Co-Creation through scholarship. The Queen Mary Academy learner interns' programme

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi32.1423

Keywords:

co-creation, student interns, student voice

Abstract

Since 2021, the Queen Mary Academy (QMA) at Queen Mary University of London has been running its Learner Interns Programme (LIP). The aim of the LIP is to support educators to undertake student-voice scholarship projects in collaboration with our diverse learner population by annually hiring interns to work on projects. In 2023-24, over 140 applications were received. The poster will discuss how learning and development, for both staff and students, occurs via instigation of such research projects, valuing learner expertise and agency.  

Student engagement is an element of the Queen Mary Academic Careers Framework which supports academic career paths, and engagement with the LIP has the potential for educators to develop evidence for this. Examples showed how educators deepen their approach to reflection and identified opportunities to leverage research avenues with students as active partners, contributing to their scholarly profiles. As a complimentary point, examples of how interns develop critical thinking and communication skills within academic contexts were shared, covering how interns’ exposure to research helps prepare them for professional roles.

The origin and evolution of the LIP was outlined, alongside approaches to intern recruitment, onboarding, co-responsibility training, and community building, that subsequently provide opportunities for the professional development of support colleagues who are involved.

Delegates took away ideas around valuing students as partners within structured internships, with direct quotes from educators and support colleagues describing the impact this initiative has had on their professional development. This approach was displayed as an effective example of educational learning development, underpinned by student involvement, for which others may wish to copy its approach or explore potential future collaborations with Queen Mary.

Author Biographies

Graeme Hathaway, Arden University

Graeme Hathaway is the Arden University Academic Director for the Holborn Campus, London as of August 2024. At the time of this ALDCon24 presentation, Graeme was the Innovation and Learning Manager at Queen Mary University of London. Graeme is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Elise Omfalos, Queen Mary University of London

Elise Gasser Omfalos is Innovation and Learning Manager at Queen Mary University of London. She manages the Learner Interns Programme and acts as intern supervisors and academic coach. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

References

Bonney, K. M. (2018) ‘Students as partners in the scholarship of teaching and learning’, International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 12(2). Available at: https://doi.org/10.20429/ijsotl.2018.120202

Centre for Engaged Learning (2013) Students as partners in studying engaged learning. Available at: https://www.centerforengagedlearning.org/studying-engaged-learning/students-as-partners-in-sotl/ (Accessed: 14 October 2024).

Downloads

Published

31-10-2024

How to Cite

Hathaway, G. and Omfalos, E. (2024) “Co-Creation through scholarship. The Queen Mary Academy learner interns’ programme”, Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (32). doi: 10.47408/jldhe.vi32.1423.