Universities need a lens through which to view the student experience that allows them to see what’s really there, not ideologically constructed models of “consumer” or “partner”, or “future employee” that can only see the aspects of student experience that the model affords.
Data and evidence matter – not necessarily for performance management, but to deepen understanding of students’ lives and guide allocation of scarce resources. How evidence is gathered and what questions are asked matter too – if these reflect the wrong frame, then the things that matter won’t be visible.
Whether it’s student pulse surveys, learner engagement analytic data, or pedagogic research, good governance of data on students and widespread data literacy informing decisions at every level will mitigate against the risk of only those that shout the loudest or conform to expectations being “seen”.
