Dr Ramin Nassehi has authored a feature article for Times Higher Education exploring how short-form, TikTok-style videos can help build a stronger sense of community in large university programmes.
Click here to read the full article.
Drawing on his experience of creating Inside UCL Economics, a series of videos co-created with students in the Department of Economics, Dr Nassehi argues that authentic, student-led content can make departments feel more personal, encourage participation and foster a greater sense of belonging. The article also offers practical advice for colleagues interested in using low-cost, collaborative video production to strengthen student engagement at scale.
Each three- to four-minute video focuses on topics such as student society activities, departmental life, research highlights, alumni achievements and career opportunities... I want these videos to do more than communicate information efficiently; I want them to make the department feel human.
Inside UCL Economics full playlist.
The first six episodes received more than 1,000 views on YouTube, while the four most recent episodes attracted more than 12,000 views on Instagram. The feature highlights how involving students as collaborators not only produces more engaging content but also encourages participation, ownership and community.
Universities often think of communication as a way to transmit information. But in large cohorts, it also plays a central role in shaping belonging. Short-form video is not a universal solution, nor should higher education simply imitate social media. But it does highlight something important: students engage more when they can see themselves and others like them within the academic environment.
Dr Nassehi has led several student engagement initiatives including “You Said, We Did”: Student Partnership Committee in Economics” which was awarded a Faculty Education Award earlier this year.