Background and Legacy of Student as Producer

Student as Producer (SaP) was a teaching and learning strategy developed by Professor Mike Neary in 2010. The model aims to bridge the gap between teaching and research by engaging students as active participants in their education, rather than passive consumers.

Original Key Principles of SaP:

Student Voice: Empowering students to contribute to their learning environment.
Discovery: Encouraging exploration and research.
Technology in Teaching: Integrating digital tools to enhance learning.
Space and Spatiality: Utilising physical and virtual spaces effectively.
Assessment: Developing meaningful evaluation methods.
Research and Evaluation: Supporting research-based teaching.
Creating the Future: Preparing students for future challenges.

“A fundamental principle of curriculum design whereby students learn primarily by engagement in real research projects, or projects which replicate the process of research in their discipline. Engagement is created through active collaboration amongst and between students and academics” (Neary et al 2014:9)

Why SaP was embedded at University of Lincoln

The University adopted SaP as its core teaching and learning principle in 2010, recognising the value of partnerships between students and staff. This model has fostered multi-disciplinary collaboration and has been integral to the University of Lincoln’s strategy for enhancing teaching and learning quality. It has also promoted student engagement by making them active participants in their educational journey. The model focused on the inherent value of what learning means and saw the institution as having a central role to play against the rise of commodification of higher education. In sum, the model recognised the valued place of students as equal partners, citizens, and collaborators.