Jisc Change Agents' Network Conference 2024

In the myriad transitions students go through when starting University, navigating an email inbox is often understandably low on students' priority list. With learners subsequently missing out on important information and valuable opportunities, this issue is the genesis of a diverse web of ‘student engagement’ concerns recognised by staff. In our partnership project, a project team of undergraduate ‘Student Champions’ and academics designed a research strategy, analysed data, and co-created a suite of resources to combat this issue.  

The Student Champions recruited students across five academic schools within Cardiff University, analysing all emails arriving in their Outlook inbox within a 4-8 week period. To gain an insight into students’ experience, received emails were evaluated according to multiple parameters including: sender category; Focused or Other inbox; in-hours or out-of-hours; formatting and accessibility; perceived importance; required action. In addition, focus groups led by the Champions explored ideas around inclusivity, accessibility, and perceptions around email communication among undergraduates. 

In response to these data, we co-created a five-minute “Unboxing Your Inbox” video to embed within Cardiff University’s induction programme. Alongside this video – designed in a ‘for students by students’ style – we co-created a supplementary microlearning resource to provide further detail and recommendations. 19 of Cardiff’s 24 Academic Schools plus three Professional Services departments utilised the resources in their induction programme, with an estimated reach of over 4000 undergraduate students. 

By enhancing students’ engagement with emails while at University, we hoped to improve employability skills, prepare students for the working world, and enhance accessibility to the plethora of opportunities available to those enrolled in university. But more potently, this project showcases a striking example of effective student-staff partnership in action, with a ‘small but significant’ exploratory piece of student engagement research blossoming into an institution-wide, collaborative initiative with students at its heart.