Student Engagement [TG3/Engagement]

Libraries are integral to the student experience in Higher Education. How can we promote student engagement and amplify the student voice in our processes and practice?

This event will give practical examples of how some institutions are encouraging student engagement and voice. We will also hear at a broader level from Dr. Michelle Morgan how research has shown that universities and libraries should be developing a focus on belonging and engagement with the University community developing an inclusive approach and helping with the transition to university which many students can find overwhelming.

Programme:

14.00 Introduction

14.05 Dr Michelle Morgan, University of East London: ‘Improving the transition to Higher Education’

14.35 Questions

14.40  Steve Peters and Jason Shirley, Canterbury Christ Church: ‘Promoting wellbeing and amplifying student voice’

The presenters will highlight the Canterbury Christ Church University wellbeing campaign Stressless and focus on student voice and engagement through feedback and UX research activities.

15.10 Questions

15.15 Break

15.20 Lightning talks:

Dr. Janice Fernandes ‘Student engagement in Librarianship: My students and my Cat’

Darcye Lovsin and Chenée Psaros  ‘Transitions (through) working with students as partners.’

Dulce Morais ‘Promoting Student Engagement through Library UX works.’

15.55 Questions

16.00 Finish

Speakers:

Dr Michelle Morgan is a national and internationally recognised Student Experience Transitions Specialist across all levels of study and is extensively published in the area. She is currently Dean of Students at the University of East London. Michelle is a Principal Fellow of the HEA, Fellow of the AUA, an elected council member of UKCGE and Student Minds Mental Health Charter Assessor. During her varied career, Michelle has been a faculty manager, lecturer, researcher and academic manager. She describes herself as a ‘Third Space Integrated Student Experience Practitioner’ who develops initiatives based on pragmatic and practical research. Michelle has over 50 publications and has presented over 100 national and international conference papers (including 52 keynotes and 30 invited papers). She has developed a free portal for staff which provides a range of information and links for anyone interested in improving the student experience in higher education www.improvingthestudentexperience.com In 2024, Michelle was awarded the European First Year Experience Leadership Award and the SRHE Contribution to the Field Award for her work in L&T and Student Transitions.

Steve Peters joined Canterbury Christ Church University in 2003, working within the Library and Learning Resources department. For the last two years, in the role of User Engagement Manager, Steve has focussed on improving the student experience as well as the department’s marketing and communications. Steve is a passionate UX research champion and leads a committee engaging with library users to improve the resources, facilities and services on offer. Steve works closely with his User Experience Team to deliver a range of engagement activities including the wellbeing campaign Stressless, feedback events and student led displays. Steve believes strongly in co-creation with students and works with student volunteers, ‘Champions’, who help develop and improve the library’s offer.

Jason Shirley has been with Canterbury Christ Church University and the Library and Learning Resources department for 15 years. Jason had experienced roles associated with Library and Information, Collections and Administration before fulfilling the role of User Experience Coordinator 2 years ago. As Coordinator, Jason now works closely with Steve towards all areas of marketing, communication and engagement.

With a substantial amount of customer service experience and a degree in primary education, engagement with the students has always been of great importance and interest. Through Jason’s role, Stressless and other engagement activities have developed ‘an improvement and change environment’ that thrives on student voice.

Dr. Janice Fernandes is the Academic Support Manager at the University of West London in the UK. She is also the subject librarian for the School of Medicine and Biosciences as well as the London College of Music. Her core responsibility is providing information literacy to students and academics. Research is her passion and ethical Artificial Intelligence is her recent pursuit.

Dr. Janice has a rich experience of over 34 years both in public as well as in academic libraries. Motivation is her strong point and mentoring come effortlessly to her.

She has a rich and varied professional career with research publications, presentations, book reviews, mentoring, keynote speaker roles and is at the forefront of student support.

She is the recipient of M25 award 2024 for professional development to deserving library staff in the UK. She has been nominated for the CILIP Information Literacy Award 2024 recognising an outstanding UK-based practitioner or researcher.

She rightly considers that embracing new skill sets and trusting change to steer the way forward, has led to milestones in her professional career. She has been a keynote speaker at various conferences and is on several panels for assessing FHEA applications, doctoral studies, journal submissions and book reviews. She believes that knowledge shared is knowledge gained.

Darcye Lovsin is a Transition Programmes Officer in the Queen Mary University of London’s Library Services, where she develops initiatives to support students as they transition into and through university. Originally from Canada, she worked as an academic librarian for seven years, focusing on accessibility, copyright, and open education. During this time, she chaired the BC Digital Literacy Project, leading the creation of an open repository of digital literacy materials for post-secondary educators.

In her current role, Darcye is leading efforts to foster peer-to-peer learning by working with students as partners in transition programmes, ensuring that students are at the centre of their education. With a passion for inclusive education and student success, Darcye brings a wealth of experience in designing initiatives that enhance learning environments and support student engagement.

Chenée Psaros is the Library Learning Support and Engagement Manager at Queen Mary, University of London. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has worked in education for over 20 years as a dedicated advocate for innovative teaching and learning practices. Her career spans diverse roles, including teacher development and fostering students’ academic, information, and digital literacy skills across various educational contexts. Chenée’s expertise lies in digital education and promoting learning beyond the classroom. She has pioneered a walking methodology to support postgraduate students, emphasizing embodied, relational, and collaborative learning approaches. This method aligns with her commitment to creating inclusive and impactful educational experiences that extend beyond traditional settings. Currently, she leads a team whose priority is co-developing meaningful support programs with students to enhance their university transition and academic success.

Dulce Morais is the Library Experience Manager at Middlesex University. Since joining the Library in 2016 as a Customer Service Assistant, she has been dedicated to enhancing the student experience and ensuring the delivery of high-quality service to all library visitors. Dulce oversees and advises on the operational management of library spaces and is actively involved in UX projects aimed at improving student engagement. She is highly student-focused, always seeking ways to adapt to the evolving needs of Middlesex University students and staff. Her interest is looking for ways to optimize individual, group, and silent study spaces to foster a more engaging and supportive learning environment.

Information for joining:

• This session is virtual and will run via Zoom. Once your booking has been confirmed, joining instructions will be emailed the day before the event.
• Electronic CPD attendance certificates can be provided on request. Please request via cpd25@london.ac.uk

Cost
£25.00 members
£50.00 for non-member institutions.

Cancellations less than one week before the event will be charged a 50% cancellation fee. In the event of a ‘no-show’ on the day, the full fee will be charged.

To book a place, please use our online booking form. Please remembe to include your purchase order number if needed.