THE GATEWAY TO STUDENT LIFE EXPERIENCE A PRODUCT-SERVICE DESIGN APPROACH
Year: 2021
Editor: Grierson, Hilary; Bohemia, Erik; Buck, Lyndon
Author: Vanderlooven, Ellen (1); Dewit, Ivo (1); Vaes, Kristof (1); Keignaert, Koenraad (2)
Series: E&PDE
Institution: 1: University of Antwerp, Faculty of Design Sciences, Department of Product Development; 2: University of Antwerp, Department of Social, Cultural and Student affairs (DSCS)
Section: Addressing Ethical and Social Issues in Design Education
DOI number: 10.35199/EPDE.2021.94
ISBN: 978-1-912254-14-9
Abstract
When thinking of attending a university or college, a whole new experience comes to mind. Finding lodging, eating at the student restaurant, getting support during times where it gets difficult, going out and so much more are all comprised in a term that we call ‘the student life experience’. This experience starts the moment you apply for a university and holds just as much value to your studies, as the actual studies themselves. At the University of Antwerp, you have auxiliary services that provide the necessary means for students and their experience in and out of the lecture hall. This wide range of services is essential to the quality of the university. Optimizing these services, makes a university stand out among the others. This paper focuses on understanding the balance between services and the students. Not only is it important to understand that balance, but also to optimize the perception and interaction regarding STIP, the Student Information Point that acts like a gateway to these services. This paper proposes a product-service design approach rooted in broad student involvement and open communication for essential optimization of the auxiliary services and its gateway within the University of Antwerp.
Keywords: Higher Education, Collaborative design, Product-Service Systems (PSS), Student Life Experience, Service design