, student representation, environmental sustainability ….. Most importantly HEAR contributes to the quality of our student experience and supports the University’s strategic aspirations and targets What is the role of HEAR in all this?

Distinctive Graduate Attributes HEAR supports students to articulate where they are distinctive HEAR provides students a framework within which to plan their activity Student Success: Retention, Attainment, Progression HEAR catalogues students’ successes HEAR can be used as a tool to support academic advice and progression discussion HEAR enables students to demonstrate their achievements to employers HEAR gives students a framework for thinking about their futures Making a Difference By including volunteering and Ethical Grand Challenges, HEAR acts as a tool that encourages students to think about how they can make a difference HEAR’s Strategic Fit KPI Hear supports our vision for Teaching, Learning & Students and our Strategic Goals in relation to Outstanding Learning and Student Experience and Social Responsibility Aligning HEAR to institutional strategy and targets makes a compelling argument

Wellbeing, Employability & the HEAR WELLBEING CONNECT LEARN AND DISCOVER GIVE TAKE NOTICE BE ACTIVE BE HEALTHY Manchester Employability Model Wellbeing Model (nef, 2008) Employability Connect Bounce Back Communicate Explore Reflect HEAR

My Manchester Plus is an extension of My Manchester A personal development ‘app’, integrated with HEAR Incorporating Manchester Ways to Wellbeing: Connect; Keep Learning; Be Active; Be Healthy; Give; Take Notice Blended – online and face-to-face support Make the Most of Manchester RetentionAttainmentSuccess Feel good and function well Make the most Manchester – academic and personal development opportunities Prepared for the future

My Manchester Current View

My Manchester Future View

Tabs in My Manchester – Now and Planned Current View New View

HEAR is a tool for staff too My Manchester ‘Extra’ – My Learning – My Future – My Wellbeing My Students – Framework for discussion – Use diagnostics – Activity ‘Hearable’ – motivation – Supports staff in having meaningful discussions with students For StudentsFor Staff

Students need to know about HEAR to take advantage of it! Currently promoting in a variety of ways, but need to do more How do students know about HEAR? In the Crucial Guide (including pre-arrival) You Tube and Enhancing My Manchester Experience Website My Manchester News (timing informed by student lifecycle)

HEAR is an important tool that underpins the Student Experience, so we want to: Extend to PGT students Via My Manchester, use proactively as a tool for student engagement with all aspects of their experience e.g. in discussion with academic advisers, or promoting activity to them that will have high impact for the future and will be recordable via their HEAR Further embed communication about HEAR into the student lifecycle Focus on use of formative HEAR; it is a wasted opportunity if HEAR is seen as just an enhanced transcript HEAR Future

HEAR’s power strategically is its contribution to the student experience - and your leadership team are more likely to buy into it if they are convinced of this Used actively throughout the student journey it offers a route to engagement and belonging, supporting wellbeing, satisfaction AND a tool for development, progression and future employability For our students HEAR supports them Making the Most of Manchester and thinking of their Future’s Conclusion

Questions?