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.
Governance Excellence through Enhanced Student Engagement (GovEESE)
About this initiative
This initiative will enhance student engagement and improve their role in data-informed decision-making and will thereby help to improve the institute’s academic governance. Recent years have seen an increase in the amount of available survey data (INDEx survey recently being added to the established studentsurvey.ie and the QA3 survey). The Institute has struggled to optimise its use of this wealth of information and will through this initiative introduce a new approach, which will facilitate student engagement through early and accessible survey analysis and interpretation, which student representatives may then use to develop data-informed initiatives at Governing Body Academic Council, School and Programme Boards. As a secondary initiative, the supplemental questions’ option that is currently not used by the Institute, but in co-creation with the student representatives this option may be availed of, especially if supportive of some new agreed initiative. The initiative will be driven by a dedicated post-doctoral researcher, who will also act as liaison to six other Schools-based projects, also funded under this initiative.




