Co-Creating an Extended Induction at Nottingham Business School and Insights from EFYE 2025

Abstract

This vignette offers a personal perspective on enhancing the first-year experience at Nottingham Business School (NBS), shaped by three key experiences:

• My personal university experience and the value of having a community.

• Co-developing and evaluating a Co-Created, extended induction programme at NBS.
• Attending EFYE 2025 as a first-time attendee and reflecting on my role as a placement student supporting the student experience.

The co-created induction was inspired by the belief that “induction is a process, not an event.” Traditional models often failed to reflect the diverse realities of our students. Grounded in the view that students should be active participants (Bovill and Felten, 2016), NBS launched a series of “Course Lectures” in September 2024. These were co-designed and delivered by Mentors and Assistant Course Leaders, covering topics such as digital skills, academic integrity in the AI era, and preparing for first assessments. This student-led framework has fostered a sense of belonging, wellness, and academic confidence (Keene et al., 2025).

Student satisfaction is seen as a short-term attitude shaped by educational experiences (Elliott and Healy, 2001). Insights from EFYE 2025 highlighted that enhancing motivation and learning strategies early on significantly supports student success (Heeran, 2025).

As a placement student, I’ve experienced both sides of the transition. The early weeks are crucial for building social cohesion (Forrester and Parkinson, 2004). Witnessing students form friendships and grow professionally through co-creation has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my role.

Attending EFYE in Leuven reinforced the value of roles like mine in supporting first-year success. It has inspired me to reflect on how we can further develop this role to enhance its impact at NBS and continue improving the first-year experience.