Student Experience Framework

At UTS, your success is at the heart of everything we do. Our Student Experience Framework helps us maintain and improve the many engaging experiences available to you within and beyond the classroom.

UTS’s Student Experience Framework presents a holistic view of student experience over 4 key domains:  

  • Academic engagement (connection to learning, curriculum and future careers).

  • Belonging (connection to people, course and institution).

  • Partnerships (relationships of respect, collaboration and mutual engagement).

  • Wellbeing (overall satisfaction with life).

The framework lays the foundation for you to achieve academic and personal goals through your university study: your success is at its centre.

A diagram of UTS's Student Experience Framework

Explore the 4 domains of experience  

Academic engagement

Connection to learning, curriculum and future careers.

Your connection to learning, the curriculum and future careers is at the heart of student experience. 

This domain relates to any activity, interaction or program that enables an engaging curriculum which: 

  • fosters curiosity, provides appropriate level of challenge and stimulates learning

  • delivers student-centred, personalised, technology-enabled learning that is appropriate for the subject and course

  • is flexible and allows students to make choices about their learning

  • includes authentic, verifiable assessment and prioritises high quality feedback

  • is designed for accessibility, inclusion and belonging

  • provides learning experiences that foster a respect and appreciation for diversity, particularly of the knowledges, perspectives and history Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

  • has multiple opportunities for career and future focused skill development.​

Belonging

Connection to people, course and institution.

Your connection to people, your chosen course and the institution matters because it impacts on persistence and self-efficacy.   

 This domain relates to any activity, interaction or program that demonstrates to students that their learning and success matters to our community, where: 

  • a safe and inclusive environment is provided  

  • students’ university experience is personalised, communicating care and concern  

  • meaningful and positive encounters with and within UTS are fostered from first interaction and nurtured through the student journey  

  • students’ expectations for their UTS experience are established when first connecting with UTS and these align with or are exceeded by their actual experience  

  • access and opportunity to improve educational outcomes for groups currently under-represented in university learning is increased. Students feel confident that they are welcome and will be supported  

  • opportunities for peer-to-peer interactions and student leadership are plentiful  

  • enriching extra-curricular, outreach and opportunities to diversify career pathways are available.  

Partnerships

Relationships of respect, collaboration and mutual engagement.

Partnerships include those with other students, staff and industry, and are the accelerator to enabling student success.  

This domain helps to put the student voice and the centre of decision-making, and activities and interactions in the domain has many benefits, including: 

  • increased student engagement and motivation

  • improved learning outcomes

  • authentic learning contexts

  • increased diversity and inclusivity

  • student voice in decision-making

  • employment opportunities within UTS for students

  • greater accountability for all

  • visibility with employers

  • opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation

  • preparing students for the future

  • improved institutional effectiveness.

Wellbeing

Overall satisfaction with life.

Wellbeing is a broad concept that encompasses mental health, physical health, social relationships, psychological and cultural safety, financial stability, sense of purpose and overall satisfaction with life. It has a direct impact on your ability to study and learn.

This domain relates to any activity, interaction or program that:  

  • provides access to services

  • normalises help seeking behaviour

  • fosters environments of mutual respect and inclusion

  • supports staff wellbeing.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.