Session Outline

In an effort to understand the issues affecting student success and retention, the University of Sunderland has developed a Predictive Analytics Dashboard (PAD). Unique to the University of Sunderland, the PAD utilises over 50 student metrics to derive a risk score of an individual student. It analyses live data, so it is dynamic in reflecting the changing status of the students. The PAD highlights students at risk of withdrawing from their programmes and sends notification of this risk to their personal academic tutor (PAT) for swift support mechanisms. We are utilising the PAD to identify the most at-risk students and within the pilot phase of the PAD roll-out we have been undertaking focused qualitative interviews with these students to better understand their barriers to success and to improve how we as personal academic tutors can most effectively support them.

The Faculty Academic Support Lead (FASL) is a new role within the institution and these staff lead on faculty and school-based implementation of university student support and retention strategies.

This project has been led by the projects and management information development officer and the FASL for Nursing & Midwifery with an aim of formulating a cross-institutional approach to best practices for PATs. The goal being to empower PATs to support their students effectively, both proactively and reactively, in order to foster a more supportive and responsive academic environment.