Students as Partners in Peer Review of Teaching: A Collaborative Model Involving the Students’ Union

Authors

  • Emma Hollenberg University of Manchester Students' Union
  • Mario Pezzino University of Manchester

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66561/sehej.v7i3.1442

Keywords:

Peer reviews of teaching, Students as Partners (SaP), Teaching Practice, Higher Education, Student Voice, Students' Union

Abstract

In this paper we highlight the benefits of engaging with internal (academic reviewers and student reviewers) and external (Students’ Union) stakeholders in the implementation of a voluntary system of reviews of teaching in Higher Education. In particular, we describe our experience in introducing such a model in a research-intensive institution in the UK and reflect on the conditions and challenges for such a scheme to bring positive change in terms of teaching practices, academic culture and student experience.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ackerman, D., Gross, B. L., & Vigneron, F. (2009). Peer Observation Reports and Student Evaluations of Teaching: Who Are the Experts? Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 55(1). https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v55i1.55272

Anderson, A., Austin, D., Walton, C., Wood, A., Houlihan, A., Hard, E., & Bailey, K. (2023). Planning for co-curricular design-student voice, power dynamics and threshold learning: A thematic analysis of the student perspective. International Journal for Students As Partners, 7(1), 18–38. https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v7i1.4937

Bell, M. (2001). Supported reflective practice: a programme of peer observation and feedback for academic teaching development. International Journal for Academic Development, 6:1, 29-39. https://doi.org/10.1080/13601440110033643

Bernstein, D.J., Jonson, J., & Smith, K. (2000). An Examination of the Implementation of Peer Review of Teaching. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2000: 73-86. https://doi.org/10.1002/tl.8306

Bovill, C., Cook-Sather, A., Felten, P. (2016). Addressing potential challenges in co-creating learning and teaching: overcoming resistance, navigating institutional norms and ensuring inclusivity in student–staff partnerships. Higher Education, 71, 195–208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-015-9896-4

Cook-Sather, A. (2011). Layered learning: student consultants deepening classroom and life lessons. Educational Action Research, 19:1, 41-57, https://doi.org/10.1080/09650792.2011.547680

Cook-Sather, A. (2014). Student-faculty partnership in explorations of pedagogical practice: a threshold concept in academic development. International Journal for Academic Development, 19:3, 186-198, https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2013.805694

Cook-Sather, A. (2016). Undergraduate students as partners in new faculty orientation and academic development. International Journal for Academic Development, 21(2), 151–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2016.1156543

Cook-Sather, A. (2023). Three models for embracing student expertise in the development of pedagogical partnership programs. International Journal for Students As Partners, 7(2), 181–191. https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v7i2.5416

Cook-Sather, A., (2024). Rethinking time in preparing for and reflecting on teaching: Pedagogical partnership with student consultants as empowering educational development. To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development, 43(1): 10. https://doi.org/10.3998/tia.4793

Dall'Alba, G. (2018). Reframing expertise and its development: A lifeworld perspective. In K. Ericsson, R. Hoffman, A. Kozbelt, & A. Williams (Eds.). The Cambridge handbook of expertise and expert performance (pp. 33–39). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Douglas, A., & Douglas, J. (2006). Campus spies? Using mystery students to evaluate university performance. Educational Research, 48:1, 111-119, https://doi.org/10.1080/00131880500498560

Drake, D. (2024). Students as partners for effective change: Bring students into the center of decision making. International Journal for Students As Partners, 8(1), 45–50. https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v8i1.5552

Gosling, D. (2002). Models of peer-observation of teaching. Learning and Teaching Support Network, Generic Centre. Available online at: www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources.

Gosling, D. (2014). Collaborative Peer-Supported Review of Teaching. In: Sachs, J., Parsell, M. (eds) Peer Review of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. Professional Learning and Development in Schools and Higher Education, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7639-5_2

Hammersley‐Fletcher, L., & Orsmond, P. (2004). Evaluating our peers: is peer observation a meaningful process? Studies in Higher Education, 29:4, 489-503. https://doi.org/10.1080/0307507042000236380

Hammersley‐Fletcher, L., & Orsmond, P. (2005). Reflecting on reflective practices within peer observation. Studies in Higher Education, 30:2, 213-224. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070500043358

Healey, M., Flint, A., & Harrington, K. (2014). Students as partners in learning and teaching in higher education. Higher Education Academy.

Kolb, A., & Kolb, D. (2018). Eight Important Things to Know About the Experiential Learning Cycle, Australian Educational Leader, 40 (3):8-14.

Korpan, C., & Murray, D. (2025). Expanding peer observation of teaching and learning through cross-institutional collaboration. International Journal for Academic Development, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2025.2526554

Land, R. (2011). There could be trouble ahead: Using threshold concepts as a tool of analysis. International Journal for Academic Development, 16, 175–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2011.568747

Land, R., Cousin, G., Meyer, J. H. F., & Davies, P. (2005). Threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge (3): Implications for course design and evaluation. In C. Rust (Ed.), Improving student learning: Diversity and inclusivity (pp. 53–64). Oxford: Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development.

Lipmanowicz, H., Singhal, A., McCandless, K., & Wang, H. (2015). Liberating structures: Engaging everyone to build a good life together. In H. Wang (Ed.), Communication and "the good life" (International Communication Association Theme Book Series, Vol. 2, pp. 233-246). New York: Peter Lang.

McAnally, S., Buczynski, J., & Kavanagh, L. (2024). Student Led Observations for Course Improvement (SLOCI): Closing the loop in course enhancement, International Journal for Students as Partners, 8 (2). https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v8i2.5578

McMahon, T., Barrett, T., & O'Neill, G. (2007). Using observation of teaching to improve quality: finding your way through the muddle of competing conceptions, confusion of practice and mutually exclusive intentions. Teaching in Higher Education, 12:4, 499-511, https://doi.org/10.1080/13562510701415607

Mercer-Mapstone, L., Dvorakova, S. L., Matthews, K. E., Abbot, S., Cheng, B., Felten, P., … Swaim, K. (2017). A Systematic Literature Review of Students as Partners in Higher Education. International Journal for Students as Partners, 1(1), 15–37. https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v1i1.3119

O’Keeffe, M., Crehan, M., Munro, M., Logan, A., Farrell, A. M., Clarke, E., Flood, M., Ward, M., Andreeva, T., Van Egeraat, C., Heaney, F., Curran, D., & Clinton, E. (2021). Exploring the role of peer observation of teaching in facilitating cross-institutional professional conversations about teaching and learning. International Journal for Academic Development, 26(3), 266–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2021.1954524

O’Leary, M. (2022). Rethinking teachers’ professional learning through unseen observation. Professional Development in Education, 50(6), 1162–1175. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2022.2125551

O’Leary, M., & Cui, V. (2018). Reconceptualising Teaching and learning in higher education: challenging neoliberal narratives of teaching excellence through collaborative observation. Teaching in Higher Education, 25(2), 141–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2018.1543262

O’Leary, M., & Savage, S. (2019). Breathing new life into the observation of teaching and learning in higher education: moving from the performative to the informative. Professional Development in Education, 46(1), 145–159. https://doi-org.manchester.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/19415257.2019.1633386

Owen, J., & Wasiuk, C. (2021). An agile approach to co-creation of the curriculum. International Journal for Students as Partners, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v5i2.4475

Quenette,A., & Rybas, N. (2023). Evaluating instructor quality: Moving away from student evaluations to peer review. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1002/tl.20535

Smith, H. (2012). The unintended consequences of grading teaching. Teaching in Higher Education, 17:6, 747-754, https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2012.744437

Stigler, J.W., & Miller, K.F. Expertise and Expert Performance in Teaching. In: Ericsson KA, Hoffman RR, Kozbelt A, Williams AM, (eds.) The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology. Cambridge University Press; 2018:431-452.

Woolmer, C., & Tran, L. (2024). Exploring the importance of backstage conversations in student-faculty partnerships. International Journal for Students As Partners, 8(1), 277–283. https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v8i1.5522

Zeng, L.M. (2020), Peer review of teaching in higher education: A systematic review of its impact on the professional development of university teachers from the teaching expertise perspective. Educational Research Review, 31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2020.100333.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-24

How to Cite

Hollenberg, E., & Pezzino, M. (2026). Students as Partners in Peer Review of Teaching: A Collaborative Model Involving the Students’ Union. Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 7(3), 115–136. https://doi.org/10.66561/sehej.v7i3.1442