Student Fair

Main idea

The Student Fair is a low-threshold place where first years can find all sorts of information that might be applicable/interesting to them (e.g., Who are the student representatives? Which student associations are there? How can I find a student job that fits my study programme?)

Outline

Student representatives had a lot of issues recruiting new students and reaching their constituencies during covid. To solve this issue, staff at Artevelde University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) wanted to organise a low-threshold way to connect first year students with student representatives to facilitate recruitment.

Student representatives came up with the idea to organise a fair where student representatives from each study programme could have a booth, which they dress up themselves.

This plan was carried out and the Student Fair has been organised in co-creation with students a couple of times. Each year there were more booths (e.g., booths from student associations) with posters, leaflets, little activities, music, games in which students can win gadgets, etc.

Nowadays, the goal of the Student Fair is to create a space where first years can find all sorts of information that might be applicable/interesting to them.

This year, the plan is to include more participants. There will be booths from student representatives, student associations, student support offices, companies (e.g., an employment agency for students), etc. To keep everything well organized, five themes were drawn up:

• Support and guidance
• Students for students
• Become an entrepreneur
• Sustainability
• Global citizenship/internationalization

Additionally, there will be a wall filled with job-applications to find students that can help with info days, to give feedback, to become a student ambassador…

Length, timing

The Student Fair takes place on two days during week two/three between 11 am and 2 pm, because this seemed to be the time where most students pass by and have some time to check out the booths.

Goals

The initial goal was to organise a low-threshold way to connect first year students with student representatives to facilitate recruitment, but this has evolved. Nowadays, the goal is to create a space where first years can find all sorts of information that might be applicable/interesting to them.

Students involvement

Student representatives were involved in the design of this initiative and were involved throughout the delivery and organisation. For the latest editions, student representatives have been less involved in the design.

Success criteria

• The Student Fair is organized in a hall a lot of students pass through.
• The Student Fair takes place at a moment when students are free to check out the booths.
• Some of the participants are very enthusiastic, play music at their booth, etc. This creates a fun atmosphere.
• By shifting the focus and allowing more booths, the first-year students can find way more information.
• The Student Fair offers student representatives the chance to showcase their work and enthusiasm.
• Student representatives can recruit new students to join the student council.

Points of attention

• Some student representatives can’t attend the student fair due to their timetables.
• Not all study programmes have a student council and student representatives. In this case, staff operates the booth for this study programme.
• The Student Fair takes place during a busy period, so sometimes there’s not enough time to go over everything thoroughly.
• It would be nice to organize it at every campus.
• It would be beneficial to look at the Student Fair through a UD lens and make it more accessible where needed.

Do you feel you can effectively provide the support that students require?

We do agree.

Would you recommend this to other institutions?

agree

Evaluation

This initiative is evaluated with student representatives. The Student Fair visitors are offered a short questionnaire during class to evaluate this initiative.

Results

• There can be some jealousy about some booths being more resourceful or creative than others.
• The timing wasn’t ideal.
• It takes a lot of energy for students, which can sometimes lead to frustrations (e.g., someone not showing up to man the booth).

Adaptations

• The Student Fair used to take up the entire day, but the timing was adjusted so that it’s there when most students pass by and have some time to check out the booths.
• The main purpose of this initiative has changed throughout the years. Initially, the Student Fair was organized to connect first year students with student representatives to facilitate the recruitment of student representatives. Nowadays, the goal is to create a space where first years can find all sorts of information that might be applicable/interesting to them.
• The shifted focus also meant that the number of booths at the Student Fair increased. Student representatives are less involved now as they were before.

Communication

The initiative is mentioned:

• on little ‘flags’ hanging from ceilings,
• on posters,
• on screens across campuses,
• on the online platform for first years,
• in newsletters.

Timing

The Student Fair takes place on two days during week two/three between 11 am and 2 pm, because this seemed to be the time where most students pass by and have some time to check out the booths.

Resources

• Small gadgets for students to win at booths
• The materials to set up booths (tables, boards, screens, speakers…)
• Promo material for the initiative and for specific stands
• Staff members to organise the fair, to develop a communication strategy and to man booths themselves

Extra information

• Student Fair presentation in Dutch (vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation)

Transferability

We think it is easily transferable to other contexts or groups.

Universal design

The initiative was not based on the principles of UD, but accessibility was a factor in designing posters (e.g., in two languages, minimalistic design). Accessibility will be more important for the next editions, because there will be more booths, which means more stimuli.

Context

This initiative takes place in the context of AUAS’s extended onboarding concept at the department of Business and Management.