Author
Liz Austen
Senior Lecturer
Liz Austen is Associate Dean Teaching and Learning (Social Sciences and Arts) at Sheffield Hallam University. Previously the Head of Evaluation and Research (Student Experience, Teaching and Learning) and a Lecturer in Criminology, her role continues to focus on improving student experiences and outcomes. Liz is a Professor of Higher Education Evaluation and also leads the Evaluation Collective, a UK higher education sector network of evaluation advocates.
12 pieces
Newest first, since February 2018
· Comment
What works for supporting student access and success when there’s no money?
Rebecca Hodgson and Liz Austen revisit the evidence base on impactful practices for student success in light of the financial challenges facing higher education
With Rebecca Hodgson
· Comment
A challenge for senior leaders to act on evaluation evidence for improving student outcomes
Evaluation really does show what works when it comes to students’ outcomes, but that doesn’t mean that’s what happens. Liz Austen and Stella Jones-Devitt call on policymakers to take the pledge
With Stella Jones-Devitt
· Comment
Evaluation should be an empowering tool for social justice
OfS has revised its approach to getting in and getting on. Liz Austen explains the response from a group working to enhance higher education student outcomes
· Comment
Solving gaps in evaluation needs wicked solutions
There’s pressure on universities over gaps in evaluation when supporting students to get in and get on. Liz Austen on what might be done to close them
· Comment
Working together on access and participation evaluation
Liz Austen introduces a new collaborative effort to shape, promote and drive effective evaluation of access and participation work
· Comment
Higher education research: belonging, history, and practice
Camille Kandiko Howson, Peter Scott, and Liz Austen pick out key questions in higher education research
With Camille Kandiko Howson and Peter Scott
· Analysis
Fixing the leaky pipeline of impact evidence in access and participation work
Liz Austen and Rebecca Hodgson explain how universities can demonstrate impact when helping students to “get in” and “get on”
With Rebecca Hodgson
· Comment
Students are surviving not thriving through financial hardship
When students face hardship, careful concern for impact might prevent money getting to students in need in time. Liz Austen, Alan Donnelly and Matt Parkin explain.
With Alan Donnelly and Matt Parkin
· Analysis
How to evaluate changes to teaching and learning in an age of Covid-19
Liz Austen considers how best to ensure that changes to teaching and learning in an age of Covid-19 are effectively evaluated.
· Comment
As well as objects, students should be users of data too
Students are often the objects of data, but what if they were users of it too? Liz Austen, Stella Jones-Devitt and William Hasty on a new guide via QAA Scotland
With Stella Jones-Devitt and William Hasty
· Analysis
Once upon a time: hearing student stories
The dominance of metrics in higher education policy is undoubtable – but what do we miss? Liz Austen from Sheffield Hallam on hearing student stories
· Analysis
‘It ain’t what we do, it’s the way that we do it’ – researching student voices
Taking the “student voice” into account isn’t as simple as running a survey. Liz Austen identifies seven directions for institutional research, and notes that the ethics and reliability of what is captured need better sa