This #Take5 blog is brought to you from Julie Nolan, Student Engagement Manager | Student Communications Project Manager. Julie is reflecting on work she has undertaken to align sustainability with student engagement activities within Library and Learning Services at Edge Hill University. How can we inform students of our presence and entice them in, in ways that are not wasteful and pointless?
Keywords / Tags: Sustainability | Student Engagement | Induction | Transition
Plastic Fantastic
Library and Learning Services (LS) at Edge Hill University (EHU) have historically purchased promotional merchandise to give away to students during welcome events, tours, open days and other celebratory activities on campus. Over the years this has included branded stationery, pen drives, pens, pencils, post-it-notes, lanyards, bookmarks and even fluffy-goggle-eyed things you could stick on your desk (no, we aren’t quite sure either!). All these items were predominantly single use, and often made from plastic or other non-recyclable materials.
Image 1: Student with branded bag – April 2016 Image 2: Branded mug – September 2015 Image 3: Branded stationery and bag – February 2019
Pause and Progress
From early 2020 global events meant we were unable to participate in any on campus activities and so began exploring digital alternatives to encourage engagement during this period. With our shift to a digital first approach in every other area of our student support we took the opportunity to pause purchasing any new merchandise.
The ‘pandemic years’ were instrumental in allowing us time and space to reflect on how we approached our student engagement and communications. For a substantial period it was not feasible to print and distribute printed marketing materials, as we had before, and we had to maximise our alternative (digital) routes to reach students. In response our LS social channels became a central welcoming space and online community for students. Not wanting to lose any of the progress and success we achieved during this period we adapted our transition back to a ‘new normal’ by maintaining our best practices, embracing the sustainability benefits that inevitably came with a digital first approach.
To continue reading this post please go to: https://aldinhe.ac.uk/take5-88-sustainable-student-engagement-get-in-the-compost-bin/
Take 5 