Certificate in University Social Responsibility Auditing Erasmus Project

Project Title

Certificate in University Social Responsibility Auditing

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition (non-formal and informal learning/credits); New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

The European Students Sustainability Auditing (ESSA) project is a response to the developing commitment of higher education institutions and the growing interest of students in University Social Responsibility (USR). Recent trends in the conceptualisation of USR have generated a diversification and fragmentation of aims, objectives and practices. The Benchmark Standards for USR were developed through an earlier project as a response to this fragmentation of the field and as a guide to interventions in policy and practices. The Benchmark Standards identify USR as comprising actions under the four key themes of:
– Research, Teaching, Support for learning and Public engagement
– Governance
– Environmental and societal sustainability
– Fair practices

The ESSA project empowers students as auditors of social responsibility using the Benchmark Standards. During the Erasmus+ funded period, participating students experienced a learner-centred training programme USR auditing followed by completing cross-national student audit of a European higher education institution. Participating students received an EQF Level 6 Certificate in Social Responsibility Auditing following satisfactory completion of the training programme, the audit and the Certificate requirements through a portfolio based assessment of learning.

The objectives of the ESSA project have been to: Create an innovative approach to the recognition and validation of knowledge, skills (including soft skills) and competences; Produce a significant Open Educational Resource (OER) for a ECTS 5 Credit Certificate in Social Responsibility Auditing (EQF Level 6); Contribute to the wider process of developing alternative models of curriculum development.

The project consortium consisted of 8 partners from higher education institutions and students’ unions, each bringing unique expertise and perspectives to the partnership:
National Union of Students of the United Kingdom (project coordinator)
The National Unions of Students in Europe
University of Porto
University of Edinburgh
Kaunas University of Technology
Edinburgh University Students’ Association
Kaunas University of Technology Students’ Union
Student Association from the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Porto

Project activities leading to the development of the OERs and the Certificate in Social Responsibility Auditing include:
Facilitator training programme (FTP) – The FTP is designed to prepare participants for the development and delivery of the ATP with students at their institution. The training was delivered in early 2017 with 20 participants from 5 partner organisations. The pedagogical strategies focused on during the training mirror those adopted in the ATP, and include promoting group work, debate, problem resolution and individual reflection. The key output from this activity is the facilitator training manual which has been re-formulated as a self-directed course which can be adopted and replicated beyond the Erasmus+ funding.

Auditor training programme (ATP) – During the Erasmus+ funding period, 73 students completed the ATP, with 60 going on to complete an audit of a university partner against the Benchmark Standards for USR. The development of the training was led by Kaunas University of Technology. The programme was delivered in blended mode ahead of each of the four audits. The training is designed as a series of units, which can be delivered according to a flexible timetable, covering the following aspects: Introduction to the project; Audits and auditing; Benchmarking criteria; Methods in auditing and audits; Audit simulation; Reporting. The resources produced as part of the OERs include a manual to support facilitators in delivering the training, alongside student-facing training resources.

Audits – Key milestones for the project were the design and delivery of four audits of HEIs across Europe. Each HEI project partner has been audited by a team of students, as well as King’s College London who acted as a test for the model in a non-partner organisation. University staff arranged an intensive audit week with 60 students participating from the 3 partner universities. The audit week comprised of interviews, focus groups and documentary analysis followed by a presentation to key university stakeholders. After the audit, auditors produce a report detailing findings and recommendations for the university. A suite of resources are available for student auditors and university hosts to support delivery of an audit.

Assessment – The assessment process is tightly integrated into the student learning journey, and covers the auditor training and audits. It is based on an reflective experiential learning approach, with assessment realised as a structured e-portfolio. The e-portfolio has been designed to support students surface, validate and justify their claims for learning and competence.

All resources are available for use by universities across the EHEA.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 259712 Eur

Project Coordinator

NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS (UNITED KINGDOM) & Country: UK

Project Partners

• ESIB – THE NATIONAL UNIONS OF STUDENTS IN EUROPE
• Edinburgh University Students’ Association.
• Kaunas University of Technology Students Union
• KAUNO TECHNOLOGIJOS UNIVERSITETAS
• AEFPCEUP
• UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
• THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH