What Were the Process and Response of University Staff and Students to the Availability of a Shared Reading Scheme for Those Embarking on a University Education?: A case study

Abstract

This paper reports and reflects on the processes and outcomes of a shared reading programme targeted at new students embarking on a university qualification at Kingston University. It isolates the various stages involved, from selecting a book for sharing, to the despatch of a bespoke edition to new students and wider distribution within the institution. It then explores and assesses the effects the scheme had on the community, by role and department, through both informal measures of impact and post-delivery surveying of those involved. Recommendations are offered for further development of the project.

How can shared reading be used to develop community connectivity in the contemporary church?

“…The arrival of a free book, bearing the university's logo and with a welcome letter from the author, reflecting on how they felt to be starting in higher education, has been shown to reduce anxiety, increase a sense of belonging and promote personal confidence. This has been recorded, analysed and reported in a series of academic papers (Baverstock and Steinitz, 2016, 2017a, 2017b, 2019Baverstock and Somerville, 2018).…”