Abstract:

We are presenting the success story of the Center for Student Success (CfSS) in the Faculty of Business and Law, Anglia Ruskin University, and the impact it had on improving student accomplishment by being innovative and monitoring student engagement and intervene at key points in the academic cycle.

CfSS was establishment in 2023, following the Student Development Leads at the Faculty of Business and Law which was implemented in 2022 with the objectives to enhance students’ engagement, improving continuation and success rate for all students along with fostering inclusivity in our approach and interventions.

Collaborating with different stakeholders across the faculty, the SDLs developed a method of targeted interventions at certain parts of the academic cycle: students’ registration, weekly engagement, and the enhancement of personal development tutoring (PDT). Student engagement online/campus was monitored weekly using available data and signpost students to supports based on their personal circumstances. CfSS monitored data and measure impact of the interventions and these data will be presented to serve as guidance for other institutions to employ.

Being a centre allowed us to support Faculty in curriculum retention and academic pastoral care. For students it established a ‘go to’ system of communications which is fully complements the existing ones. Re-establishing efficient processes and responsibilities across administrative, academic and PDT pastoral functions. In fact, within the faculty, CfSS collaborate with course directors, School administrative team as well as PDTs and Academic staff, to have a better understanding of individual students need. There is a close relation between CfSS and International Office to make sure that the need of our international student is met, and in an inclusive way. With the increasing number of international students across the HE in the UK, providing a more culturally diverse support is a must have.

This project links to sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals in many ways:
- Quality Education/SDG 4: Student engagement is crucial in achieving high-quality education. Engaged students exhibit improved educational outcomes through active participation, critical thinking, and hands-on learning experiences, aligning with SDG 4 objectives. Indeed, there is proven correlation between classroom engagement and academic performance (Abubakar, Abubakar and Itse, 2017)
- Reduced Inequalities /SDG 10: Engaging students regardless of their backgrounds or capabilities plays a role in diminishing educational disparities. Guaranteeing inclusive teaching methods and ensuring involvement from marginalized groups work towards mitigating inequalities in education, supporting SDG 10. In fact, CfSS interventions do target all students purely based on their engagement levels.
- Decent Work and Economic Growth/SDG 8: Engaged students tend to cultivate crucial skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. These proficiencies are essential for future employability and entrepreneurial activities, thereby fostering economic growth as outlined in SDG 8. The CfSS links students up with the university employability team & Careers Service to encourage students to evaluate their career prospects while still at university.

The session will be open to anybody in HE that is interested in being innovative and implementing engagement enhancing strategies in their institutions.

Keywords:

Innovative patrol care, Student engagement, Student Experience, Improve success.