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Ulster University has a vibrant combined honours student community. With a rich variety and large number of Combined Honours programmes across the University, it is vitally important that we design inclusive shared modules and ensure scaffolded support for students undertaking combined programmes of study.
The resources below have been designed to help Ulster University staff who support the learning experience of our Combined Honours students, as well as to provide information on a key Learning Enhancement workstream focused on Enhancing the Experience of Students on Combined Honours Programmes.
A Quick Guide to
Teaching Large Groups
This Quick Guide shows how there are significant benefits to working with large groups of students; it is regarded as a cost effective, efficient and consistent way to deliver course content.
Assessing Large Groups
This Quick Guide shows how large groups are a standard feature of higher education practice. There are significant benefits to working with large groups of students; it is regarded as a cost effective, efficient and consistent way to deliver course content.
Shared Modules
This Quick Guide refers to modules studied by students from different degree programmes, whether within the same school or across faculties.
Additional Quick Guides
Creating Classroom Community Agreements with your Students
This Quick Guide shows how classroom community agreements are an example of the possibility, through engagement and collaboration, to reimagine learning as a relationship.
Enhancing the Experience of Students on Combined Honours Programmes Workstream
This Learning Enhancement workstream focuses on enhancing the student experience of combined programmes of study and responds to: (i) CAQE data relating to progression and non-continuation rates of students on combined honours programmes; and (ii) feedback from faculty staff concerning challenges experienced by both students on and staff teams involved in delivering combined programmes of study.
The project aim is to review the design of combined programmes of study and the experience of students studying on combined honours programmes, with a view to enhancing the coherence of the combined studies programmes, building cohort identity and sense of belonging and further enhancing the student experience.
The core project objectives are to:
(i) undertake analysis of CAQE data relating to combined honours programmes.
(ii) conduct focus groups with combined honours students to better understand the student experience of combined programmes of study.
(iii) increase opportunities for students enrolled on combined programmes of study to build their own sense of learning communities.
(iv) produce evidence-led recommendations for enhancing the coherence of combined honours programmes of study and for defining the structure and governance more clearly for the Campus Coordinating Groups and Combined Progress and Award Boards.
The project aligns with a number of key University strategies and priorities, including:
(i) the Learning Enhancement Operational objective concerning Inclusive Design, Delivery and Assessment;
(ii) the University’s People Place and Partnerships: Sustainable Futures for All and UU values of Collaboration and Enhancing Potential;
(iii) the Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Principles of Continuous Enhancement, Better Working Lives for staff and for students, and in particular with the LTSE Qualities of Outcomes and Experience; Relationships; and, Valuing Voices and Advocacy.
(iv) The focus of the workstream additionally aligns with the work of the Advance HE Wellbeing project in terms of Building Belonging.
Key to this project is working in close partnership with students enrolled on combined programmes of study and with staff involved in supporting combined honours programmes in order to:
(i) better understand why students are choosing combinations, their experience of studying a combined honours programme, and how we can better support them on their UU journey;
(ii) explore the design of, and co-develop recommendations for enhancing the coherence of combined programmes of study; and, to
(iii) co-create a suite of community-building initiatives for students on combined pathways, designed to enhance transitions, progression and student experience. Partnership and co-creation sits at the heart of this.
The core team members of the workstream are:
- Dr Vicky Price, Project Lead, Centre for Quality Enhancement
- Natasha Davidson, Interim Director Combined Studies (Coleraine)
- Dr Paul Frazer, Centre for Quality Enhancement
- Dr Jennifer Hamilton, School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences
- Dr Aideen Hunter, School of Education
- Matthew Kearney, Ulster University Business School
- Anthony McCoubrey, Administrative Officer AQSE, AHSS
- Rebekah Robinson, UUSU VP Education
- Sarah Reynolds, Student Success Centre
If you are a combined honours student or a member of staff involved in supporting students on a combined programme of study and would like to find out more about or become involved in the workstream, please contact the workstream project lead, Dr Vicky Price at V.Price@ulster.ac.uk.
