FASSTEST

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FASSTEST brings together colleagues from across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, providing a mechanism for professional development through practice-based scholarship within a mentored community.

Much of our work is organised on a project basis with project management aimed at the delivery of new educational outcomes and scholarship outcomes. FASSTEST supports a rolling portfolio of approximately 40 active scholarship projects under a number of themes which include:

  • Online and blended tuition
  • Assessment
  • Employability/careers
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Multisensory/multimodal learning

If you are interested in learning more about a particular project or connecting with a project team, please contact us at FASS-Scholarship@open.ac.uk. 

Projects

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11 results found

Understanding African Postgraduate Student Experience

Project leader(s):  Cristina Santos Kevin Deane Frangton Chiyemura Maureen Mackintosh

The higher education sector has recognised and aims to address recruitment, retention, and award gaps of BAME students.

The Role of Peer-to-Peer Mentoring in a Distance Learning University: An Evaluation of a Three-Year Pilot in the Arts and Social Sciences

Project leader(s):  Joanna Robson Tina Forbes Sue Watkins

Following two successful small-scale pilots in 2015 and 2017 the current project evaluates the upscaled peer-to-peer mentoring scheme rolled out in the Open University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in 2020 - 2023.

Proscribed Fictions: The Place of Colonial and/or Racist Literature in Curricular Decolonisation

Project leader(s):  Alex Tickell Michael O'Flynn Angela Eyre

This project responds to a practical problem faced by members of the module production team on the new English MA (A893).

Decolonising Religious Studies and Promoting Student Retention

Project leader(s):  Suzanne Newcombe Paul-François Tremlett John Maiden Hugh Beattie

Phase 1 has been completed, and an application for Phase 2 of this project has been approved in principle and is being refined in light of feedback received from the FASSTEST Coordination Group and EDI team. Details will be available soon. 

Improving the Retention and Progression of Students on the Arts and Humanities Access Module at the Open University

Project leader(s):  Hannah Lavery Steve Padley Anactoria Clarke

This project aims to improve the retention and progression of students on our Arts and Humanities Access module by trialling additional support and advice initiatives.

Understanding How Social Anxiety Affects Participation in Online Tutorials

Project leader(s):  Janet Hunter

Anyone who has taught via online platforms will be aware that some students find it hard to engage with this medium of learning. Many students sign up to such sessions but do not join on the day, whilst others do not sign up at all.

University Connectedness, Relational Depth, Wellbeing, Anxiety, and Academic Achievement in FASS Students

Project leader(s):  Gina Di Malta Naomi Moller Katy Smith

The rising numbers of university students reporting mental health difficulties – and how best to respond to this need - is a known concern in the sector.

Supporting Learners with Mental Health Difficulties

Project leader(s):  Anastasia Economou

This project aspires to provide helpful insights into how tutors can best teach and support students with mental health difficulties in a distance learning context. 

Understanding Student Learning of Emotive and Sensitive Content

Project leader(s):  Julia Downes Ruth Wall Anne Alvaer

This ongoing project investigates how diverse distance students learn about sensitive and emotive topics in an undergraduate introductory criminology module.

How can Tutors Deliver Effective Teaching and Support to Creative Writing Students with Mental Health Difficulties

Project leader(s):  Joanne Reardon Melissa Bailey Natalie Lewis

This project arose from anecdotal evidence obtained from tutors indicating that mental health is a key factor behind students struggling to achieve their potential.