An open forum: redesigning the MEIS from the students’ perspective
by Viola Scotton and Christian Stroia*
Quality Assurance from the bottom up: a student-driven project to enhance the educational experience of MEIS students (Master’s in European and International Studies) at the School of International Studies at the University of Trento.
As part of the European funded project SPEAQ, (Sharing Practice in Enhancing and Assuring Quality) a group of students from the Advanced English Workshop of the MEIS worked on a project involving fellow students, teaching staff, administrators and technicians. Supervisors of the project were Kate Riley and Lesley A. Orme, of the School of International Studies of the University of Trento. The project aimed to identify and implement actions for the enhancement of the whole learning experience of present and future MEIS students.
On 14th May, the outcomes of the project were presented to students and staff of the School as an open forum. The idea for the project sprang from the students’ desire to see greater visibility and a stronger identity for the SIS at the local, national and international level. From this starting point, the students decided to focus on the issues which emerged from a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) and from the voices of both newly-enrolled and international students. The difficulty of navigating on the website, the need to highlight the strengths of the School and particularly the MEIS, and the creation of an effective and active alumni network were identified, within the scope of this project, as being realistic and achievable objectives.
The website is the principle means of communication and interaction the SIS has with the world, so restyling the website was considered a priority. The project created a demo website which was user-friendly, streamlined, provided essential information and took into account the various users: national and international students, future employers and the general public. The demo website provides relevant and easily understandable information about the MEIS, the University and life in Trento, an page, student testimonials and a greatly appreciated promotional video introducing the Master’s Degree.
Strengthening and fostering communication channels between both the SIS and students and among students themselves was another main objective. To this end, an official MEIS Facebook page and an Alumni group were set up. The former would enhance the exchange of information regarding School life and activities, the latter would work as a place for networking and creating professional connections promoting internships, job opportunities and events.
The impact of the project has reached far beyond the SIS. Indeed, many of the proposals have since been adopted and elaborated not only by the SIS but by the University of Trento itself. In particular, the Communication Office has provided technical support to edit the video, which, along with many of the other initiatives, will soon become live on the School’s website.
The open forum not only offered participants the opportunity to comment and offer suggestions on further enhancing the MEIS and on which path it is it taking its students. The vision of the School is expanding and the student contribution to its greater development in the upcoming years is fundamental. Quality Assurance initiatives which engage the whole academic community in not merely identifying problems but proposing and implementing achievable actions are the way forward.
*Viola Scotton and Christian Stroia are both senior year students of the Master’s in European and International Studies of the School of International Studies of the University of Trento.