Development and delivery of a multidisciplinary student-led research journal at the University of Bristol

The Bristol Institute for Learning and Teaching (BILT) champions student co-production and collaboration at the University of Bristol. Current students at the University are employed to work collaboratively with staff across priority areas and annually-set themes. The theme of “students as researchers” is of particular importance to the University as it is a research-intensive institution that prioritises a research-rich curriculum. This paper presents the BILT Student Research Journal project that relates to this theme. The journal launched in 2019, inviting all undergraduate students to join the editorial board or to submit papers to the final published journal. In 2020, postgraduate students were added to the invitation. BILT Student Fellows act as Editors-in-Chief with a member of BILT academic staff providing additional support. Throughout the life of the journal, students retain autonomy over editorial decisions within subject areas and all participants learn more about the publication process and develop a range of transferable skills from the experience. This model of student-led student-managed multidisciplinary academic work fosters improved appreciation for the research work undertaken by students and an improved relationship with the University. The processes of how the journal is managed, the benefits to students and the benefits to the institution are provided to facilitate the adoption of the model in other Universities.