Thursday 16th May 2024
9:30am - 3:40pm
Virtual Conference
The Student Advice in Higher Education Conference 2024 will explore the latest solutions in delivering high impact advice, support and guidance services that meet the evolving needs of students.
Participants will explore how high-quality student advice can advance student success, the next steps in tackling barriers to engagement and what the future of a successful embedded service looks like.
The Conference will also offer implementation-led deep-dives on key challenges facing student advisors including on financial guidance, supporting international students adjusting to life in the UK and managing conversations on non-continuation.
Objectives
Gain solutions on joining up support and advice services with a student success agenda
Examine how to overcome low engagement and reach students not asking for help
Assess the next steps in delivering an institution-wide, customer service approach to student advice
Discover how to improve your advice provision and enhance the quality of student outcomes across all touchpoints
Headline Speakers
Vivi Freidgut
Founder and CEO
Blackbullion
Dr Tiffany Chiu
Principal Teaching Fellow in Educational Development
Imperial College London
Heather Knight
Head of Advice and Training
UKCISA
Bethan Ovens
Head of Student Advice and Engagement Management Team
LSE
Agenda
9:30 am
Chair’s Welcome Address
Kirsty MacInnes
Head of Student Enquiries, Advice & Events
Glasgow Caledonian University (CONFIRMED)
9:40 am
Embedding High Quality Student Support into a Student Success Roadmap - The Life Design Concept at the University of Birmingham
Utilising the design thinking principles of Stanford University’s Life Design Lab to empower students to actively craft their futures and their success measures. This session will explore:
Success for whom – institutional KPIs Vs. students’ personal lives
Questioning traditional approaches that prescribe formulas and measures for success
Encouraging students to explore their passions, idealise their desired outcomes, and strategize actionable plans to achieve them
Formulating a more personalised and holistic approach to student advice
Moving beyond narrowly defined metrics to encompass well-being, purpose, and fulfilment
Equipping students with the skills and agency to navigate their academic journeys and transition beyond university life
Dr Sammy Li
Executive Member, AMOSSHE
Assistant Director of Student Affairs (Postgraduate and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion), University of Birmingham (CONFIRMED)
10:00 am
Designing an Impactful Customer Service Approach to Student Advice
Building on innovation and ideas from the ASK@WOL service at the University of Wolverhampton, this session will take a deep dive into developing a cohesive customer-service model on student advice and support. The session will consider:
Supporting flawless access and joining up fragmented advice centres
Coordinating a consistent service across multiple touchpoints to reflect student demand
Developing an ‘any question’ approach across the student lifecycle
Managing an efficient service that support timely, useful information
Embedding compassion and kindness into service standards
What it takes to implement a truly whole-institution approach to advice and support
Francesca Coxton
Head of Student Customer Services
University of Wolverhampton (invited)
10:40 am
Break and Networking
11:00 am
Why Students in Need are Not Asking for Help and What We Can Do About It
The barriers facing non-traditional students when navigating student services
Why students are not asking for help or accessing support when they need it
Why students are avoiding support services for a ‘fear of the unknown’
How to rethink delivery with a shift to embedded support and removing the onus on students to ask for help
Challenging perceptions on the ‘ideal, independent’ student and normalising support and consultative working
Dr Tiffany Chiu
Principal Teaching Fellow in Educational Development
Imperial College London (CONFIRMED)
11:40 am
Workshop: Stepping Up Your Financial Advice and Support Services
What are the big trends on students seeking financial support?
How are universities providing advice and support?
How can guidance be enhanced to respond to evolving financial risks facing students?
Vivi Freidgut
Founder and CEO
Blackbullion (CONFIRMED)
12:40 pm
Break and Networking
1:20 pm
Adjusting to Life in the UK: Considering Impactful Support and Advice for International Students
What advice do international students need and how is demand evolving?
How UKCISA informs and complements institutional support services for international students
Overcoming key challenges on immigration through advocacy
Understanding ethics and best practice in offering advice and support to international students
Heather Knight
Head of Advice and Training
UKCISA (CONFIRMED)
2:00 pm
Panel Discussion: Reimagining Advice, Guidance and Support Provision
What does an embedded advice and support service look like?
Changing student perceptions on asking for help and seeking advice
Harnessing the student voice to redesign provision and offer support that reflects usage
Building a truly integrated support and advice system in which all touchpoints interact with each other
The next steps in advancing learning analytics and reporting to develop a cohesive view of the student lifecyle
How can we more effective and ambitious in challenging low engagement and reaching students most at risk?
Bethan Ovens
Head of Student Advice and Engagement Management Team
LSE (CONFIRMED)
Rebecca Hughes
Student Advice and Guidance Officer
Wrexham Glyndŵr University (CONFIRMED)
Kaye Howells
Director of the Student Legal Advice Centre
University of Derby (CONFIRMED)
Break and Networking
2:40 pm
3:00 pm
Leeds Conservatoire – A Small Institution that’s Big on Support
An introduction to Leeds Conservatoire and its specific students’ needs
A culture change in students’ needs and how we adapted to this with a multidisciplinary approach
What sets us apart: integrated approach, A&P support, Occupational Therapy as an addition to traditional support services
What is OT and how do we use it within HE – a success story
Where we’re heading – a look into the future
Daniela Bonitz
Health and Wellbeing Manager
Leeds Conservatoire (CONFIRMED)
Clare Copley
Senior Occupational Therapist
Leeds Conservatoire (CONFIRMED)
3:40 pm
Conference Close
* Programme subject to change
Audience
Those in attendance will include:
Heads of Student Advice and Support
Heads of Student Success
Head of Faculty
Student Support & Engagement Managers
Student Advisors
Financial Support Advisors
International Student Advisors
Directors of Student Services
Directors of Student Experience
Directors of Teaching and Learning
Heads of Student Advice
Heads of Safeguarding
Heads of Student Wellbeing
Heads of Student Customer Services
Pricing
Public Sector
£345 + VAT
Attendance to Student Advice 2024
Private Sector
£395 + VAT
Attendance to Student Advice 2024
HE Professional
£395 + VAT
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