…Newsnight. 5. The Doctoral Training Alliance went virtual, delivering four online residential events and 55% more elective workshops than previous years (21 in total) on a range of subjects, including research skills, wellbeing, motivation, presentation and influencing skills to name a few. DTA researchers were given the opportunity to showcase their research to the wider DTA community, engage with sector relevant speakers and join virtual social…
…some ideas specifically target commuters, such as ‘Commuters Connect’, an online space set up by our Students Union to help commuters network and engage, many do not. By listening to the voices of our commuters, we realise they are asking for flexibility and choice in how or when they study, socialise or communicate with us. And that flexibility and choice benefits all students – even on campus students have lives and commitments- it is a win-win…
…views the OfS We kicked off the year by working with our fellow mission groups across the sector on a joint letter calling for an inquiry into the performance of the Office for Students. Though we didn’t get an inquiry from the Education Select Committee, the HoL Industry and Regulator’s Committee stepped up to the plate. In April, myself and others gave evidence to the committee. The Committee report affirmed many of the issues raised in the evid…
…has conducted two studies to date into the programme in both in-person and online versions: these found it cut loneliness by over 20% and depression by over 30%, among those already suffering from these conditions. The necessary ingredient, Nick says, is not just bringing people together with others in a group but about facilitating “deeper connections and feeling more connected”. It also requires candour and trust from participants: “social conne…
…irtual writing retreat for PhD researchers, a few of us developed a weekly online catch up. Meeting over Zoom for half an hour each week held us accountable to one another, as we shared our goals for the day. By scheduling it in at a regular time, we were consistent. It became something to look forward to, offering much needed human contact to beat the blues of social isolation. And there’s an added bonus – regular catch ups can help you keep trac…
…vironment to undertake the learning. Recognising that different student groups, will have different experiences, we have just partnered with former Education Secretary, Rt Hon Justine Greening, to protect opportunities and boost social mobility, including by developing an Opportunity Action Plan to level up Britain in the wake of Covid-19. EH: Yes, the rapid move universities made to online learning in the face of the Covid-19 lockdown has been im…
…ing the swathes of mid-late career employees who are looking to retrain or upskill then this should be a no-brainer. However, the recent pilot showed no such shift in behaviour, with only 33 applications for funding as part of this revolutionary model. So where is the demand? Introducing a new product means targeted campaigns directed at the right people, but the specific needs of the market appear to have been missed. The UK student profile now e…
…view last year cited Crunchbase research that only 2.3% of women-led start-ups received venture capital funding in 2020. It’s a similar story in the UK. You just have to be pragmatic. I launched Chater Smart expecting to grow the firm organically rather than looking for outside investment. Growth may happen more slowly, but we can still innovate! How important are SMEs/early-stage businesses to regional economic growth? Incredibly important! 99.9%…
…ips, but also local enterprise, industry partnerships and opportunities to upskill and reskill the existing workforce. The presence of ARU Peterborough in the city provides scope – and indeed hope – for the levelling up of the economic, social and cultural landscape of the region. The newly appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP visited the National Horizons Centre in Teesside in Septembe…
…ee to choose how they prefer to engage with feedback, be that via email or online/on-campus meetings. Employability = inclusivity? For all students, regardless of circumstance, it is important to feel that the course and assessment has been designed with their needs in mind. This goes beyond practical needs, such as accommodating for students with caring or work responsibilities in scheduling, and includes recognition of the long-term outcomes…
