Trilateral partnership: An institution and students’ union collaborative partnership project to support underrepresented student groups

Abstract

This case study describes a staff-student partnership project from the perspective of three staff members based across independent departments within a UK higher education institution (HEI) and its students’ union. The authors, drawing upon an intersecting passion for advancing student equality, diversity, inclusion, widening participation and student engagement, developed a cross-collaborative and student-centred partnership project to create a series of guides specifically for underrepresented student groups. The guides, which sought to provide appropriate information and guidance in order to actively enhance students’ overall experience whilst navigating university life, were developed and co-created through lived student experience. This case study critically reflects upon this form of partnership, along with its benefits and challenges, and considers its contribution to literature on staff-student partnership beyond the formal realm of learning and teaching.

Students as Agents of Change in Curriculum Designing and Implementation: Involvement and Participation Drives

“…The challenges of being a student representative are discussed in terms of training in quality assurance activities, but there is also a role and/or responsibility related to advocacy or activism through student unionism. Islam, Burnett, and Collins (2021) reported that student unions (or student guilds) are present at almost all public universities in the UK with student officers who represent the student body and have various roles, including advice.…”