Annual Staff Development Conference Investing in ourselves- investing in the future of our university community Julian Crampton Vice-Chancellor 1 May 2008

Welcome u Aim of the conference »Individual development/personal growth »Draw on expertise across the university »Provide space/time to meet colleagues »A particular focus on issues around: the student experience and how do we improve it? u What’s new – what’s the same »Broader range of participants from across the university »Workshops »University Challenge!

Government policy in HE u Student juries u Learning in the workplace u ‘Towards 50% participation in HE’ u Individuals making the best choice of institution u Removing funding from universities for those who are undertaking equivalent or lower qualifications u Office of the Independent Adjudicator u NSS (‘informed consumers’) u New university centres across the country – local access u Fees review in 2009

The changes in the HEFCE funding and how it will affect us Comprehensive spending review for HE u Unit of funding for teaching maintained until 2010 u Funded growth in student numbers for Foundation degrees, science, employer engagement u 20 new university centres over the next 6 years u Capital funding is being maintained u Increase in funding for work around economic and social engagement – working with business and communities u Some more for AimHigher/widening participation

Main components of HEFCE recurrent grant for : £7,476 millions

2028 speculations for HE?? u public and private funding balance u discussion about nature of university role? u university certification maintains competitive edge and market position? u undergraduate ‘whole person’ socialisation still valued – ie do students ‘attend’ university? u supporting the ‘personal’ in the ‘mass’ remains a core institutional challenge? u initial participation boosted by impact of school reforms; significant closing of gender and class gap? u access to ‘knowledge resources’ as important as initial participation?

Development of year framework for HE Higher education intellectual property higher level skills and the relationship between HE and business demographic changes student experience widening participation international competitiveness measuring institutional success relationship between academics and policy makers

Changes to Higher Education in relation to student experience u New technologies in terms of teaching/e-learning etc u The introduction of fees u Raised expectations as a result of fees/debt »Contact time with staff »Quality of teaching space/facilities »Student services/support/advice/guidance »Student residences »Sport and leisure facilities/student union u The National Student Survey – formal and detailed! u Use of new technologies for sharing student experiences informally

The changing shape of our student body

Changes in student numbers over 10 years % change Numbers Home/EU International Part-time Awards Undergraduate Postgraduate

Some changes for our students over 15 years % with term-time employment % working 17-24hrs/week % earning £90 or more/week % with a regular job % summer working 3months % getting £2,000+ in gifts from family % using £2,000+ in savings Data from our own survey – The Winn Reports

Percentage of mature full-time undergraduates 2005/06

Percentage of male students 2005/06

Challenges of complexity u relationship between physical design, ways of working and student experience u student experience does and needs to permeate the institution u how do we properly take account of disciplinary and site differences? u making as much as we can of what we know about our students and their experiences u knowing more, without ‘survey fatigue’ u connecting teaching and learning, research, economic and social engagement and the student experience u balancing ‘rights’ and ‘responsibilities’

Student experience in the corporate plan Aim 4 to ’provide an experience of higher education that is challenging and enjoyable for its students and staff; that embodies equality of treatment; and that equips its students to be socially purposeful professionals and citizens’

Relevant indicators of success - 1 u integrate sustainable development and global learning perspectives into the curriculum u further awards for teaching excellence u maintain high rates of graduate employment u 50% of academic staff conducting research at national/international standards u increased student-community engagement u further progress in widening participation u increase in student residences u more e-learning u progressed/completed major capital projects

Relevant indicators of success - 2 u improved results in NSS u a more diverse student and staff population u high retention rates u increased number and proportion of international students u improved cultural, social and sports facilities

Progress u international audit including major student survey u Student Administration Improvement Programme (SAIP) reviews underway u participation and retention data encouraging u capital projects making good progress u student written submission generally positive u external quality judgements remain strong (eg Ofsted)

But more to do - National Student Survey u internationally high response rate u evidence suggests NSS is influencing institutional change more than league tables u ‘overall I am satisfied with the quality of the course’ »77% Brighton »81% nationally

More to do - other u participation and retention still major challenges u attend to data that shows diversity of experience eg. student retention; outcomes and ‘satisfaction’ for BME students; Student Written Submission u ensure we continue to support individuals as we grow u student accommodation remains problematic

Today…. Draw on ideas and experience to improve the students experience across the institution