Watch the presentation recording.

In this session, Sara Ardern will present on Griffith's current approach to fostering meaningful partnerships between staff and students and how they are facilitating new ways to embed Student Voice into everyday work practices across the University. She will also touch on new initiatives for 2024, which include a collaboration with the Griffith Business School to offer the Co-Design Incubator, which is focused on embedding student partnerships into the curriculum, via two work-integrated learning (WIL) courses. 

Session plan:

1. Griffith University - Student Partnerships Program:

• Introduction: how did we arrived here

• New Initiatives: Co-Design Lab, Co-Design Incubator & Student Voice Framework

• Our Approach - Testing and Learning alongside students

• Where to from here

• Summary and time for questions

2. Networking and sharing new initiatives everyone is working on in small groups

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Participate in an interactive session led by Dr. Ali Jaquet, Megan Pozzi, and Kate Walsh, where we will delve into the dynamic nature of partnership, exploring its complexities, tensions, and power dynamics. We will engage in thought-provoking discussions on beliefs and doubts surrounding partnership, and we will compare our perspectives on threshold concepts of partnership, fostering deeper conversations and reconnecting with our purpose. This will be an adaptation of the session presented at the STARS student partnership network session in July.

Dr Alison Jaquet | Director (Support for Learning) | University of Southern Queensland

Dr Alison Jaquet is Director (Support for Learning) at the University of Southern Queensland and has over 15 years of tertiary sector experience across academic and professional roles. She is a champion of student partnership and has experience in student engagement, widening participation, and staff development.

Megan Pozzi | Manager, Support for Learning (Language and Learning) | Queensland University of Technology

Megan Pozzi is Manager, Support for Learning (Language and Learning) at Queensland University of Technology. A former high school Drama and English teacher, she has 15 years’ experience working across the secondary and tertiary education sector. She is an award winning speaker, educator and researcher focused on creating engaging, accessible and equitable learning experiences with and for students.

Kate Walsh | Senior Coordinator, Student Representation and Partnerships | Flinders University

Kate Walsh is the Senior Coordinator, Student Representation and Partnerships at Flinders University. She has extensive experience in student engagement nationally, including as the inaugural Project Manager for Student Voice Australia. Her focus is on harnessing the power of student partnership and representation to transform higher education and the student experience.

In this session will focus on digital badging and similar online programs that aim to enhance student engagement and development beyond the classroom.

We will hear from two speakers from Curtin University. Aymen Javed will provide valuable insights into Curtin Extra, a framework designed to officially recognise students who actively participate in co-curricular programs. Additionally, Natasha Walker will discuss a pilot program called First Year Rewards, which aims to increase connectivity and retention among first-year students from equity backgrounds.

Aymen Javed | Coordinator, Co-Curricular Development | Student Success | Student Experience | Curtin University

Overview of Curtin Extra framework and Recognition (Digital Badges and Certificate)

Discover the Curtin Extra framework, a program developed and facilitated by the Co-Curricular Development team at Curtin University. Join us as Aymen, Coordinator of Curtin Extra & Global Student Support and a longstanding member of the university community for 15 years, shares valuable insights about Curtin Extra.

The Curtin Extra framework provides official recognition for students who actively engage in co-curricular programs, contributing to their personal and professional development. This framework offers various avenues for students to participate in multiple Curtin Extra approved programs throughout their degree, considering their course load and other commitments.

The Curtin Extra framework, with its comprehensive recognition components such as the Curtin Extra Certificate, eRecord, and digital badges, empowers students to demonstrate their dedication, enhance their university experience, and extend their impact beyond the traditional academic realm.

Natasha Walker | Student Engagement Coordinator, First Year Equity | Student Life and Community | Student Success | Curtin University

First Year Rewards (FYR): Enhancing Engagement and Retention

Discover First Year Rewards (FYR): a program developed by the First Year Experience (FYE) team to address students' need for connection and belonging. FYR focuses on increasing retention among first-year students from equity backgrounds, with a specific emphasis on regional and remote Australia, low socio-economic status (SES), and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

FYR offers a gamified experience, incentivizing and rewarding student engagement in accredited co-curricular activities at Curtin. Priority enrolment is given to HEPPP equity undergraduate students who are new to Curtin or their course. Non-HEPPP students identifying with broader equity cohorts defined by Curtin's Student Equity and Inclusion Framework can also opt in.

Join us to explore the student journey through the Challenge platform, including verification processes, points, and prizes, including how we measure the success of the program. Gain insights into program statistics and engagement levels. Let's engage in a conversation where we share experiences, discussing what has worked and what hasn't in first-year programs. Together, we can aim to improve the university experience, retention, and success rates for our equity cohorts.