HEA Short guide: change services

HEA Short Guide Change services

“The change programmeenabled us to look at our approach to service delivery in a way that was creative but focused on outcomes” Dr Anne Mumford, Director of Change Projects, Loughborough University

Introduction

Higher education in the UK is experiencing unprecedented changes, challenging traditional approaches to learning and teaching and putting students firmly in the driving seat.

Institutions have been catapulted into a landscape where they must compete at home and abroad for students on distinctiveness, value for money and cost; while grappling with a more diverse student base, new modes of delivery and rising expectations about learning, teaching and employment.

Change is unsettling. Too much change can be overwhelming. But, change is also an opportunity that can be harnessed, energising teams to achieve positive outcomes for students and staff.

Harnessing the power of change

The HEA works with providers of higher education across the UK to prepare, implement and sustain transformational change that enhances learning and teaching and student experience and outcomes.

Since 2004, we have supported over 110 programmes in 90 universities and colleges involving over 700 members of staff. We have also worked successfully with international institutions.

Often, such change is complex requiring the will and momentum to rethink approaches; introduce new processes, support systems, ways of thinking and behaviours across internal and external boundaries.

Requirements vary and so our change services range from programmes that bring together teams with an interest in tackling issues relating to a common theme or discipline, to light-touch support from a member of the HEA team.

Programmes are delivered by staff with substantial experience of leadership, initiatives and interventions in higher education plus guest facilitators with technical expertise in learning and teaching in priority areas or disciplines.

Because every initiative is different, we run a flexible rolling series of activities and services:

Change programmes

HEA change programmes are designed to facilitate sustainable, transformational change within institutions, faculties and/or departments. They involve between 10 and 16 cross-institutional teams, selected to take part from universities and colleges across the UK, coming together to plan, implement and evaluate an initiative relating to a common theme or discipline. Each programme comprises a series of interconnected events over a set time period. Students are enlisted as active and equal team members.

Each programme is designed to enable teams to explore the nature of change and how it relates to their situation. Through facilitated discussion and inquiry they draw on participants’ experiences to think creatively about the process and gain practical tools to see through major change. Programmes provide the context in which teams can build trusting relationships internally and externally.

Consultancy services

Where institutions seek bespoke support to implement change internally, members of the HEA’s team can act as a facilitator leading one or a series of one-day workshops. Using an experienced, external facilitator can help raise the profile of initiatives; gain buy-in, capacity and capability; and inject momentum.1

Alternatively, we can facilitate internal programmes to engineer lasting change, working directly with institutions to equip teams with the knowledge and skills to adopt the change programme model.

Support at every stage

Achieving transformational change across the wholeinstitution, faculty or department is a challengingprocess requiring commitment, energy andcreativity from all those involved.

Our programmes are designed to help teams atevery stage of the process. They build teamand personal capabilities using a mixture ofworkshops, residential and direct support and comprise:

• one-dayorientationandscopingworkshop;

• two-dayresidential;

• one-dayfollow-upworkshop;

• ongoingsupportfromnamedHEAcontacttoprovide constructive advice and respond to queries;

• evaluationofimpact,outcomesandreturnoninvestment;

• optionalconsultancydaysaspartofsubscriptionor purchased separately.

Programmes offer teams structured support atevery stage from planning, implementation andevaluation, helping to:

• developasharedunderstandingandvision

• definegoalsandobjectives

• analyseresourceneedsandgaps

• buildandevidencethecaseforchange

• engagethewiderstaffandstudentbody

• managerisks,obstaclesandgeneratesolutions

• realisesustainability

• evaluateoutcomesandimpact.

HEA change services

1 This may incur an additional cost for the institution.

“The development of theteam and the sharing of the vision were key. The university is now developing a flagship student employment initiative that has senior management support and has the potential to set us apart.”

Luke Millard, Head of Learning Partnerships, Birmingham City University

Why take part?

A programme is very successful in encouraging and developing individuals and teams in working effectively as agents of change. Past teams have highlighted the following benefits:

Individual

• demonstrate commitment to developing strategic capabilities and value as a skilled change agent;

• build understanding of issues, latest thinking and approaches, applying them to a real initiative;

• acquire knowledge and skills in leading teams through change; drawing on and creating evidence to inform policy and practice.

Institution

• drive improvements to student experience through a focused initiative; • work alongside, learn from and build links with like-minded institutions;

• accelerate change and innovation with externally set timescales; • protected time and space to think and plan while minimising time off-site;

• break down barriers, bringing together staff and students from across an institution;

• access expertise from supporters, experienced in leadership and change;

• apply research evidence, tools, techniques and approaches to manage change;

• add weight to an initiative by being selected to take part in a national programme;

• build appetite, capacity and capability to sustain change;

• establish a reputation for innovation;

• demonstrate commitment to quality of teaching and student experience.

Sector

• generate practical resources to help other institutions apply learning to their own situation;

• contribute to sector-wide enhancement of learning and teaching based on evidence.

Case study University of Stirling

An integrated approach to induction and transition of first year students

As students increasingly bear the cost for higher education, there is a greater incentive for them to review the available data to help inform their decision about what and where to study.

The University of Stirling is ranked number one in Scotland in the 2012 Times Higher Education Top 100 under 50 and eighth in the UK. It is first in Scotland for Education in the Times Good University and Guardian Good University Guide (2012). Since 1967, it has established a reputation for pioneering approaches and excellence and its courses are regularly ranked in the top three in Scotland and the UK. Over 90% of students are employed within six months and overall satisfaction rate in the National Student Survey is 88%.

The university’s goal is to be at the forefront of research and learning to develop one of the UK’s best student experiences.

For some years, the university has recognised the link between student experience and induction and transition in the first year. Its Induction Working Group had already instigated activities such as social networking and introducing online induction resources for students entering year one courses.

However, it sought to increase the impact of these activities by developing an approach that could be integrated and implemented university-wide.

The university made induction and transition a priority in its five-year Learning and Teaching Quality Enhancement Strategy. It was also selected to take part in the HEA’s Evidence-informed Quality Improvement Programme (EQUIP). By participating in EQUIP, the university sought to develop and implement a framework and coordinated approach to induction and transition based on evidence of activities that enhance students’ experience. It also sought to develop an audit tool to use when reflecting on learning and teaching activities.

The resulting framework has been adopted by the university’s Academic Council. It will now become integral to mainstream learning activities and a key component of the university’s approach to enhancing the student learning experience. It also has potential application in other institutions seeking a whole institution approach to developing an induction and transition strategy based on evidence.

“Change programmes are a rich, enjoyable and rewarding experience: one that many people look back on and say; “I am glad I did that!”

Steve Outram, Academic Lead, HEA

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© The Higher Education Academy, 2012

The Higher Education Academy (HEA) is a national body for learning and teaching in higher education. We work with universities and other higher education providers to bring about change in learning and teaching. We do this to improve the experience that students have while they are studying, and to support and develop those who teach them. Our activities focus on rewarding and recognising excellence in teaching, bringing together people and resources to research and share best practice, and by helping to influence, shape and implement policy - locally, nationally, and internationally.

Contact us The HEA supports staff in higher education throughout their careers, from those who are new to teaching through to senior management. We offer services at a generic learning and teaching level as well as in 28 different disciplines. Through our partnership managers we work directly with HE providers to understand individual circumstances and priorities, and bring together resources to meet them.

The HEA has knowledge, experience and expertise in higher education. Our service and product range is broader than any other competitor.

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Are HEA change services right for your institution? HEA change services are developed continually building on evaluation from attendees.

Feedback from past programmes indicates that the type of initiatives most likely to benefit have:

• teamswantingtodevelopnewwaysofworkingacrossorganisationalboundaries;• membersfromdifferentdepartmentse.g.professional,academicplusstudentsandevenotherinstitutions;• committedtoworkingtogethertoachievechangeandenhancestudentexperience;• initiativesalignedtotheirinstitution’smissionandreadyfordevelopmentorimplementation;• supportfromseniorchampionsandcommitmentofpeopleandresources;• outcomesthatareachievableinthetimescalesandpotentiallytransferable.

International teams are welcome to apply and are eligible for all elements of the programme.

If you think an HEA change programme may be right for your institution, find out more and apply at: www.heacademy.ac.uk/change

If you have questions, or would like to discuss your change initiatives and HEA change services, please call us on 01904 717500.

Or email us at: [email protected]