Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound (SMART) include target 1 Before students arrive 1a Aspiration and progression The University is leading a number of initiatives to The newly established Directorate of We will develop seamless progression routes promote aspiration and progression, including: our Recruitment & Partnerships will develop a and raise aspirations and skills levels within work with ECMAT (and family schools); new model relationship and partnership the regions where we operate through direct National Collaborative Outreach Programme package for selected partner providers. The intervention and partnership (Schools and Aspire to HE; Work with young people in Care new Directorate is targeting resources to Colleges Engagement, Partnership, Widening through Aspire2Uni; and the (new) Learning support college relationship management Participation strategies and Access Regions Project. and improve progression. Agreement). 1b Opportunity for all We are committed to finding an appropriate educational programme for all our applicants, whether at the University or with one of our educational partners. All applicants are routinely offered a programme at the University or, if not eligible, are advised regarding alternative programmes of study at our educational partners. The University is active in developing alternative educational programmes including flexible, part time and taster offers and has launched its Degree Apprenticeships with an initial 250 enrolments in 2017/18. A review of foundation year programmes was completed in 16/17 to enhance the leadership, quality and student progression. Degree Apprenticeships to grow year on year: target 1000 apprentices by 2020. University of Wolverhampton in Stafford to open November 2017 with a flexible course offer. Recommendations from the Foundation year review to be implemented. 1c Informative Enquirers and applicants will be able to access valid, reliable and useful information about the University, its partners, its courses and the student experience in a timely manner Significant work has been undertaken in the last year through the CMA Working Group and CAMDIP project to review information presented to enquirers and applicants from points of enquiry through to enrolment information. An outstanding recommendation for further work this year is to review the presentation of information to inform expectations about any additional course costs. 1
1d Application processes Our application processes will be transparent and timely. Developed action plan following outcomes of PWC audit and monitored response times to applicants. All audit recommendations have been implemented. Further work has been undertaken to review PGR application processes and a new, more timely procedure has been established. The Directorate of Recruitment & Partnerships will be examining the application process for any further enhancements and process improvements that will support timely conversion. The Strategic Plan Review Team (Students First Sub Group) will be reviewing the applicant to enrolment process journey for enhancements and process improvements that will support a better applicant/student experience. 1e Developing student expectations Applicants will have opportunities to interact with the University (or its partners, if relevant) to understand the learning experiences they will engage with when they start their studies. We will help students recognise the necessary commitment of both themselves and the University in the learning journey, the environment and culture of the University of Wolverhampton, and will be prepared for their studies. Many subject areas now offer applicant days to ensure applicants understand the nature of the UoW learning experience We have introduced 50 ways in 50 days to promote engagement and identify students at risk of early withdrawal. We have published a new Student Handbook which provides more detailed information about commitment and expectations. We have provided all new students with a copy of the current Student Charter which focusses on commitment, partnership and culture. The Student Transitions, Induction and Retention (STIR) Working Group is reviewing faculty-led, transition-focussed pre-induction activities for development and enhancement of these. The STIR group will be reviewing and considering the pilot activity associated with 50 Ways and the Big Read as part of their work to enhance the overall process of transition. The Student Experience Leadership Collective will review the (current) Student Charter and Student Handbook for further development. The Faculty of Science & Engineering have piloted participation in The Big Read for new entrants in 2017. 2
1f Pre-enrolment preparation In partnership with the Students Union we have The Student Transitions, Induction and All students will receive guidance and support offered new students opportunities for preenrolment surgeries related to student finance. faculty-led, transition-focussed pre-induction Retention (STIR) Working Group is reviewing to prepare them for their studies with the University and student life at Wolverhampton activities for development and enhancement (or its partners, if relevant). We have provided the ongoing Orientation Week of these. Activities (including Ready Steady Go Sessions attendances circa 400 new students) which are targeted at students at risk of early withdrawal. 2 Student induction and transition 2a Enrolment and access to resources All students will be able to enrol with ease and will have full access to all relevant University facilities, systems and resources from the first day of their course. We have introduced a new model of Faculty Student Services so that students enrol through their faculties to develop a sense of belonging. New format course guides were introduced for all courses and new format module guides have been developed and delivered through Canvas. The Strategic Plan Review Team (Students First Sub Group) will be reviewing the applicant to enrolment process journey for enhancements and process improvements that will support a better applicant/student experience. 2b Initial induction An interactive induction will allow students to familiarise themselves with the University and their course requirements, will foster social relationships and reinforce the values of the University. A new model for induction and welcome was introduced for September 2016 in line with the new format academic calendar repeated in September 2017. New How To information, web content and videos were introduced for September 2017. The Student Transitions, Induction and Retention (STIR) Working Group is reviewing induction and welcome activities alongside the Welcome Week Management Group. To create a good practice guide for Welcome Week and Induction. Evidence from the Welcome Week Evaluation Survey will be presented to UAEC with recommendations for ongoing enhancement. 3
2c Diagnostic and targeted support The new Individual Learner Profile was developed The Student Transitions, Induction and All students will undertake appropriate and launched for September 2017. Retention (STIR) Working Group is reviewing diagnostic testing at the start of their studies diagnostic activity within each faculty. so they can receive directed support to allow them to succeed in their studies and Faculties to provide a summary of diagnostic understand good academic practice. activities undertaken. 2d On-going induction Pre-planned, relevant and timely information, provision and orientation will continue throughout the student journey. A new model for induction and welcome was introduced for September 2016 in line with the new format academic calendar repeated in September 2017 with extended induction communication and messaging. The Student Transitions, Induction and Retention (STIR) Working Group is reviewing the extended induction programme for ongoing enhancement. 3 Opportunities for learning, teaching, assessment and the study environment 3a Enhancing learning, teaching and assessment The learning environment will engage students, be supportive, inclusive and challenging, research and practice informed, with technology that enhances the learning process. See also the Learning & Teaching Strategy + Digital Campus Programme. Ongoing through to 2020. New Inclusive Curriculum Working Group established to propose enhancements and tangible recommendations. Introduction of Canvas see below. Outcomes from NSS 2017 are being examined at every course level with additional support for courses with challenging results. Work to improve teaching quality through the introduction of the Observation of Teaching Scheme; targeted staff development; and support of learning and teaching innovation projects. Continuing Roll out of What Works; assessment unpacking, assessment cafes, new assessment briefs and the Assessment and Feedback Principles. 4
3b Skills and competencies Validation processes to ensure that subject Ongoing development for a successful Career Students will be given opportunities to knowledge, skills and competencies are embedded Development Week 2018 informed by develop subject knowledge, skills and in the curriculum. student feedback. competencies to succeed in their studies and future careers. The first University-wide Career Development Week was delivered in Feb 2017. Ongoing commitment to embedding the Wolverhampton Employability & Enterprise Award in all courses. 3c On campus and virtual learning environment We will provide students with an environment which stimulates learning, embraces technology, and allows students access anytime and anywhere. (Campus strategy and the Digital Campus Transformation Programme ) Successful roll out of the new VLE: Canvas. Development and enhancements to MY WLV. Development and enhancements to Applications Anywhere. SAMS now in use by all Faculties. Further development of classrooms with new teaching technologies / 80 large teaching rooms are now lecture capture enabled. Ongoing development of social learning spaces. Evaluating the success and informing development of Canvas. Introduction of online submission of assessment and online feedback - for September 2018? Development of Springfield Campus and new facilities for the School of Architecture and Built Environment - September 2019? Support and encourage increasing use of lecture capture - wherever available universal adoption by September 2018? Development of new skills labs and other laboratory and specialist facilities. Further plans are being developed for a new Student Hub at the Walsall Campus and a review of the Harrison Learning Centre at City Campus. 5
3d Enterprise and employability Successfully embedded the Employability & Employability, enterprise and career Enterprise Award in 90%+ of all courses. See Employability & Enterprise Strategy and development will be supported within and priorities for 17/18 beyond the curriculum to ensure students Introduced the University-wide Career have clear career goals which they can realise. Development Week 2017. (Enterprise and Employability strategy) Approved a wide range of courses with a sandwich year offer - to promote and support the opportunity of a placement year. 3e Learning support Students will be supported in identifying and accessing skills for learning support opportunities to meet their individual needs. The new Individual Learner Profile was developed and launched for September 2017. DAS are leading a review of skills for learning which will incorporate all complementary skills and support activity across faculties and departments. 3f Student engagement in learning Students will fully engage and participate to contribute to the collective learning experience. The learning process and environment will be subject to on-going evaluation and feedback of enrichment to students. The University participated in the UK (Student) Engagement Survey for the first time (all undergraduate students not in their final year) and the new Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey. Continuing work of Quality For Students to promote and engage students in quality processes. Review of Attendance and Engagement Policy. Review of the format of the Module Evaluation Questionnaire. We are focussed on securing an increased response rate in these surveys in 2018 to ensure meaningful and robust feedback from students. The new format Module Evaluation Questionnaire (online) Rate Your Module will be deployed across the University. We have prioritised support for Course and Faculty Representatives to strengthen and ensure diversity in the student voice through the Course Committee and Faculty Council Processes. 6
3g Professional teaching and support Academic staff will be able to demonstrate excellence in internationally recognised research and/or teaching and learning innovation, and/or business/professional engagement. See relevant strategies: The Learning & Teaching Strategy. Full implementation of the Wolverhampton Academic All staff supporting the learning process will have professional recognition from the HEA and be appropriately qualified and up-to-date in their field. 4 Opportunities and support beyond the classroom On-going development of the new Wolverhampton Academic including role profiles that recognise distinct teaching and research activity. Continued to increase the proportion of academic staff who are qualified to PhD level and are recognised by the HEA through the KUDOS scheme. On-going development of teaching observation. On-going support for staff to complete higher level qualifications and recognition by the HEA. 4a Students Union Every student will have the opportunity to be a member of the Students Union upon enrolment, with full access to its services and the opportunity to engage in activities that seek to capture the student voice, enhance the student experience and promote student success. We continue to work closely with the Students Union and in collaboration to support enhancements to the student experience. The SU have developed new sabbatical officer roles to support their strategy and objectives - with a focus on student wellbeing, student voice, student engagement, student experience and student success. 4b Student engagement Students will be engaged in the enhancement of student opportunities at the University. We have routinely and regularly engaged students in developing and enhancing student opportunities through multiple routes and mechanisms: University and SU Surveys; focus groups; specific project development groups, committees, course committees, faculty council meetings etc. The Student Experience Collective, in partnership with the Students Union, will undertake a thorough review of the various student voice systems to ensure effective engagement and representation from a diverse range of students. A particular priority is ensuring that students can see the 7
value of their feedback and how their feedback has been acted upon. 4c Supporting wellbeing Support for students will be clearly signposted and readily available to meet the individual needs of students. A review and restructure of the Office of the Dean of Students has been completed to ensure the focus of their work is on student support. From this, a new department, Student Support & Wellbeing, has been launched to bring together student support functions. Further work is being undertaken within this team to review the principles and approach to student support - and in particular, support for students with disabilities. In parallel - Faculty Student Services have been established to further simplify identifying the support available - and where students go for help bringing support into the faculties where students most closely associate. Additional work will be undertaken in this year to review the new operating model and secure further enhancements. Further work has been undertaken to simplify and signpost students to available support through enhancements to the website, improved communications and messaging. 4d Community engagement Students will have opportunities to engage with their communities and contribute to the wellbeing of their region. We have continued to grow the number of volunteer opportunities and student participation and celebrated achievements through the Annual Volunteering Awards. The Students Union supports community engagement through societies and associated charitable activity. Continued growth in the number of volunteering opportunities and levels of participation is a target contained within the Employability Strategy. 8
4e Citizenship We will support students personal The University and the Students Union We will be reviewing the enrolment process development in becoming responsible citizens collaborated on an extensive campaign of voter for 2018/19 to determine if possible to who contribute to their economy and society. registration and encouragement to participate in incorporate voter registration within the recent elections. enrolment process. 4f International opportunities Students will have international opportunities. For on campus students this will include opportunities to engage in foreign language acquisition, study and/ or work abroad, and to socialise as an international student body. The International Academy offers accredited and non-accredited languages for all programmes available to all students. Careers, Enterprise & The Workplace have provided increased opportunities for international work experience through Erasmus+ in the EU and Santander Universities-sponsored and other worldwide partnerships. The team were successful in gaining an additional 500,000 Euro project funding over the year to continue to grow participation in 17/18. International Students were able to share and celebrate their cultures at the International Fayre, April 2017. International Students Welcome September 2017 Airport Pick Up Coordinated by the International Academy. IA coordinated Induction Programme supported by ODoS and the SU. International Students assessed for English Language Support. To continue to promote Languages For All including options for British Sign Language. The Employability & Enterprise Strategy sets targets for further growth in opportunities and participation in either work placement or study abroad experiences. Planning for the International Fayre 2018. Celebrating other international festivals. September 2017: Welcome and Induction for new International Students. Deans Reception for (New) International Students: Friday 13 October. Trips & Tours - to places of interest coordinated by ODoS. Preparations for Semester 2 starters. 9
5 Study success 5a Progression Students will be supported to progress through their studies to completion in line with expectations. We have made changes to the academic regulations (effective July 2017) to enable students who have not passed any credits in their first year of study to repeat the year in full. Faculties have clear non-continuation improvement targets and retention strategies are considered by the FAEC s. Faculties have clear non-continuation improvement targets and retention strategies are considered by the FAEC s. New Faculty and Course performance Dashboards have been developed and launched for September 2017 to offer reliable and live data on student progression (amongst other data sets) There has been some improvement in the noncontinuation levels from 15/16 to 16/17 (-0.8%) We are anticipating a further improvement measured from 16/17 to 17/18. Academic Enhancement Plans (AEPs) will be produced to address TEF metrics at university, faculty, subject and course level to reflect the responsibility for delivering the relevant contribution to TEF metric improvement. As a key TEF Metric this will be monitored closely by the TEF Metrics Management Group alongside work through the STIR Group looking at reasons for withdrawal. 5b Achievement Students will be supported to achieve at the highest possible level for the award they complete. See relevant strategies: The Learning & Teaching Strategy. The interim data for 2016/17 shows a significant improvement in the performance against the Good Honours metric with an increase of 3.4 percentage points. Academic Enhancement Plans (AEPs) will be produced to address TEF metrics at university, faculty, subject and course level to reflect the responsibility for delivering the relevant contribution to TEF metric improvement. 10
5c Enterprise and employability Students will be provided with access to employability and enterprise opportunities on graduation. See relevant strategies Enterprise & Employability Strategy. See Employability & Enterprise Strategy and priorities for 17/18 6 Opportunities after graduation The University maintains contact with graduates and recent graduates are supported and invited to events to support positive employment outcomes. For example - all recent graduates have been invited to attend the October Recruitment Fayre. 6a Continuing Professional Development Graduates will be encouraged to undertake continuing professional development and further study. A programme of promotion of further study opportunities to finalists and alumni. On-going through to 2020. Current students are invited to attend postgraduate open events and a campaign to promote continuing study and loyalty discount is ongoing. 6b The University of Wolverhampton community Graduates will have opportunities to continue to be part of the University of Wolverhampton community. (Alumni and Development Strategy) A relevant events and communications program including opportunities for volunteering are incorporated in the strategy to encourage opportunities for the graduate community. Ongoing through to 2020 6c A commitment to the University of Wolverhampton Graduates will be encouraged to commit to support the University. (Alumni and Development strategy ) Target to recruit 1,000 WeLoVe Alumni Volunteers by end of 2017 - including 200 mentoring volunteers. Ongoing through to 2020 11