1. What is a sucessful university? – view(s) of the students
Rok Primožič
Chairperson of the European Students’ Union
Eurasian Higher Education Leaders’ Forum
Astana,

2. The European Students’ Union
Umbrella organization of 47 national unions of students from 39 countries, represents more than 15 million students
Formed in 1982, previously named WESIB and later ESIB
Promote the educational, social, economic and cultural interests of students at a European level
Work towards relevant organizations and processes, for example the European Union, the Bologna-Process, Council of Europe, UNESCO and OECD.

3. There were some changes in the past years
Massification of Higher Education – more diverse students
Internet revolution - endless information sources, available in an instant of a second
New communication tools

4. Four main points
A successful university fulfils full range of purposes
A successful university offers quality education
A successful university puts students in the centre of the system and embraces student- centred learning
A successful university engages students and includes them in the university governance and decision-making processes.

5. Full range of purposes
According to 2007 London Ministerial conference Communiqué:
preparing students for life as active citizens in a democratic society;
preparing students for their future careers and enabling their personal development;
creating and maintaining a broad, advanced knowledge base and
stimulating research and innovation

6. The predictable labour market?
The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004.
We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet

9. Quality education
How students’ expectations are met in higher education …
Different aspects:
An adequate curricula (organised in learning outcomes)
The learning and teaching process (student-centred learning)
The learning environment (responding to student’ needs) and
The resources and facilities (including student support services)

10. Broader view on quality
Removing all obstacles to access, facilitation of progress and completion (social dimension of higher education)
Student-centered learning
Ensuring links between learning, teaching and research activities
Social and civic training
Mobility opportunities
Academic freedom

11. Student-centred learning
Active rather than passive learning
An emphasis on deep learning and understanding
Increased responsibility and accountability on the part of the student
An increased sense of autonomy
An interdependence between teacher and learner
Mutual respect within the learner-teacher relationship
A reflexive approach to the teaching and learning process on the part of both the teacher and the learner

12. Source: Simonson, M. , Smaldino, S. , Albright, M. , & Zvacek, S
Source: Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2006). Teaching and learning at a distance (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall., p. 202

13. What does that mean in practice?
Increasing student motivation and teachers’ knowledge of students
Choice of teaching and learning methods
Choice of students assessment methods
Using course evaluation
Using ICT to enhance SCL

14. More information
Student-centered learning: Toolkit for students, staff and higher education institutions (ESU and EI, 2011), can be found on: online.org/resources/6068/Student-Centred- Learning-Toolkit/

15. Students as partners
A successful university includes students in the management of the institutions as equal partners
Representativeness of the students
Empowerment for true participation

17. rok@esu-online.org http://www.esu-online.org Twitter: @ESUtwt
Thank you!