Dr J. Adam Edwards is Library Liaison Manager at Middlesex University

1. Commuter students:
Middlesex University case study
Dr J. Adam Edwards
Library Liaison Manager

2. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
How long do you commute?
Please all stand up!

3. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
In this talk…
• Middlesex context
• Our students
• Impact on continuation
• University plans
• Library plans
• Your ideas
• Mix of sources and data

4. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
Middlesex University context
• Former Polytechnic post 1992 university
• 4 campuses (Hendon, Malta, Dubai, Mauritius)
• Formerly “University of the North Circular”
• Enfield, Tottenham, Trent Park, Cat Hill, Bounds Green, Archway, etc

5. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
Our students: live at home
• 17,653 students; 13,487 UG
• 65% live at home/with parents
• UK average = 19%
• 76% new UK students commute +40mins
• 47% UK Mdx students +1hour (= 41% all Mdx students)
• London = 13.9%; National average = 5.9%; non-London = 4.5%
• High proportion of live-at-home students with
significant commutes

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Our students: multiple identities
• 33% do PT job
• 40% (1:10) do more than recommended 16hrs/week
• 31% equally student and member of community
• London students = 24%; non-London students = 22%
• Not campus students in halls

7. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
Where do our students come from?
• Long distance commuters e.g. Bedford, Luton, Croydon
• Large numbers from Enfield, Tottenham and Lea Valley
— No longer have campuses
— School teachers long memories
• High numbers from low income families

8. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
How far?
Distance by road
LU = Luton: 25 miles
SL = Slough: 22 miles
RM = Romford: 20 miles
CR = Croydon: 19 miles
EN = Enfield: 10 miles
Public transport
Luton = 55 mins
Slough = 1h 5 min
Romford = 1h 4 min
Croydon = 55 mins
Enfield = 1h 34 mins
59 mins by bicycle!
Sourced from Middlesex
University tableau data

9. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
Transport in London
• Journeys into centre easy: Tube and Rail
• Radial routes difficult (e.g. Enfield to Hendon)
— Overground/Tube indirect
• Via Zone 1 = £4.70 single
• Discounted Oyster only for weekly/monthly
— Bus = 2 hours home to Mdx
— Unreliable: no bus lanes in Barnet
• £1.50 single; Change to 2nd bus allowed
• Difficulty of journey v time
— Overcrowding; Many connections
— 33% commuters more than one mode

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Continuation effects
• Correlation drop out v journey time/difficulty
— +60min to University = 2-3 x travel costs of living >20 minutes
— High effect on disadvantaged students
— Male students more effected than female
• Mature students: longer journey; more likely to drop out
• Commuters and continuation
— -20mins = 80% continuation*
— +60mins = 71% continuation rate*
— But really long journeys OK
• Factored into choice of Mdx?
* https://www.londonhigher.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/CSIL_Continuation_Aug2019.pdf

11. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
Multiple deprivation postcodes
Open source map: index of multiple deprivation http://dclgapps.communities.gov.uk/imd/idmap.html

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Universities – things to look at
• Aware before they sign up
• An understanding culture
• University Late Policy: No longer exclude late due to transport (except
safety critical labs)
• Disruptive?
• Commuter friendly timetable (2020-21)
• Focus on minimum days in and minimum changes to classes
• Jobs and travel v “sticky” campus
• Online resources and lecture capture
• Microwave kitchen
• Students who cannot afford to eat
• Free printing and copying
• Reason to stay on campus, but at a cost…

13. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
Wider university issues
• Sleeping/resting spaces v duty of care
• Are they asleep?
• Personal safety
• Students won’t travel on non-class days
• Programme Voice Groups (pay expenses?)
• Non-embedded library or academic skills classes
• Early starts and late evenings (family/religion)
• How to market Middlesex University?
• 31% of students = Middlesex + Community
• Multiple “belongings”
• Recognize this

14. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
Library issues
• 24/7 on campus but…
• Work without travel to Hendon
• Sconul Access and Eduroam
– Missing from your Uni commuter pages?
• Look at places to study; Mapping via Uni App
– Public libraries
– Internet cafes
• Laptop loans
• Listen not read
• E-resources with read aloud
• EBSCO
• Linkedin Learning audio only

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Local transport plus:
• Sconul Access
• Local Libraries
• Linkedin Learning
• Kortext

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Reflections
• Know your students
• Are they really in halls?
• How long are they travelling?
• Effects?
• Library planning for this?
• Generic service offer v commuters, others
• Quick wins:
• Sconul
• Eduroam
• Read aloud
• All distance learners now?

17. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
Adam Edwards
a.edwards@mdx.ac.uk
http://libguides.mdx.ac.uk/transport/UK

18. © Middlesex University© Middlesex University
Sources
• Middlesex statistics
• Lewis, Simon and Shaw, Jethro, (2019) Understanding Middlesex University’s
commuter students, Hendon: Middlesex University.
• Not HESA data e.g. continuation
• National and comparative data
• Students’ Union Research Group (2018) Living and lifestyle: the student perspective,
London: trendence UK.
• Students’ Union Research Group (2018) The student lifestyle study: London vs non-
London students, London: trendence UK.
• London Higher (2019) Commuter Students in London: Results of a pilot project on
factors affecting continuation, London: London Higher.
https://www.londonhigher.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/CSIL_Continuation_Aug2019.pdf
• Thomas, Liz (2019) Commuter students in London: Pilot project Qualitative
perceptions of students about commuting and studying in London, York: Liz Thomas
Associates.
• Indices of Deprivation
• Open Street Map (2015) Indices of Deprivation,
ttp://dclgapps.communities.gov.uk/imd/iod_index.html 2019 data now available