Case study: Sheffield Hallam University

 

Founded in 1843 as the Sheffield School of Design, Sheffield Hallam University has a powerful impact on the city, region, nation and world. Today they are one of the UK’s largest and most diverse universities, supporting more than 30,000 students - 10% of which are international students. 

Winners of the Times Higher Education Awards 2022 ‘Outstanding contribution to the local community’, and named ‘University of the Year for social mobility’ at the 2021 UK Social Mobility Awards, it is Sheffield Hallam’s mission to transfer lives. 53% of students are first in family to attend university and 23% are from low participation neighbourhoods. 

Sheffield Hallam University offers over 7,000 courses; they are one of the country's biggest trainers of health care staff for the NHS, train approximately 1,000 teachers a year, and home to the largest modern business school in the country. Their National Centre of Excellence for Degree Apprenticeships has the biggest portfolio of degree apprenticeships in the UK and they are soon to open a new campus site in London offering degree-level courses. 

Why Studiosity?

 

 Studiosity services were also implemented by Sheffield Hallam University to align with their access and participation plan. The university combined their internal data alongside Studiosity data, in order to best define the cohort, support those most at risk of not proceeding with their studies, and ultimately improve retention rates. There is a clear and definite alignment between the university goals and Studiosity’s mission; the program aims to be as inclusive and accessible as possible, with the provided data from Studiosity forming part of a complete picture of who is seeking help and how they are progressing with their studies - allowing for example, specific focus on male students who are recognised as being less likely to seek help.

Jennifer Fearon, Head of Skills has been instrumental in helping to create a successful partnership with Studiosity and stresses the essential collaborative approach “...part of the work that we've been doing over the last three years with Studiosity is for students to understand that it's very much a part and parcel of our academic skills development. "

  

Key Performance Measures

 

Sheffield Hallam University was one of the first innovators in the UK to offer 24/7 study support via Studiosity, beginning the partnership in 2017, offering Writing Feedback and Connect Live services to their first years. In the subsequent year they widened out access to the entire student cohort; from first year to final year of study, across all courses. For the 2021/2022 academic year, they also offered the peer-to-peer service Student Connect, to all Level 4 students.