Swinburne University of Technology works with students to co-design the next gen_now
Almost 4,000 Swinburne University of Technology students were actively engaged in a landmark co-design process that is defining the next gen_ student experience from enrolment to graduation.
The co-design and drafting of Swinburne’s Student Experience Framework, the Student Voice Model, and the Student Partnership Model are now complete and ready to launch in 2023.
Part of Swinburne’s Horizon 2025 Strategic Plan, the new framework reflects and responds to student needs and expectations across all aspects of the student experience.
It encompasses curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities for both higher education and vocational education students – including those enrolled through Swinburne Online.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, Experience and Employability, Professor Sarah Maddison, said the framework and supporting models define what students can expect from their Swinburne experience and what the university promises to deliver.
“With five guiding principles – supportive, relevant, engaging, career-orientated, and future-focussed – the Student Experience Framework empowers our students to learn, grow and realise their potential to have a real impact on the world,” she said.
“They offer opportunities for our diverse students to participate in genuine partnerships that meaningfully impact and improve the things that matter to them across the student experience.
“We sincerely thank all our students and staff who engaged in this process and contributed to the design of the Student Experience Framework and Student Voice and Student Partnership Models. We are excited to implement them together.”
How did we do it?
The Student Citizens’ Assembly was the cornerstone of the co-design process.
Some 90 students broadly representative of the student population were randomly selected to meet over two days to co-design the principles, priorities, and aspirations of the Student Experience Framework.
They prioritised student experience initiatives across curricular, co-curricular, extra-curricular, and supporting resources and processes, and developed mechanisms for monitoring and reporting back. Student and staff focus groups, roundtables and interviews were also held, and a large-scale validation survey sense checked the framework and models with all Swinburne students.
Swinburne students sitting together having a discussion
Students took part in a Student Citizens’ Assembly to envision the ideal student experience and begin drafting the framework and supporting models in collaboration with Swinburne.
What students helped co-design
The Student Experience Framework has been developed with students, for students. The document outlines the principles of a next gen_now student experience and what this looks like across the four domains: curricular, co-curricular, extra-curricular, and enablers.
The associated Student Partnership Model outlines how Swinburne staff and students work together to co-design and co-deliver the student experience.
“We are committed to facilitating student and staff partnerships to solve problems and improve the student experience,” Professor Maddison said.
“Different partnership structures apply to different problems, and we strive to maximise opportunities for co-led and student-led initiatives.”
The Student Voice Model outlines how students’ feedback and input will be captured, considered, and utilised when making decisions that impact the student experience.
Student voice at Swinburne means every student, no matter who they are and where or what they study, can have their say on the parts of the student experience they care about.
We are committed to listening, understanding and communicating back to them how their voices have affected decision-making.
Together, the Student Experience Framework and associated models will provide clarity on the Swinburne promise of a next gen_now student experience to our current and prospective students.
They will determine how the next gen_now student experience is brought to life both inside and outside of the classroom, ensuring our students get the very best educational experience possible whether on campus or online.
Where to next?
The Student Experience Framework and Student Voice and Student Partnership Models were presented to the Vice-Chancellor’s leadership team for endorsement last week.
All three were given the tick of approval, and an implementation plan is now in the works to launch students and staff in 2023.
We look forward to working together to implement the framework and associated models, providing a world-class, connected next gen_now experience for all Swinburne students.