Understanding and Improving the Student Experience in Higher Education

This book explores the challenges of improving the student experience in higher education through a 'third space' perspective. This key text studies a variety of approaches by drawing on higher education policy, interviews with academics working in third space roles in higher education in the UK, France, Germany, Holland, North America and Italy, as well as auto-ethnographic narratives. The chapters consider key topical areas affecting student experience including academic support, assessment and feedback, creative approaches to pedagogy, approaches to supporting international students and students as partners. This work offers further insights into the way in which the 'third space' roles are so important to the functioning of higher education institutions and the ways in which the improvement of the student experience is inexorably intertwined with those in such roles. With evaluative and practice-based insights into embedding institutional changes to improve student outcomes, this book bridges the gap between academia and administration and is ideal reading for anyone interested in improving the student experience within their institution.

Jan Bamford is Professor of International Higher Education, Acting Deputy Dean, Guildhall School of Business and Law at London Metropolitan University, UK. Elena Moschini is Head of Student Experience and Academic Outcomes, School of Computing and Digital Media at London Metropolitan University, UK. Cécile Tschirhart is Director of Learning, Teaching and Student Experience at Christ Church Business School, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK.

1. Introduction, 2. Leadership roles in higher education and the relationship with the improvement of the student experience, 3. The power of innovative pedagogy in the post-COVID era, 4. The role of third space professionals in supporting students' transitions in higher education, 5. Designing coordinated assessment and feedback initiatives, 6. Closing the loop-An evaluation of student-led module feedback at one UK higher education institution, 7. Creative approaches to student engagement, 8. Considering strategies for the improvement of international students' academic and cultural experiences of studying in the UK, 9. The relational and dialogical nature of academic support, 10. Final reflections