At University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), like many of our partners, support was being delivered effectively, but there was a lack of shared language and standardisation when describing student need, both internally and in collaboration with external services.
There was a sense that this was long overdue… something we really needed.”
The university was keen to explore approaches that could strengthen consistency, improve communication, and better reflect the realities of student support across the institution.
UWTSD became involved in SevRes during its early expansion beyond South East Wales. Following initial discussions with the project team, the university chose to adopt the model to see how it could enhance their learner experience and the work of their team.
At the time, the proposed model included closer integration with health services, similar to approaches being piloted elsewhere in Wales. This presented an opportunity to strengthen links between university support services and the NHS, while also improving internal understanding of student need.
We were asked if we wanted to opt in… and we adopted it quite early, all on a voluntary basis.”
The decision to get involved was driven by a clear recognition that a more coordinated, standardised approach to understanding student wellbeing would benefit both staff and students.
SevRes was introduced as part of a broader effort to create a shared framework for understanding and communicating student need. Early implementation involved collaboration with the project team, including discussions and mapping exercises to explore how the model could be adapted within the university context.
A key focus was establishing a shared language that could be used consistently across services, helping staff to better articulate levels of need and support requirements.
This approach also supported clearer communication beyond the institution, particularly when engaging with external partners such as health services and professional networks.
The team noted that they started to consider...
…why are we all doing something different… and how unhelpful that is.”
By embedding a more standardised framework, the university was able to move towards a more aligned and transparent approach to student support.
Since adopting SevRes, UWTSD has seen several important benefits:
- Greater consistency in how student need is understood and communicated
- A shared language that supports collaboration across teams and organisations
- Improved ability to articulate the complexity of student support
- Stronger engagement with external networks and sector-wide conversations
There’s an interest in the shared language, the shared understanding…”
This highlights the broader relevance of SevRes in supporting alignment not just within higher education, but across the wider education and mental health landscape.
