The challenges of enhancement and student-led awards

Student led teaching awards are a well-established method for celebrating teaching that goes the extra mile to provide an innovative and engaging experience for students. They are a rich source of information on what students value and on how they define excellent teaching and support.

With this in mind we recently held a discussion group with staff from a range of students’ unions and institutions on how student led awards might be utilised to enhance teaching and learning and therefore the student learning experience.

Discussions during the day identified how the awards could be embedded within institution enhancement structures, the need for clearly agreed project aims and objectives at the outset and the importance of the awards remaining unique, positive and fun.

A plethora of complex challenges were raised throughout the day, many of which, it was agreed, would need to be unpacked and addressed on a local, individual basis. These included;
• The resource needed to analyse and make sense of such large quantities of data.
• The challenge of building strong partnerships between the SU and institution.
• How to ensure the awards are accessible and relevant to all students e.g. part-time and distance learners.

Most delegates agreed that student led awards served a vital dual role as a celebration of teaching at an institution as well as being a valuable source for enhancement activities.

“Student led teaching awards are a unique opportunity to get students, students’ unions and the university in a room to praise and recognise staff. Notwithstanding this, there are also much wider enhancement opportunities that come of this area of work which must be considered and built into the design from the outset.” – Emma Dresser (Loughborough Students’ Union)

Delegates also spoke of the positive role of SLTAs in building recognition and stronger links between unions and institutions.

“SLTAs should be used as a mechanism to celebrate those who make an outstanding contribution, and are a fantastic opportunity to enhance learning/teaching experience and to develop partnership between institutions in a positive environment.” – Rachel Howey (Manchester Metropolitan Students’ Union)

The need to be clear on the intended purpose of the awards right from the start was stressed by all delegates: “It is up to the students, University and Students’ Union to decide the purpose of SLTAs. Once that is decided everything else makes sense. Without that purpose, it all seems very messy.” If the intention is to use the data collected within teaching enhancement activities then this must be taken into account at the outset, for example it should be reflected in the chosen award categories and design of award criteria.

Another challenge raised during the day was that of addressing the sheer diversity across the sector within these schemes which may prove a meaty challenge for TSEP in taking this piece of work forward in order to create valuable, relevant guidance on how SLTAs can be utilised to enhance teaching and learning.

“Student-led awards are clearly having a good impact on the student experience in many different ways across the sector. However, there are a range of objectives, methods and outcomes that mean that not one size fits all. Whilst some are focussed on highlighting ‘the best’ teachers, (raising the ceiling), others are focussed on recognising good practice across the board (raising the floor). Both are valid, but to make room in debate for both, we must stop talking just about SLTAs and talk instead about SLAs.” – Joff Cooke (University of Bournemouth Students’ Union)

Taking into account that award schemes across the country rightly reflect their own local values, prioritised areas for development and recognition of excellent practice TSEP’s challenge now is to translate the discussions from the day into useful guidance and insight for the sector. This work will likely focus on raising important areas of consideration, sharing top tips identified and exploring insightful case studies and think pieces into how others across the higher education sector have successfully used their awards within enhancement activities to improve the student experience. Watch this space!


Blog by Mira Ruskin, TSEP Consultant