Transcript Document

Enhancement Themes Conference 2009
Leeds for Life: the University of Leeds approach to
developing graduates for the 21st Century
Caroline Letherland
Christopher Warrington
Clara Davies
Leeds for Life:
What it is
‘An entitlement for all students
which helps them integrate
their academic and wider university experience
and prepare for their future.’
March 2009
Leeds for Life:
Why we’re doing it
• At the heart of the University’s
strategy
• To help students recognise the
distinctiveness of their Leeds
education
• To motivate and empower
students
• To encourage greater
reflection
• To increase the attractiveness
of the University to prospective
students
• Response to NSS and other
student feedback
March 2009
Leeds for Life:
What our students want
• Diverse student population
• Different levels of
engagement and
involvement in University life
will mean different students
will want different things from
Leeds for Life
• Feedback collated from
focus groups and StaffStudent Forums
March 2009
Leeds for Life – website demo
www.leedsforlife.leeds.ac.uk/
Leeds for Life:
Key Developments
Transition to first year
• Induction reviewed
• “Integrating students into the academic
community” - identified examples of good
practice in the following areas:
• Forming relationship before arrival:
Communications & Orientation
• Induction extended over the first semester / year
• Induction embedded in the curriculum
• Academic study & skills support
March 2009
Leeds for Life:
Key Developments
Leeds Model for Personal Tutoring
• Model aims to provide an improved, unified
approach to academic support for students that is:
• Purposeful, structured
• Proactive, clearly articulated
• Systematic - provides overview of performance
and scheduled ongoing academic support
• Holistic (full range of activity), developmental
• Individual, one-to-one, equally available
• Tutor as referral agent for personal difficulties
• Supported by integrated IT
March 2009
The “Living CV”
Personal tutoring
information
from School PDP,
PT documentation
or LfL webforms
Leeds for Life
Skills and
Attributes
information
University
Transcript
information
from Web for Faculty
from LfL website
VLE
VLE
Leeds for Life Living CV
a single store of information
VLE
VLE
Academic CV
template
Traditional CV
template
Skills-based CV
template
VLE
VLE
CVs/Applications for specific vacancies
Leeds for Life:
Key Challenges
• Academic buy-in
• Attracting the non-engaged
students
• The transition from school to
university in relation
expectation setting
• Ensuring Leeds for Life
becomes part of every day
business
• Balance between
responding to student and
academic need
March 2009
Leeds for Life
Any questions?
Group activity
Questions – 20 minutes:
• How have you addressed the following challenges
in your own Institutions?:
• Academic engagement
• Student engagement
• Transition to first year
• Please share your ideas and prepare to report
back
March 2009