Student Experience Team
What we do
The Student Experience Team is responsible for a range of support initiatives and activities designed to support student retention and enhance the wider student experience. The team’s work includes one to one student support, organising and delivering workshops and activities, communications using a range of media, staff guidance and the creation of resources. Our areas of responsibility include the following.
- Student induction and transition including providing the framework, infrastructure, key resources and guidance for academic teams to deliver effective new student induction programmes in their subjects. Also, pre-entry initiatives such as messages to offer holders, the Get Ready for Success at HWU programme for new students from Widening Participation backgrounds and the Kick-Start your Success at HWU programme for new January start taught postgraduates.
- Personal tutor guidance, including maintaining web and SharePoint hosted resources and guides, and training both in person and online.
- Supporting student retention by helping students overcome obstacles to study and alternatives to leaving the University early. This includes targeted pro-active support for students at risk of leaving the University early and the Thinking of leaving service for student to contact directly and offers them an opportunity to discuss obstacles to continuing and alternatives to leaving.
- Supporting students from Widening Participation groups from the offer holder stage to graduation. This includes events and activities, one to one advice and targeted messages ensuring students are up to date with relevant information. We provide dedicated support for students who are care experienced, estranged, carers, and asylum seekers and refugees.
Meet the Team
Keith MacAskill, Student Experience Manager
My role: I manage the Student Experience Team and set the framework and objectives for all areas of our activity. This involves developing University policies and processes around supporting student retention and dedicated support for students from Widening Participation backgrounds. I am responsible for the development of our institutional approach for new student induction and liaise with key staff globally across the university on induction practice, resources and infrastructure. I develop training and guidance materials and resources for personal tutors.
About me: I started in this role in 2013 and have a background in student support services management in Scottish and English higher education, developing and professionalising student advice and guidance provision, managing academic programmes, curriculum development and as a college lecturer. My academic background is in social sciences and social policy.
Emma Smail, Student Wellbeing and Transition Advisor
My role: I am the dedicated point of contact for students who are care experienced, estranged and/or student carers, providing a wide range of support to students at every stage of their student journey from pre-entry until graduation. I am also a proud member of the Steering Group for the Hub for Success which supports students with care experience to get in, stay in and return to education. I am a member of the HWU Coaching Lab and run the Student Coaching Service.
Anna Skatun, Student Wellbeing and Transition Advisor
My role: I support students at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Campus. I provide advice and guidance on a whole range of matters surrounding their wellbeing and their wider student experience. I will work closely with a lot of our students from Widening Participation backgrounds including students who have caring responsibilities, care experience, or are estranged. I am also the named contact for our students who are asylum seekers, refugees, or similar, and I work closely to support students who are new and/or expectant parents. I also support the Thinking of Leaving service.
About me: I started this role in early 2024. My background is in Higher Education Teaching (social sciences) as well as youth programme management, advice and guidance. I have been a student in Scotland as well as in the Netherlands where I obtained my MSc. I understand the student experience in Scotland but also the ups and downs of being an international student. I enjoy meeting students from all backgrounds and walks of life and supporting them on their student journey.
Student Success Advisors
The Student Success Advisors are part of the Student Experience Team. They are all recent Heriot-Watt graduates and provide support, organise activities and provide key messages to students based on their student experience. Meet the Student Success Advisors.
Data and Privacy
To help any student contacting the Student Experience Team, we will record your student details, the information you tell us and the advice we give. This is to ensure continuity in the support we are able to offer and to internally monitor the service we provide.
With your agreement, we will share information with other University staff - if required - to ensure you receive appropriate support. However, we reserve the right, in accordance with the University's duty of care to our students, to share information about you without your prior agreement if we believe you to be a risk of harm to yourself or others.
Aggregated or individual data may be used for statistical or analytical purposes, including in written reports used by the University, but any data used in this way will be anonymised and no individuals will be identified.
By using our services you are consenting to the above.
Visit our Privacy and your data rights pages for further information about how the University uses data about students.