Student Feedback Forum 3pm-5pm, 8 March 2017

Get involved, have your say, make a difference Get involved – We want to hear our students’ views on how best to offer feedback about the NCI experience. We’re looking for volunteers who want to get actively involved in shaping policy on how and when we gather and use your feedback. Have your say – We want to know how you want to tell us about the totality of your experience in the classroom, about our services, regarding the support we offer. You can participate in person or by contributing to our online discussion. Make a difference – Get directly involved in NCI - its present, as well as its future.

NCI and Student Engagement NCI is one of five Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) involved this academic year in a pilot project entitled NStEP – the National Student Engagement Programme – which among other bodies directly involves the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) Within the context of this project, student engagement is defined as: The investment of time, effort and other relevant resources by both students and their institutions intended to optimise the student experience and enhance the learning outcomes and development of students, and the performance and reputation of the institution.

NStEP aims To develop student capabilities to engage in quality enhancement and assurance activities at all levels of the higher education system. To support institutions in developing processes and activities which support/facilitate the meaningful engagement of students. To strengthen the value placed on student engagement across Ireland and develop tools and resources to support a common understanding and build effective practice. To lay the foundations to develop work beyond the pilot phase to inform the implementation of a national student training programme and increase capacity to take work further Go to http://usi.ie/nstep/ for more details

European Standards and Guidelines (ESGs) Historical role of students in external review and agency governance Stronger emphasis of role of student in internal quality processes – ‘internal partner’ Go to http://www.enqa.eu for more details

ESGs Student Centred Learning Teaching and Assessment Design and approval of courses Students and staff are involved in providing and analysing information and planning follow up activities Student involvement in programme review and self assessment

Developing Student Engagement in Ireland Three Drivers of Student Engagement HEI as a Critical Institution HEI as a Site of Democratic Citizenship HEI as a Learning Community See “Embedding the Principles of Student Engagement” at http://www.hea.ie/ for further information

Developing Student Engagement in Ireland Principles Consistency of Values Feedback Students as Co-Creators Professionalism Student as Partner Principles Inclusivity and Diversity Collegiality Transparency Democracy Self-Criticism

Developing Student Engagement in Ireland

HEA working group recommendation Co-led (staff and student) self-evaluation of formal and informal practices and opportunities Co-author a student engagement policy See “Enhancing Student Engagement in Decision-Making” at http://www.hea.ie/ for further information

Focus on enhancement and change Student Engagement Framework Focus on enhancement and change Valuing the student contribution Appropriate resources and support A culture of engagement Students as partners Responding to diversity Go to http://www.sparqs.ac.uk/ for more details

Some questions … Stephen Cleary (NCISU President) Please feel free to follow up directly with: Stephen Cleary (NCISU President) Seán McMahon (NCISU Vice-President) Jonathan Lynch (Student Retention & Attendance Coordinator) Deryck Tormey (Student Experience Coordinator) Sinéad O’Sullivan (Director of Quality Assurance) Maurice FitzGerald (Quality Assurance Officer)