21.11.07
Students' extra-curricular activities count - 1994 Group
Universities should develop ways to recognise students' extra-curricular activities such as voluntary and paid work, the 1994 Group of internationally renowned research-intensive universities recommends in a new policy statement on the student experience.
Student societies and term-time work organised through university job-shops could be accredited alongside academic performance to build recognition among employers of "well rounded" graduates, the group suggests as part of a seven-point plan at the heart of a strategy towards the enhancement of the student experience.
In its policy statement "Enhancing the Student Experience", the Group says that employability skills acquired through volunteering, part-time work, sport, and student union activity are highly prized by government and employers, when they are coupled with high academic achievement.
Other points of the policy, unveiled on the eve of a conference in London to be addressed by John Denham, Secretary of State at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, are:
- A requirement to provide accessible, transparent and accurate information around the student experience, building on the National Student Survey, extending to include graduate students, and making better use of existing data
- Towards the 2020 Workforce: Promoting the well-rounded graduate. "The 1994 Group will strive to achieve recognition amongst the top employers and the sector skills councils for 'well-rounded' graduates who benefit from excellent academic and non-academic experiences, and to ensure that the value of these graduates is understood."
- Promoting the student voice: Universities, the NUS and local students' unions working together to fully promote and listen to the student voice and implement a partnership approach to the student experience.
- More effective engagement with schools and colleges to increase and widen participation in higher education and involvement in the introduction of the 14-19 curriculum reforms.
- Better understanding of student needs when universities implement their student-focused resources, including new strategies to provide more joined-up and accessible student services, support and facilities.
- A new approach to an international strategy for UK higher education, linking universities, government, devolved governments, the British Council, funding agencies and other sector stakeholders to maintain and build Britain's strength in challenging international markets.
- Giving students the role of 'change agents', universities should prepare to adapt approaches to teaching and learning in light of student demand and technological advancement, and should place teaching and learning in a research-enriched environment and truly international context.
Through its policy statement the 1994 Group seeks to transform the relationship between universities and their students into a positive partnership, and to enable universities to meet more successfully the challenges of the years ahead.
Steve Smith, chairman of the 1994 Group and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, said: "The challenge for universities is to keep abreast of the shifting expectations of an increasingly diverse and informed student population and to adjust accordingly to provide the best possible experience to each of them.
"This is a challenge not only for universities but also for policy-makers and all student-facing groups across the sector if UK HE is to continue to be one of the leading higher education providers in the world."
Gemma Tumelty, President of the National Union of Students, said:
"We welcome this policy statement. Student life is about far more than just taking exams, and it is important that this is recognised by the higher education sector. We look forward to working with the 1994 Group to make sure that the Burgess recommendations for reforming the degree classification system are implemented, so that extra-curricular experience is formally accredited at last."
Notes to Editors
- The 1994 Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in research and teaching. It brings together nineteen internationally renowned, research-intensive universities.
- The 1994 Group initiated its 'Enhancing the Student Experience' project in Summer 2006. This project investigates the key developments regarding aspects of the student experience and identifies the challenges faced by the sector in meeting student expectations.
- The Group's members are small- to medium-sized institutions, and are generally campus-based. They operate on a human and personal scale, maximising student-staff contact and ensuring an adaptable and inter-disciplinary approach to both research and teaching. Research-led teaching is key to the 1994 Group's mission, and a large majority of the top academics who achieved the Group's outstanding results in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise teach students.
- Member universities are: University of Bath, Birkbeck University of London, Durham University, University of East Anglia, University of Essex, University of Exeter, Goldsmiths University of London, Royal Holloway University of London, Lancaster University, University of Leicester, Loughborough University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Reading, University of St Andrews, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of Surrey, University of Sussex, University of Warwick and University of York.
- Enhancing the Student Experience: Defining it; Delivering it; Capitalising on it is on Wednesday 28 November 2007 at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, London W2
Contact:
David Jobbins
Head of Education Unit
Candlestar Ltd
David.jobbins@candlestar.co.uk
07770 452 047