Student success at college is not just achieving high grades The National Forum for Teaching and Learning defines student success as the process by which students fulfil their potential and flourish at college and in society. This is a broader activity than simply achieving high grades. Psychosocial competencies are core to the definition of student success: these are the ‘soft skills’ or ‘non-cognitive skills’ that enable students to cope well with learning challenges, engage deeply in learning, and develop their identities as learners and as active citizens. Transitions are a key issue within this priority area, with transitions such as the move from school to college presenting both challenges and opportunities for students.
About this initiative
EU policy emphasises the importance of citizenship education and bridging education with professional and societal contexts. It advocates a collaborative approach to education that involves embedding civic engagement and wider partnership with society and the community into education. This initiative will extend current curricula beyond MIC into the community and society. Its rationale is underpinned by the National Forum’s findings on students’ view of excellent teaching in which ‘Students want their higher education experience to connect with the ‘real world’…..’. This initiative will enhance the student learning experience by complementing existing learning with opportunities for authentic learning and providing opportunities for learners to apply their discipline specific skills to address civic and societal concerns while developing transversal skills. It relates to the national funding call criteria by providing students with the opportunity to fulfil their potential and become creators of new knowledge who are community engaged, ethically conscious, professionally competent and equipped to flourish in a global world. The initiative will explore best practice regarding open education, current approaches to civic engagement in MIC and how they can be embedded in Arts curricula within MIC programmes. It will provide CPD to staff on open pedagogies. The model will be evaluated with staff and students to explore the impact of open pedagogies on student engagement.




