Following a landmark six-month evaluation of the Student Experience at Essex, this one-day conference will share honest insights from University of Essex students and staff on what student life at Essex is really like where its great, where it could be better and how it can continue to evolve under new University leadership. LIFE AT ESSEX: A STUDENT EXPERIENCE CONFERENCE MONDAY 23RD JUNE | 9AM - 3PM COLCHESTER CAMPUS (VENUE TBC) Lunch and refreshments will be included The Student Experience Strategy Project... From six months of in-depth student experience mapping to the development of a clearer, evidence-based understanding of the current student journey at Essex, this work marks a significant step forward. Initiated as a joint project between the University and the Students Union, it was born out of a recognition as part of the Academic Calendar redesign that improving the academic life of students must go hand in hand with enhancing the overall student experience. This prompted a collaborative effort to understand how we can deliver a high-quality, well-rounded experience that integrates both academic and non-academic dimensions.Led jointly by the Students Union and the University, the project has engaged voices from across academic departments, professional services, and our diverse student community to capture what students really experience both the highlights and the pain points.As we reach a critical moment of institutional change with the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor, the close of the current strategic planning period, and the redesign of the Academic Calendar we now have an opportunity to use this insight to set a refreshed, future-facing direction for the Essex student experience.This session will also explore the case for change: why a more unified and intentional strategy is needed to bridge the gap between academic and non-academic elements of student life, and how this work will help define a clearer value proposition for students, from application to alumni.Youll hear how this project is already informing the development of a more joined-up institutional approach and how we can work together to embed a more consistent, meaningful, and transformational student experience at Essex. We can't wait to see you there! Joe Holmes, SU VP Education Lily-May Cameron, SU President Steve Haugh, SU Director of Marketing, Engagement & Strategy Professor Larra Anderson, Pro Vice-Chancellor Education Barry Pryer, Dean of Postgraduate Education Sarah Tattersall, Assistant Registrar