In this episode, we focus on the intricate discourse surrounding the "student as a consumer" model within higher education, exploring its impact on educational quality, learning experience of students and institutional accountability in the context of an evolving higher education landscape with guest speaker, Professor Patrick McGhee, Assistant Vice Chancellor at the University of Bolton with responsibility for quality and for research. 

Patrick is a UK National Teaching Fellow, CBT therapist and chartered psychologist. Educated at the universities of Glasgow and Oxford, he has completed CPD programmes at Harvard Business School and Ashridge. In 2017 he was a Visiting Fellow/Scholar at the universities of Cornell, Yale and MIT in the USA. He has taught, researched or practised in psychology and therapy for 30 years. His first post was as a Research Fellow in Psychiatry and Psychology at St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London. He is the author of Thinking Psychologically (Palgrave) and The Academic Quality Handbook (Routledge) and co-editor of Accounting for Relationships (Methuen). He has been an occasional columnist for The Guardian, the BBC and the Times Higher Education.

This episode sheds light on the unique dynamics of the personal tutoring relationship, its distinct benefits, and the challenges it presents for higher education institutions (HEIs). We also capture the means by which HEIs can ensure inclusive access to personal tutoring for student success, retention, and overall well-being in higher education.

Dave Lochtie is a Senior Operations Manager for the Personal Learning Advisory Service at the Open University which provides targeted one-to-one support for student populations identified in the institution’s Access and Participation Plan. He is Co-Chair of the Association for Peer Learning and Support which promotes best practice in student-led learning and was a founding member of the UK Advising and Tutoring association (UKAT) which supports personal tutors and academic advisors across the UK. Dave is a qualified teacher, co-author of Effective Personal Tutoring in Higher Education and co-editor of The Higher Education Personal Tutor’s and Advisor’s Companion. He has worked in student services management roles at the University of Derby and University of New Orleans as well as serving as an elected Director, Trustee and Governor of the University of Roehampton and Bournemouth University Students’ Union. Dave is passionate about student voice, equality, support and success.

In this episode, Uchenna shares his notable experiences in managing stakeholders as an SU President while ensuring student voices are heard. He explains how he prioritises student needs to ensure it is a reflection of the entire student population, sharing critical examples of how student voices have had a significant effect on university initiatives and policies during his time as the University of Bolton's SU President.  

Prior to coming to the UK from Nigeria, Uchenna worked as a seasoned project manager in various consultancy firms specialising in European and World Bank funded projects. His first degree was in biochemistry but a change in career pathway led to his desire to acquire a Masters in International Management, at the University of Bolton. Featured in major ⁠newspapers⁠ and radio Programmes in the UK and Nigeria, Uchenna's speedy contribution to upholding student voice in UK higher education has seen him initiate over 20 student-led projects in just 4 months in office, leading to a surge of innovative Programmes aimed at empowering students. In his words, international students have been playing significant roles in the United Kingdom through University  led Students' Unions for a very long time. This has resulted in a recognised number of international students rising to be changemakers in the UK Higher Education sector to drive better outcomes for international student experience.  

This podcast episode critically examines the intersection of digital literacy pathways and pre-arrival questionnaires. In discussion with Michelle, this topic explores the current understanding of PAQ, shedding light on its potential benefits and considerations in relation to addressing digital literacy skills gap in students transitioning to Higher Education.

Dr. Michelle Morgan is widely recognised both nationally and internationally as an expert in Student Experience Transitions, spanning all educational levels, and has a wealth of publications in this field. Currently serving as the Dean of Students at the University of East London, Michelle holds significant affiliations including being a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), a Fellow of the Association of University Administrators (AUA), an elected council member of the UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE), and a Student Minds Mental Health Charter Assessor. Throughout her diverse career, Michelle has held roles ranging from faculty manager to lecturer, researcher, and academic manager. Her approach as a 'Third Space Integrated Student Experience Practitioner' involves developing initiatives grounded in pragmatic and actionable research. Holding an impressive track record with over 50 publications, Michelle delivered numerous presentations at both national and international conferences, including keynotes and invited papers. Additionally, she has spearheaded the creation of a free online portal offering valuable resources and links for those interested in enhancing the higher education student experience. 

This podcast episode explores how higher education institutions can leverage alumni feedback and insights to enhance their teaching, learning, and entrepreneurship programs. Professor Andy Penaluna shares his expertise on fostering strong alumni connections and using their diverse experiences to inform curricular and co-curricular developments that better prepare students for the evolving workforce.

Professor Emeritus Andy Penaluna is a renowned expert in the fields of entrepreneurship, enterprise, and employability education. With a background as a designer, he has leveraged creative thinking to drive innovative solutions in both business and academia.

Andy's extensive experience spans various levels of education, from primary schools to post-doctoral programs. He has led impactful initiatives, such as updating the UN's Empretec program curriculum and developing the EU's EntreComp Framework. His work has also influenced policy, with the QAA announcing that all Subject Benchmark Statements should now consider enterprise and entrepreneurship. Andy's contributions have been widely recognised, including a personal presentation of the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion and awards from the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs and the Maserati 100 Entrepreneurs. Currently, he is assisting UNESCO in responding to the need for entrepreneurial leadership in higher education and advising the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Entrepreneurs.

Professor Nephtali Marina Gonzalez is the Vice Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, UCL. He is also the co-editor of the Journal of Educational Innovation, Partnership and Change. Nephtali is extremely passionate about Research-Based Education. He implements and disseminates innovative and cutting-edge educational strategies that enable students to create new knowledge by constructing their own research and makes them more competitive for the challenging job market.

Angelica Blotto is a 3rd year BSc Applied Medical Sciences student at UCL. She is one of the student-partners for the Integrated Medical Sciences Change Maker’s project. Angelica is also a member of the Drama and MedTech societies at UCL. Outside of university, Angelica also trains in ballet.

Iker Hernaez, is a third-year student at University College London pursuing a BSc in Applied Medical Sciences. Besides academics, Iker is deeply involved in leadership roles, serving as a Student Partner for UCL Change Makers, former captain of UCL's 1st Tennis Team, and the Cultural Events Officer for the Spanish and Latin Society.

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