Speakers
Presentation
This session explores the evolution of the Student Success Centre at Ulster University and demonstrates how scalable provision is reshaping student academic skill development, with a clear focus on creating a proactive rather than reactive response to student need. The Centre now offers a comprehensive hub encompassing academic writing, maths and digital skills resources, alongside enhanced induction and transition models designed to strengthen student belonging from first engagement.
A key feature of the Centre’s development has been its strong collaboration and integration with faculty colleagues, supported by the creation of a Student Success Community of Practice and sustained engagement with the Student Panel. These structures ensure that student support is embedded, anticipatory and aligned to academic need, strengthening confidence, connection and community across the student experience.
The presentation will share key impact data, student outcomes and insights illustrating how a whole-institution approach can drive meaningful, measurable improvements in student success.
Lorraine Lavery-Bowen leads the Student Success Centre at Ulster University. Over the past two years, she’s taken the Centre from an idea to a fully working model across the university’s campuses, building the vision, systems and support needed to help thousands of students every year. Under her guidance, the Centre has rolled out fresh approaches to student transition, induction and belonging, boosted academic and maths skills support, and strengthened the university’s focus on inclusion, early engagement and retention.
With more than 20 years’ experience in higher education, Lorraine has held senior roles focused on widening access and breaking down barriers for diverse groups of learners. She set up the Ulster University Schools Discovery Academy, an inclusive online outreach programme for schools across Northern Ireland, and developed Community Scholarships to open up opportunities for more students.
Lorraine has played a big part in shaping policy, strategy and practice across the sector. She’s passionate about inclusive education, collaboration and responding with care to student needs. Her work has been recognised with several awards for improving the student experience, including the Distinguished Collaborative Education Excellence Fellowship.
She’s also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a former Board Governor of the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, and holds the title of Civic Ambassador at Ulster University in recognition of her contribution to the wider community.