Funding Win For REACT Project

Friday 29-05-2015 - 13:47

The University of Winchester wins funding for student engagement project for 2015-17

The University of Winchester has been awarded £314,000 from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to build on distinctive models of student engagement.

The University of Winchester, in partnership with the University of Exeter and London Metropolitan University, is to use the HEFCE funding to drive the Realising Engagement through Active Culture Transformation (REACT) project. The project addresses concerns from the National Union of Students (NUS) that some students – mature, international, BME, commuters and those with a disability – are less likely to participate in student engagement activities designed to improve success rates.

REACT aims to develop successful practice at Winchester, Exeter and London Metropolitan in partnership with their Student Unions/Guilds of Students to champion an enhances student experience through active Student Engagement. The project team are going to conduct research with 500 students across the three universities to find ways to reach a wider group of students. This best practice is to be shared with ten further universities in the UK.

Tom Lowe – Vice President, Education states “Winchester Student Union and the University of Winchester has progressed over previous years in Student Engagement and genuine partnership seeing real impact. Our brilliant students have taken part in participations such as the Student Fellows Scheme, Student Academic Representatives (StARs), Student Panel Members and Student Academic Council, working hard across the year to meet the University half way and represent the student voice. The above funding will look to build on these great models, along with the brilliant work at London Metropolitan and Exeter to lead the sector in student engagement development.”

Professor Elizabeth Stuart, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, added: “The University is very pleased to receive this funding. High and broad levels of student engagement lead to positive changes for both the institution and individuals within it, and we are proud to be leading a national project to ensure all students get the most of their experience at university.”

Winchester Student Union and the University of Winchester has already received national reputation for its work in student engagement with the Student Fellows Scheme being shortlisted for both the HEA and NUS Students’ Union and Institution Partnership Award (Highly Commended) in 2014 and the Student Experience Initiative Award in the Guardian University Awards in 2015.


Tom Lowe, Vice President - Education

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