Conference Day Two: Wednesday, 27th March 2019
8:45 am - 9:15 am Conference Registration and Welcome Coffee
9:15 am - 9:20 am Opening Remarks by IQPC and Conference Chair, Mick Serena
9:20 am - 10:00 am Case Study: Massachusetts Institute of Technology: The Future of Graduate Student Housing
In August 2017 MIT’s Graduate Student Housing Working Group was charged with assessing how their student accommodation needs have changed since the completion of their 2014 report. Based on this, the group was asked to explore options for matching graduate student housing demand by bringing new units online and employing student feedback to create new housing policies and processes.
Tasha Coppett, Assistant Director of Off-Campus and Graduate Housing, will present a study on the work she has done in bringing these residential strategies to fruition and in driving future success
- Identifying opportunities to increase student satisfaction within graduate housing facilities and processes
- Exploring ways to maximise student occupancy
- Engaging student feedback through the research and implementation process of pilot programs
Tasha N. Coppett
Assistant Director of Off-Campus and Graduate HousingMassachusetts Institute of Technology
10:00 am - 10:40 am Singapore Management University: Boosting the Student Experience and Creating a Diverse Ecosystem
In October 2018, SMU officially launched their new student accommodation, the SMU Prinsep Street Residences (PSR). Situated in the city centre, the 5,000 sqm living facility has housed 255 students since its launch in October, undergoing $10 million in refurbishment. It is here the university worked to restore their first generation of public housing flats, with state of the art cooling systems for students and a 50 per cent reduction in energy costs.
Hear from Paulin Straughan how they attract students to live on campus, and ways Australian universities can work to create sustainable living for future students.
- Ways the university worked with stakeholders, including banks, to sponsor students and boost attendance
- Implementing new technology to improve the student experience prior to check-in
- Having a strong ‘student and people policy’ at the core of every design method, experience and interaction
10:40 am - 11:10 am MORNING TEA AND NETWORKING BREAK
11:10 am - 11:50 am Panel Discussion: A Cost-Benefit Analysis on Student Accommodation: The Question of Quality, Cost and Convenience
Modular construction has become a well-known choice for university campuses worldwide. With modular buildings constructed off-site, they see 60-90% of construction complete within a factory. This mitigates weather delays, clean-up time and construction set-up. Because of this, most schools of thought find it convenient for companies needing to build large structures in a time sensitive environment.
Listen to this expert panel as they discuss their experiences with modular and prefabricated structures, with a cost-benefit analysis on ways your business can save time and money through this construction process.
Panelists:
11:50 am - 12:30 pm Case Study: University of Western Australia’s Newest Developments: Attracting Students and Academics Worldwide
Within Australia, one for the major states seeing a refurbishment of student accommodation is the central district of Perth. With a $70 million development approved, and 700 new beds to open by 2019, the state is seeing vast improvement in the development of student housing.
David O’Brien, from the University of Western Australia, will discuss the work the university is doing in this space to create attractive, affordable and cost-effective student housing structures for their increased supply of students. He will do so by referencing their new Forrest Hall residence, designed to attract post-doctoral students and academics to Western Australia for short-term stays.
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm NETWORKING LUNCH
1:30 pm - 2:10 pm Case Study: The Strategic Objectives of ANU: Staying Competitive Throughout Advancements in Innovation
ANU has been focused on recreating their accommodation facilities, focusing on developing more holistic solutions for students in order to meet demand and strategic objectives. Developing a new Strategic Master Plan for 2021, they continue to implement initiatives such as their green group, which includes a rooftop garden and environmentally sustainable solutions for students residing on-campus.
- Embedding a more strategic mantra into your student accommodation spaces through proactivity
- Meeting demand and strategic objectives through a proactive approach
- Creating a coherent living space outside the classroom and implementing this within accommodation life
2:10 pm - 2:50 pm Innovating Student Residencies and Development: Integrating this to Your Campus Masterplan
Tim Crawshaw, Practice Director at BVN, will present a case study on the work him and his team performed at ANU’s Union Court campus. Using prefab timber structures, they worked to ensure the recently rebuilt student accommodation met the speed, cost and quality requirements that were necessary in making the redevelopment a success.
Hear how using innovative and modern construction tools can help your student residency become a leader in this space, incorporating these expectations into your campus masterplan for future business planning.
- Using innovative approaches to meet the design requirements of on and off-campus accommodation
- The process behind creating a new ground plan to revitalize your residency
- Having cost-effective approaches without diminishing design quality
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm AFTERNOON TEA AND NETWORKING BREAK
3:20 pm - 4:00 pm Resident Mental Health Management, Implications for Student Housing Operators
3 in 4 young Australians develop mental health conditions throughout university. As such, providing support services for students is important for student accommodation providers, with the general structure and appearance of the housing also an important aspect. This includes open spaces, installing high and large windows, as well as social and inclusive design structures, which will allow student to socialise through collaboration and social spaces.
- Installing open communal areas for students to allow for social inclusion
- Maintaining support services for undergraduate students first time out of home
- Developing internal layouts that are open plan, allowing for more collaboration and communal space
4:00 pm - 4:40 pm The Student Housing Company: Understanding the Global Design Principles for Student Accommodation Residencies
As a Purpose-Built Student Accommodation provider, Tim Glass, Operations Manager at The Student Housing Company, will discuss the work his team are doing to build relevant student accommodation housing in Australia. Having opened their most recent student accommodation in July 2018, and another 4 properties planned for 2020, Tim will discuss the design challenges and ways they have adapted to the Australian student housing market.
- Global design principles: Working with various stakeholders to improve your student accommodation structure
- Implementing a business plan to overcome market challenges
- Developing new, long-term strategies and programs within your PBSA to meet demand and student needs
4:40 pm - 5:20 pm Closing Keynote: Engaging Students as Partners in Student Accommodation in Australia
Within Australia, on-campus student accommodation often enhances the student experience, promoting a sustainable lifestyle and maximising the beneficial impact of higher education experiences. From the perspective of students as partners, there is an opportunity for accommodation service providers to establish a new student accommodation partnership relationship.
It is here Jorge Contreras Garcia will speak on ways students are no longer 'customers' purchasing accommodation services, but business partners.
- Incorporating student experiences and opinions into your strategic accommodation objectives
- Determining new ways to survey and research student experiences, ensuring accurate and thought-provoking dialogue
- Understanding that behind each business decision within student accommodation, the student experiences are at the core
