There are four different breakout sessions, each of which will be held twice. All delegates can attend two of the four sessions; outcomes of each session will be made available to delegates online after the conference.
- Campaigning for Excellence
Facilitated by Nat Kempston, Deputy President (Education) at Imperial College Union
This session will look at the role of the Academic Representation Network in campaigning for the best educational experience in departments and across the College.
We will explore methods through which the underlying messages which should be brought to the fore can be identified and separated from the noise; essentially separating education campaigning from moaning about the microwave.
Attendees will think about how to get the most out of their Staff-Student Committees, together with how other methods of obtaining student feedback can be undertaken.
Various examples of best practice in current contentious issues will be discussed with the aim of participants developing a greater understanding of ways in which their voice can be heard through College mechanisms, ensuring an evidence based approach.
This session will include contributions from James Murphy, Academic Affairs Officer for the City & Guilds College Union (CGCU). - Delivering Excellence
Facilitated by Zoe Richardson, Representation Coordinator at Imperial College Union
Delivering Excellnece will explore ways in which College staff and students can work together to deliver the best teaching and research supervision. This session will focus on the space after agreement has been reached on what should be done, and centre around how collaborative work can be undertaken to achieve these aims.
Attendees will be asked to consider novel methods in which College staff and students can work together, setting aside things that have been happening since time began. Attendees will be asked to think beyond the strict teaching and research supervision environment and consider the range of factors which can impact on the learning or research experience, and how collaborative working can be undertaken.
This session will include contributions from Dr Lorraine Craig and Lewis Ryan. - Measuring Excellence
Facilitated by Andrew Keenan, Education & Welfare Manager at Imperial College Union
This session will explore practical ways to make the most of the many datasets and sources of information about teaching & learning quality currently available to Imperial staff and students.
Surveys such as SOLE, NSS and the Student Experience Survey offer us a rich, longitudinal view of quality and excellence across College's departments & services; the challenge is to find a practical, effective method to convert this information into actions and innovations that make a real differenc to the student academic and extra-curricular experience.
Attendees will discuss ways to capture and implement student opinions and ideas, define success and failure, and evaluate results, while discussing the role of the Academic Representation Network in supporting these aims. - Celebrating Excellence
Facilitated by Dr Phil Power, Membership Services Manager at Imperial College Union
This session will explore ways in which we can celebrate and communicate success in an educational context. While campaigning for excellence in teaching and research supervision often has its roots in negative scenarios, this session will flip the coin, thinking about the positive changes which have been made.
Ways will be explored whereby positive changes and outcomes can be communicated and celebrated at the most local level; and how these methods can be used to promote good staff-student engagement for the benefit of the wider learning community. Attendees will be invited to share their opinions and debate proposals, which will be built into the future projects of Imperial College Union.