A Model for Meaningful Student Engagement: Student Teaching and Learning Consultants

The workshop presents the findings of a Higher Education Academy funded project ‘Students as Teaching and Learning Consultants’. The project aims to build student and staff dialogue about teaching and learning approaches, activities and experiences by adopting a partnership model and collaborative ethos where students are active participants in producing knowledge about enhancing teaching and learning. The project offers academic staff a qualified student perspective (at points of need) which differs from end of module evaluation and national student survey data. The session explores going beyond “listening to students” and instead position students as “change-agents”; equal and knowledgeable partners in structuring the teaching and learning experience.

The project is developing a model for authentic student engagement that other HEIs can implement and adapt to their priority teaching and learning areas. The project represents an innovative approach to engaging students in a meaningful way in teaching and learning and has the potential to reframe the student-teacher relationship. The project builds on innovative work by Dr Crawford in the ‘Students Consulting on Teaching’ scheme at University of Lincoln.