Hartpury University’s innovative HEART (Hartpury Engagement, Achievement, Retention, and Transition) Project was ‘highly commended’ at the recent HESPA (Higher Education Strategic Planners Association) Conference in the Data Story Award category.
Hartpury University’s Head of Student Experience Matt Cole, who has spearheaded the project, was on hand to collect the certificate during the conference held on Thursday 27 February.
The HEART Project, a collaborative initiative, connects the student experience, student data, and academic tutors with the shared goal of supporting students in their academic journey. By leveraging existing learning analytics, the project identified behavioural trends and established robust risk factors. This data-driven approach enabled the creation of automated reports to flag ‘retention risk’ students to academic personal tutors, who could then provide timely and appropriate support to help students re-engage with their studies.
The impact of the project has been significant, resulting in improved student engagement, retention, and achievement. Hartpury University has seen fewer students withdrawing from their studies and a higher overall credit attainment rate.
Rosie Scott-Ward, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Hartpury University said: “We’re incredibly proud of this achievement and extend our heartfelt congratulations to Matt, Jeni Thomas (Head of HE Information Systems) and the entire team involved in the HEART Project. Their hard work and dedication have made a tangible difference in the lives of our students, and this award is a testament to their success.”
A spokesperson for HESPA added: “The HESPA Awards are an annual highlight for the association, giving us a chance to focus on some of the fantastic strategic planning teams, and projects that contribute so significantly to the success of our universities, year-round. We are incredibly grateful to all involved in the awards, both those who submitted a nomination (an incredible 46 of you) and those who judged them. The quality and range of award submissions was impressive, as always.”
