Ms Anne Burnett1
1 University Of Newcastle (English Language & Foundation Studies Centre), Newcaslte East, Newcastle, Australia
The Student Experience Passport was developed to drive further engagement with the Language Centre’s Student Engagement Program through strategically aligning the program’s activities into the following four pillars – Orientate Yourself; Practice your English outside of the classroom; Experience the University community; Explore Newcastle. In an effort to drive further engagement with the program, The Student Experience Passport was created to consolidate activities into a meaningful portfolio of experiences. This strategic approach to the classification of activities has driven participation through clearly communicating the value of and incentivised engagement with the extra-curricular activities organised by the centre, enhancing ELICOS students’ well-being and language learning. This new approach has driven a stepchange in participation by clearly communicating the value of and incentivised engagement with the extra-curricular activities through gamification. The gamification process provides an opportunity for students to track their progress and development through the program. For each completed activity, students collect a stamp, and on successful collection of 20 stamps on the Passport, students are entitled to a coffee voucher and their names are entered into a draw to win a $100 prize. The passport also enhances the domestic student experience through providing a platform for cross-cultural engagement and assists to break down barriers and enhance relationships facilitating meaningful and lasting connections within the community. The success of this initiative has been recognised by our students, contributing to ranking our centre in the top 6 in the world in the 2018 English Language Student Barometer and as a winner in the 2018 NSW Premier’s International Education Award for Community Engagement.
Biography:
Anne Burnett has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Lethbridge in Canada and is currently working on a Masters of Public Health. Anne also has a CELTA. She has been working at the University of Newcastle Language Centre for 6 years. She has two roles at the centre; an ELICOS teacher and the Student Engagement Coordinator. Anne has been the Student Engagement Coordinator at the Centre since April 2015. In 2016, Anne won the Division Award for International Engagement and then went on to win the Vice-Chancellor’s Award. She continually demonstrates innovation to keep the Student Engagement Program fresh and exciting so students can have meaningful experiences whilst studying in Newcastle.