Previous Enhancement Themes

• 1. Optimise the use of evidence to enhance the student experience

  Investigate factors influencing degree outcomes

  Strand Leads: Stephen Tyre and Morven Shearer

  This project analysed existing institutional data on students' backgrounds and their academic records to investigate whether there were significant correlations between background and academic engagement, and academic outcomes.

  The outcome of this project was to identify correlations, with the aims of providing insights to better inform the recruitment and admissions process and support targeted interventions with particular student cohorts.

• 2. Gather and analyse evidence to inform the development of learning and teaching spaces

  Strand Lead: Margaret Adamson

  This project aimed to build a body of evidence from staff and students to evaluate the impact that refurbished teaching spaces had on learning and teaching.

  Innovative learning and teaching spaces have been developed and staff and students views gathered through questionnaires.

  Through this process, the team aimed to establish a methodology for evaluating similar projects in the future and to develop a strategy for the refurbishment of teaching spaces.

• 3. Enhance attainment and build diversity across the student demographic

  Strand Lead: Sharon Leahy

  This project aimed to raise attainment levels in Fife Schools and build diversity across the student demographic by increasing University staff involvement in the First Chances School outreach Programme.

  Student interns, working closely with the Outreach team within Admissions, created a bank of academic resources related to core subjects (English and Science). These resources will contribute to pupils learning within the Curriculum for Excellence Framework and increase their attainment, allowing pupils to apply to Higher Education programmes in the future.

• 4. Develop the link between evidence and pedagogy

  Strand Lead:  Lucy Hadfield

  This strand of work aimed to raise awareness of the need for pedagogical research and publicising existing research.

  Activities included delivering a series of workshops designed to facilitate pedagogical research across the University and sharing existing projects, which link evidence to pedagogy development.

  The St Andrews Learning and Teaching Initiative (SALTI) has been launched and three broad areas for the initial work were defined as e-Learning, assessment and curriculum design and implementation. Workshops, aimed at building the capacity of staff for pedagogical research are in development.

• 5. Student Employability Representative

  Strand Lead: Amy Bretherton

  The student-led focus for the Enhancement Theme centres on the introduction of a new Student Employability Representative.

  Each degree subject will have a dedicated Employability Rep, who will be self-nominated from each School’s existing pool of Class Representatives.

  This representative will work with academic staff and students in their School to gather evidence of entrepreneurial and enterprising activities in the curriculum.

  This information will be disseminated at a semesterly Employability Forum, in order to share best practice and to inform the way forward on enterprise activities in the curriculum. This focus links closely with the existing focus on entrepreneurialism in the University's Strategy.