So what are they really thinking?

Our attempts to hear the student voice in Malaysia and Hong Kong

Julie Barnaby and Garry Carr – Leeds Beckett University

“the participation of students in quality enhancement and quality assurance processes

resulting in the improvement of their educational experience” (QAA QC ChB5)

Our perspective……….

• Julie – Link Tutor for four partners offering Accounting and Finance degrees in Malaysia

• Garry – Link tutor for a partner in Hong Kong offering Business and Management degrees

• We just couldn’t miss the opportunity to have a conversation……………….we certainly don’t have all of the answers!

The role of the Link Tutor at Leeds Beckett

• “The primary role is one of quality assurance”• Monitoring and checking• Reporting and documentation• Meetings and visits• The student voice• Managing Relationships

• QASCP Link Tutor Handbook

The Student Voice

• Ensure partner institution staff are aware of the process of appointment course representatives • Ensure staff are aware of the need to encourage students to engage with module evaluation and that this

data is submitted to the University in the format defined in the required timeframe • Ensure that there are clear and effective mechanisms for recording and responding to issues raised by

students and for reporting back on actions taken or not

• Ensure partner staff are aware of the University’s appeals process and can advise students accordingly • Ensure students have opportunities to engage in Quality Assurance processes to shape their learning

experience

Key points of engagement

Formal mechanisms to hear the student voice

• Mid Module Reviews

• Module Evaluations

• Course Evaluations – Annual Monitoring Review Process

• Student Focus Groups

Institutional level (in)formal engagements

• Online survey seeking feedback on our Course Handbooks for 2015/16

• Issued to all our collaborative partners and asked them to pass on to students

• Students completing the survey were offered a ‘prize’

Results…..

• Responses received from 3 partners in Malaysia

• 1 response from another partner but this was a member of staff!

• 89 respondents in total

• Only around half completed the full survey• Lots of similarity in many answers from the same institution….

What lessons have we learnt?• Scheduled student meetings – send a personal note • Leave space• Extra-curricular interactions, e.g. Earth Day• Continuity builds trust• Engagement from the outset of the collaboration• Set expectations early• Exploit opportunities within modules, e.g. experiential learning,

scope for collaboration, competition with UK students• Interactions can be difficult!• Don’t just Skype staff - Skype students!

• Sometimes the relationship can work too well……………..

• Importance of Personal Relationships

• Being there……..the need for a presence…….but does that fit with the arms length model of franchising.

• But they are our students and need to be brought ‘in’ to the University

• Setting time aside for students and breaking down cultural barriers

Questions!