A view through the looking glass: co-creation and innovation for student voice and wellbeing in distance education

This paper showcases innovative co-creation practice undertaken by a Student Voice and Wellbeing Group (SVWG) created in the School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport, Open University (OU). Ways of doing, seeing, being and believing student voice are discussed alongside the inception of the SVWG, sharing the whys and how's of its strategic approach and the depth and breadth of its student members′ participation. Underpinning this work is the concept that student voice and wellbeing are inextricably connected and are everyone's responsibility (Mander, 2021). The impactful student-staff partnership established through this model illustrates an authentic and dialogic practice that centres students as the drivers, rather than the passengers, for enacting change. As an artefact of innovative practice, the authors showcase a newly published bilingual digital student wellbeing handbook. This example is of interest to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) seeking innovative models for promoting marginalised voices through co-production. The authors′ reflections and recommendations invite policymakers to re-evaluate existing student voice and wellbeing strategies and practices.

本文展示了由开放大学教育、儿童、青年与体育学院创建的学生心声与幸福小组（SVWG）所开展的创新型共同创造实践。在介绍SVWG成立情况的同时，还讨论了对待学生心声的行为方式、观察视角、存在形式和秉持信念，分享了其战略方法的原因和方式，以及学生成员参与的深度和广度。支撑这项工作的理念是，学生心声与幸福有着千丝万缕的联系，是每个人的责任（曼德，2021年）。通过这种模式建立的有影响力的师生合作关系体现了一种真实的对话式实践，这种实践将学生视为推动变革的主导者，而非被动参与者。作为创新实践的成果，作者展示了一本新出版的双语数字学生幸福手册。对于寻求通过共同制作来促进边缘化声音的高等教育机构（HEIs）来说，这个例子很有意义。作者的反思和建议邀请政策制定者重新评估现有的学生心声与幸福战略及实践。