Going beyond Consultation: Co-Production with Widening Participation students across the student lifecycle

Emma Hall, Abigail Cattlin and Mazvita Kadzirange  – Edge Hill University

Email: cattlina@edgehill.ac.uk      

Session recording

Presentation

Click to download the presentation Going beyond Consultation: Co-Production with Widening Participation students across the student lifecycle (.pptx)

Abstract

Edge Hill University’s Widening Access and Participation Team will be presenting within the theme of Student Engagement, including co-creation, representation, and student voice using our Student Advisory Panel project as a successful example of our innovative approach to supporting students from underrepresented, disadvantaged or discriminated-against groups within Higher Education. This workshop will provide an interactive experience with delegates and the opportunity to leave with some practical outcomes.

Collaboration, co-creation, and co-production are vital for understanding students lived experiences and developing initiatives and/or services that will effectively address inequalities across the whole Student-Life cycle. The Widening Access and Participation Team at Edge Hill University first convened a Student Advisory Panel for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students in 2020/21 to inform the design and delivery of a wide range of university initiatives and services. The panel was so successful that an additional four panels have been convened for 2021/2022, covering Care Leaver, Care Experienced and Estranged Students, Disabled Students, First Generation Students and Mature Students. 

The Student Advisory Panels meet once per term, with the panel members able to contribute to agenda items in addition to colleagues from across the university being able to attend for student feedback on a particular service or new initiative. They work around panel members availability and are paid for their time. A news article about the original advisory panel can be found here – Working in partnership with our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Students – News (edgehill.ac.uk).

During this workshop, Emma and Abi, alongside existing Student Advisory Panel members, will reflect on setting up a collaborative project with students and the challenges of working in this way, in addition to celebrating the successes and positive work which has resulted from our Student Advisory Panels thus far. Working with our students has provided invaluable insights into their life at university, allowing for genuine coproduction with our students across various services. An unintended outcome of the Advisory Panels has been the positive impact on the panel members themselves, it has been very powerful to get a group of students in a room who all share at least one underrepresented characteristic. Working with our students and being able to show them demonstrable changes they have made to better the experience of all students has bolstered their sense of belonging.

We will then move into breakout sessions, providing colleagues with the opportunity to come together to discuss the project and how they could incorporate and develop the strategies provided at their institutions. In their discussions, we will be asking colleagues to consider the following topics: 

• How do you gain feedback from your current students and how do you respond to this feedback? 
• How do you ensure feedback from students is acted upon, what are the mechanisms for accountability? 
• Do you have opportunities for current students to collaborate on Widening Participation initiatives? 
• How do you manage the blurred lines of success work, when much of the ‘doing’ sits outside of the central team?

Emma Hall

Interim Head of Access and Participation, Edge Hill University 

Emma has worked at Edge Hill University for the past eight years, previously working at a range of other Higher Education Institutions. Emma has strategic responsibility for Widening Access and Participation at Edge Hill University including the Access and Participation Plan. Emma oversees the central Widening Access and Participation team.

Abigail Cattlin

Widening Participation Officer, Edge Hill University

Abi has worked at Edge Hill University for the past four years, and was previous a student there too. Abi oversees the implementation of the success strand of the Access and Participation plan. Abi manages several large projects including the Student Advisory Panels, in addition to an on-course support programme; the Thrive programme.

Mazvita Kadzirange

Law student and Student Advisory Panel member, Edge Hill University

My name is Mazvita Kadzirange, and I am a second-year law student at Edge Hill University. I am a panel member, which means that I am part of the student advisory panel at Edge Hill. There are several panels to choose from, such as the Disabled Students’ Advisory Panel and the Mature Students’ Advisory panel, to just name a few. I am part of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Students’ advisory panel, and my role mostly consists of myself and my fellow panel members discussing ways in which we can improve campus life and diversity amongst students in general. We also often give our own opinions, whilst sharing suggestions with each other and then direct them to the university. As a panel member on any panel, you will have the opportunity to participate in similar activities and contribute to the university and act as a voice for other students. As well as being part of the student advisory panel, I enjoy using our campus facilities, such as the running track and watching numerous shows that are showcased in our very large theatre.