The benefits and challenges of inclusive student-staff partnerships via an Inclusive Reciprocal Insight Scheme (IRIS)
Keywords:
Staff-student partnership, Lived Experience, Institutional Culture, Professional Networks, Co-creation, Experiential LearningAbstract
Northumbria University’s Inclusive Reciprocal Insight Scheme (IRIS) aims to form meaningful student-staff partnerships to allow for knowledge exchange between the matched Student Inclusion Consultant (SIC) and the senior, often non-student facing, university staff member. The opportunity to influence decision makers enables transformational conversations which can lead to the removal of barriers to access, participation and success in Higher Education. SICs offer a wide range of lived experience from being part of underrepresented groups, and the scheme allows them to build their networks through an element of experiential learning, applying and developing their employability skills in a professional context. Surveys and participant feedback evidence the success of IRIS, which is well regarded within the institution as being a valuable and flexible opportunity to improve professional practice, as well as offering the chance to help shape the institutional culture.
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