The Academic Enhancement Model (AEM) and Attainment team creates spaces for open, collaborative discussion to deliver a range of pedagogic initiatives. Working with staff and students we support the implementation of necessary change to curriculum and teaching practice.
A cross-university enhancement approach provides support to courses that fall below UAL benchmarked thresholds for student satisfaction, attainment and continuation.
An example benchmark is the awarding gap, which is the difference in the number of white students being awarded a First or 2:1 in their degree in comparison to students of other ethnicities. Research shows that the awarding gap is not attributable to individual students, their language abilities, prior qualifications or cultural backgrounds. Instead, research repeatedly cites a range of institutional factors, such as institutional cultures, curriculum and assessment practice, as the cause of disparity of outcomes for students of different ethnicities.
Our approach
Our cycle of activity involves the following stages:
- Evidence - review NSS and Attainment data
- Dialogue - strategic discussion with teams to identify priorities
- Collaboration - plan and co-design workshops, events and training
- Action - signpost staff development, joining up with UAL attainment network, completing actions
- Reflection – review actions at Programme Committees and Continuous Monitoring meetings
Our story so far
The Academic Enhancement Model was established in January 2018, developing a package of approaches to support course teams’ enhancement work.
Since then, the AEM and Attainment team have worked in partnership with over 420 members of staff and 74 course teams across the University. Collectively this represents 12,107 students, or 82% of the undergraduate population.
In 2020 the team were delighted to receive a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE), a prestigious national award from Advance HE.
Creative Shift
Creative Shift joined Academic Enhancement in February 2022. The programme works on improving and shaping diversity and equity in the creative industries. The team aim to empower UAL students who are least represented in the creative sector.
Contact us
Please contact individual Colleges for details of their local attainment staff.
Jheni Arboine
Liz Bunting
Catherine Caldwell
Vikki Hill
Educational Developer: Attainment (Identity and Cultural Experience, and interim AEM College Lead LCC)
Carole Morrison
Amita Nijhawan
Betty Pondikakis
Gemma Riggs
Digital Resource Developer g.riggs@arts.ac.uk
Siobhan Clay
Keep up to date
Follow the Exchange Blog for more about attainment at UAL.
Visit the College specific blogs for local advice about teaching online:
Related content
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Image courtesy of UAL
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Karel Doing working in the studio. Postgraduate research, Wimbledon College of Arts. Photo: Alys Tomlinson.
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Braille tube map by Ziyue Wang, MA Textile Design, Chelsea College of Arts. Photo: David Poultney
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Student experimenting with technology hardware, Creative Computing Institute. Photo: Alys Tomlinson