Exploring how an early cohort residential field trip helps to develop a sense of belonging.

This four-year project is following a cohort of students through their University journey. These students attended a residential field trip at the beginning of their course. We’re aiming to discover how attendance on this trip impacts student experience.

This project was discussed at the 2023 BILT Conference.

As part of the trip, students team up with 'life's a beach.org' to undertake a beach clean.

One student described the event as:

“Really satisfying. I feel I’ve made a difference today”

Emerging themes from data collected so far:

• Helps to build social relationships and connections
• Removes barriers to informal networking
• Helps create a meaningful study environment
• Students feel that the School cares about them

"Wow, they actually want us to have fun. Not just turn up and we need to get a good grade and then they, you know, they want us to enjoy what we're doing”

Contact:

You can contact Emily.Bell@bristol.ac.uk for more information.