Keynote: Developing a sense of belonging and mattering for commuter students

Abstract

Around half of all students in the UK are commuter students – students who continue to live at home whilst studying, rather than relocating to attend university – than traditional residential students. At the University of Worcester, the majority of your students are commuters.

This matters, for our students, for our universities and for the sector as a whole.

At the moment, our pedagogy, policy and processes are largely shaped around residential students, which has a negative effect on commuter students.

In this presentation, we will summarise recent developments in research and policy, before presenting new findings from primary research, including quantitative analysis of a national HESA dataset and qualitative analysis of focus groups with students. We will focus on the positive steps that educators and institutions can take, to meet the needs of their commuters. We will suggest evidence-based practical adaptations to pedagogy, policies and processes, which will enhance higher education for all.

The presentation will conclude that it is essential, for students, higher education institutions and the future viability of our sector, that we increase awareness of commuter students – who they are and what they need – and that we reshape higher education provision for this growing cohort. Our students will benefit from a better experience and outcomes. Our institutions will benefit from higher retention, league table position and therefore recruitment. And the sector as a whole will benefit from greater financial stability and clear evidence to government that we are meeting their priorities and truly expanding access and improving outcomes for non-traditional students.

Biography

Dr Susan Kenyon is a Principal Lecturer in Politics at Canterbury Christ Church University and winner of the 2025 Vicky Randall Prize for her outstanding contribution to advancing teaching and learning in political studies, awarded by the UK Political Studies Association.

Dr Kenyon has dedicated her career to advancing social inclusion, working initially as an academic researcher, moving into industry and politics at the Department for Transport and Transport for London. Dr Kenyon returned to higher education in 2015, as a Director of Learning and Teaching, working across the institution to influence individuals’ pedagogy and university policies and practices, before returning to teaching, to focus on empowering her students with the knowledge, skills and understanding to make the change that they wish to see. Dr Kenyon has changed pedagogy, policy and practice in her own institution and across the sector, through impactful research and engaging dissemination and continues to advance inclusion in the transport industry, as a consultant on transport and social inclusion, to multiple government bodies.