We Said … We Did!: A Partnership Approach to Developing Library and Student Support Services

Abstract

This article discusses the UK higher education environment and how increasing student expectations have led to students engaging with their academic institutions as partners. The differences between consumerist and partnership models of engagement are discussed and the article includes a UK-based case study which illustrates how effective student partnership relationships and practices can be beneficial for the development and continual improvement of academic library and student support services. The case study provides practical examples of effective partnership initiatives which can be applied to a wider group of university professional services areas.

KEYWORDS:

• academic libraries
• development
• partnership
• service improvement
• students
• support
• super-convergence

Acknowledgments

© Leo Appleton and Paul Abernethy

Notes

1. LibQUAL http://www.libqual.org/home

2. Managing Successful Programmes http://www.msp-officialsite.com/

3. The Liverpool Student Union Chief Executive is responsible for overall strategic direction and long term financial sustainability of the union.

4. The Liverpool Student Union University Experience Manager is responsible for co-ordinating quality and student engagement initiatives on all aspects of university experience of students including teaching, learning, assessment, and research).

5. Liverpool Student Union Student Voice Co-ordinators are responsible for the course representative system and ensure that each course has a student representative able to contribute to relevant teaching, learning, assessment planning, and development activities where appropriate.