Session Outline

How can data move beyond dashboards to drive real change? At Manchester Metropolitan University, a data-informed approach underpins everything we do to support student success. Institutional analytics; covering attendance, engagement, progression, and demographic data are embedded into our personal tutoring and advising practices to ensure interventions are timely, targeted, and equitable.

Advancements in data availability and analytics are enabling personal tutoring to become more proactive and personalized, improving retention and success (UKAT, 2023). Research consistently shows that data-informed advising leads to measurable improvements in student success and equity outcomes. Institutions that adopt collaborative, consistent use of data in advising redesign see significant gains in retention and belonging (Advising Success Network Guidebook, 2022; NACADA, Academic Advising Today,2023).

This presentation will demonstrate how a strategic, data-informed approach drives decision-making and improves student outcomes. Through compelling case studies, we will show how data has acted as a catalyst for change. Practical examples will highlight how staff across different departments have leveraged insights to implement strategies that strengthen belonging, boost continuation, and enhance success. These initiatives have delivered measurable improvements in student engagement and achievement.

• Combined institutional engagement analytics with programme-level insights in the fashion department to deliver targeted interventions, driving a 7.1% rise in Level 5 continuation and a 9.8% increase at Level 6 over three years.

• Awarding gaps and graduate outcomes data revealed disparities in outcomes for racially minoritised students, leading to an identity-based mentoring initiative through MentorMe, which improved degree outcomes, cultural familiarity, professional connections, employment prospects, career pathways, employability and confidence.

• The Disability service identified gaps in student access to support, resulting in a process to apply anticipatory adjustments for students who had declared a disability, but had not responded to outreach attempts.

Attendees will gain insights into how a whole-institution data strategy can transform personal tutoring and advising, and leave with actionable ideas for embedding similar approaches in their own contexts.

Learning Outcomes

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