Episode 7 - Authentic Student Storytelling and Co-Creation to Improve Staff-Student Communication

The Researching, Advancing and Inspiring Student Engagement (RAISE) Podcast

Collection of Student feedback is a key activity across all Higher Education Institutions, however, translation into impactful, Student experience enhancing actions remains challenging, as the Student voice needs interpreting through the lens of the genuine Student lived experience. At the School of Science, Engineering and Environment at the University of Salford, a thematic analysis of issues raised by course reps identified ‘communication issues’ as the most commonly reported challenge across the School. This co-created and co-delivered project used live student storytelling to shed light on the frustrations associated with Institutional communication, and connect Staff and Students to build action plans to positively address the issues raised. Project activity centred around Staff Listening and Action Planning Events, creating safe and collaborative spaces for Staff to engage with the Student lived experience, and co-create solutions with both Students and Staff from different subject areas to allow cross-disciplinary explorations. Following this project, the School saw a positive shift in co-created SMART action planning and a decline in reports of communication issues. This project highlights how creating space for academic colleagues to move away from problem solving to a space of empathetic listening, cross-disciplinary learning and co-creation can benefit the Student experience and result in more impactful activity.