Strategy 2009-10 to 2013-14
Student Experience
Strategic Aim Two - To provide a superior student experience for all our
students, through engagement with research-informed teaching delivered by
leading academic scholars, using both traditional and contemporary delivery
methods, in supportive, stimulating and well-resourced academic
environments.
The University has four key learning and teaching aims:
- Engage students in a high-quality, student-centred and
collaborative learning experience founded on the expert knowledge of
academic and support staff.
- Enhance the quality of student learning by providing a
supportive and well-resourced learning environment.
- Empower students through academic knowledge, equipping them with
the skills vital for future success.
- Enable those who teach and support student learning to develop
their scholarship and professional practice.
These
aims will be supported by six objectives:
- Learning and teaching informed by research, utilising innovative
teaching and assessment methods.
- Enhancement of the learning environment through provision of a
new University Student Centre and Library extension, and development
of additional high quality multi-purpose teaching space to meet the
University's growth targets.
- Support students to improve their skills and employability
through introduction of credit-rated career development and
work-related project modules, which will be introduced from 2010-11
both as co-curricular opportunities, and as embedded degree content.
- Complementing this, the University will work with partners such
as the Students' Union and external agencies to accredit
volunteering experience; students will have improved access to study
abroad opportunities; and the Frontrunners work placement scheme
will be doubled to offer more than 200 internal placements per year
with associated training from 2009-10.
- Better targeting of professional development for academic,
support and research staff at all stages of their careers, achieved
by linking staff appraisal with development provision and through
introduction of a revised Performance and Development Review process
and database records.
- Development of a ‘student compact' to make explicit the contact
hours and service levels students at Essex can expect, and the
engagement and commitment which the University in turn requires from
our students to achieve a good degree.
Our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) explain
the targets.
Further information is available from the
Learning and Teaching Unit and the
Learning and
Teaching Strategy.
The University has a strong Students' Union, with high levels of student
engagement in its activities, and works in partnership with the Students'
Union to enhance student support, facilities and the overall student
experience.