University of BrightonUniversity of Brighton

Staff Development ConferenceStaff Development Conference20082008

The changing nature of student The changing nature of student life: what does it mean for us?life: what does it mean for us?

Margaret Wallis and Jayne Raisborough

Widening participationWidening participation

Government policy - universities will attain a 50% participation rate of young people (18-30 years) by 2010

“innovations include ways of making higher education attractive and accessible to disadvantaged individuals and communities”

Aim 3 - Corporate Plan

University Centre HastingsUniversity Centre Hastings

The realityThe reality

“I shouldn’t be here. University is not my sort of place.”

Caring responsibilitiesFinancial difficultiesMental health issuesPoor experience of schoolA lack of self confidence, self esteem and self

belief

The student’s viewpointThe student’s viewpoint

“I don’t know anyone that has left university because they can’t handle the work academically…times when I have really struggled it has not been because of the work, it has been because of the way …you feel isolated.”

Stephen, D and O’Connell, P. (2008) Teaching in Higher Education

What does it mean for us?What does it mean for us?

“As student numbers have grown bigger and bigger you have got much less personal connection. I think this probably gets over to the students that many staff appear hurried and harassed … How can you use engaging methods with such large numbers of students? You can only ‘fire fight’.”

Stephen, D and O’Connell, P. (2008) Teaching in Higher Education

““Universities are likeUniversities are like refugee camps” refugee camps”

Stuart Laing, Pro-Vice-Chancellor

FALMER EXPERIENCEFALMER EXPERIENCE

Student workStudent work

Summer work Weekend work Outside of the

university ‘on top’ of their

university week?

57% Regular term-time work57% Regular term-time work

Average 16 hours

25 hours or over

The Winn Report 2006-7:Fleischer & Chalkley (2007)

Add ‘ad hoc’ work…Add ‘ad hoc’ work…

70% of our students, at times,

areemployees

Impact?Impact?

64% ‘negative impact upon studies’:

reading/ prep/ ‘extras’ 75% too tired

- social activities reduced Not making ‘proper’ friends

at university

Smash & GrabSmash & Grab

What do they HAVE to read, when and WHY? Students are TIME POOR We feel the brunt – we are time poor too! Students DISENGAGE from university community

Reports of loneliness and homesickness –

… What can we do?

…….and finally.and finally

some thoughts about

a perfect day

at the University of Brighton