The University of Sheffield Students’ Union (SU), one of the UK’s top student unions, is launching a new strategic direction which seeks to place the concept of ‘Belonging’ at the heart of the student experience. This is through the use of digital technology.
Digital wayfinding is an indoor navigation solution. It uses interactive signage, digital displays and mobile screens to guide users through malls, airports, hospitals, campuses, etc. This system employs dynamic maps and directional information that adapt to real-time conditions.
SUSU has implemented an in-building digital mapping solution that is now live and shaping how students interact with their physical and social environment.
With over 31,000 members and a complex, six-story building that houses everything from a cinema and nightclubs to student services and community spaces, the SU has been seeking a way to make its spaces easier to navigate, particularly for students who are new to the university, or who face mobility or language-related barriers.
Explaining the digital initiative, Richard Copley, the project lead at The University of Sheffield Students’ Union, says in a statement sent to Digital Journal: “A lot of our work is about making students feel like this is their space. We’ve built a Students’ Union that’s busy and vibrant, but also a bit of a maze, so we wanted to make it more accessible, more discoverable, and more welcoming to everyone.”
Digital wayfinding
Part of this effort involved the integration of MazeMap, a digital indoor mapping system that is now fully operational within the Union. Students can use the tool to find step-free routes, navigate between venues and services, and access information in multiple languages, especially important for Sheffield’s international student population, which includes over 10,000 students from around the world.
In terms of improved output, testing the platform has uncovered that the most direct route between two of the SU’s busiest venues involved stairs, with no alternative internal path. This prompted an internal review and laid the groundwork for discussions about improving physical accessibility in future building works.
“MazeMap helped us see the building through students’ eyes,” adds Copley. “It’s already making our spaces more usable, and in some cases, revealing barriers we hadn’t noticed.”
Induction programmes
Futureplans are in motion to incorporate digital orientation into induction programmes, allowing incoming students to explore the Union virtually, find key services, and build a sense of familiarity in the weeks between receiving their placement and moving to Sheffield.
This is particularly meaningful in the UK’s university system, where students typically receive their final confirmation in mid-August but don’t begin university until late September.
Accessibility as strategy
The integration of MazeMap is also a response to years of student feedback about the difficulty of moving through the building, especially for those with physical accessibility needs.
By mapping the Union in detail and validating pathing, SUSU now has a clearer understanding of where improvements are needed, and is using that insight to guide operational and structural changes.
