On the 21st of October 2022 SKVC organised the 5th Student Forum for Student Union Representatives from all over Lithuania interested in quality of studies. The theme of this year's Forum was "Meeting External Evaluation Experts with Students: why engage?" The event was attended by 24 student representatives from 9 different higher education institutions' Student Representations (5 universities and 4 colleges).
Presentations were given by Gustas Straukas, Senior Specialist at the SKVC, Student Assessment Unit, Paulius Vaitiekus, Vice President of the Lithuanian Students' Union (LSS), and Arnoldas Solovjovas, a student expert.
In the event it was presented the importance of students' participation in meetings with external evaluation experts from the perspectives of the SKVC, the LSS and the student expert. It was stressed that the meetings of experts with students are very important in order to help the experts to perceive the activities of the higher education institution and the quality of studies as objectively as possible and from different perspectives.
Dialogue between experts and students is encouraged
During the Forum, it was stressed that the external evaluation experts' meetings with students provide a platform for dialogue, enabling students to express institutional/ managerial and/or study-related concerns in a substantiated manner. P. Vaitiekus, representative of the LSS, noted that these meetings are also an opportunity for students to share their thoughts on how they project their vision for the future of higher education institutions.
The student expert A. Solovjovas stressed that before the meetings with the experts, students should define exactly what they would like to achieve during the institutional or study field evaluation of the HEI. According to the speaker, this will help students to present a reasoned and clear position and to present their perception of the current situation.
What is the issue of participation and how to solve it?
Student representatives pointed out that the problem of poor participation of students in meetings with experts could be due to several reasons. Firstly, students who have no complaints or who do not perceive major problems do not see the point in attending such meetings. Secondly, students may be subject to an often misplaced fear of expressing their views. A. Solovjovas assured that during these meetings experts try to create an atmosphere of mutual trust. Thirdly, students often do not have enough time to meet with experts, even if the meeting does not overlap with the lecture/seminar schedule. Lack of confidence in their English language skills can also be an issue.
During the Forum, it was stressed that a smooth cooperation between all stakeholders is essential to increase student participation in meetings with experts. It was also underlined that it is essential that student representatives spread a clear communication message to members of their communities about the importance of involvement in evaluations. Strong and continuous communication between the SKVC and the student representatives is also important. Participants also shared ideas on how to improve the evaluation process in order to strengthen the voice of students.
