Dr Yixuan Zou and Dr Ling Ma
Co-creation in education embodies a collaborative approach where students actively contribute alongside faculty to develop learning materials and tools. Motivated by this concept, this project initiated a student-staff co-created LaTeX final year thesis template for transnational education (TNE) programmes.
The initiative emerged from the need to support a diverse student body tackling complex mathematical and technical projects, resulting in a new LaTeX template that is designed to be user-friendly for beginners and adaptable for advanced users, ensuring that all students could efficiently manage their thesis work. This new template offers an alternative to the traditional Word template and effectively addressing the unique academic requirements of the students.
In this project, the co-creation structure was defined by the active roles played by both students and staff. A student with a strong background in LaTeX initiated the project and served as the main developer of the LaTeX codes. Staff members provided technical and policy support, as well as pedagogical feedback, ensuring that the template met both the aesthetic and functional requirements of the TNE joint degree. An introductory workshop on LaTeX was hosted by Dr Yixuan Zou to provide TNE students with the basic skills and practical experience required in LaTeX.
The co-creation approach not only provided technical solutions but also fostered a sense of community and ownership among the students. The project exemplifies an inclusive educational collaboration that enhances the learning experience by integrating student inputs in the creation of academic tools, thereby leading to more effective and equitable learning outcomes.
The contribution of the student co-creator, Yuekai Zhang, was recognised by the SEED award from Queen Mary Academy. His pivotal role in developing the LaTeX template, including his expertise in LaTeX coding and dedication to meeting the diverse needs of his peers, significantly contributed to the project's success, highlighting the impact and importance of student involvement in co-creation initiatives.
Reflecting on his experience, Zhang stated, “I firmly believe that the work we are engaged in will significantly benefit the TNE students. This experience not only gave me a sense of fulfilment, but also deepened my sense of belonging to both TNE and QMUL student community.”
This project has been published as a co-creation case study on Queen Mary Academy’s website: