“Programme Leaders Conference”

The Future of Student Representation…

(and what you think of it)

Lisa Burton, Graham Atkinson, Steven Meyer

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference

Session Objectives?

•Identify current methods of gathering ‘the student voice’

•Discuss current practice and what the Students’ Union could do to be more effective at representing students

•Discuss what the University could do to be more effective at gathering and reacting to student feedback

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference

Programme Surveys

Module Surveys

National Student Survey

Course Reps

School Reps

PGR Reps

PGT Reps (hopefully)

QAA – Student Written Submission

Sabbatical Officers

(GOALs and committees)

the student voice www.mynsu.co.uk

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference

In Groups:•Do you think that the current methods of gathering student feedback are

effective? Why?•Do you think that current methods of responding to feedback are effective?

Why?•What could the Students’ Union do to more effectively support student

representatives?•What could the Students’ Union do to engage more with the University on

issues of representation and ‘student voice’?

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference

What are we doing to improve?

•Introducing Course Reps onto MyNorthumbria in 2009/2010

•Launching an online training module for Course Reps

•Conducting qualitative research into the Course Rep experience

•Introducing a mechanism to benchmark the impact of Course Reps

•Introducing regularly updated School Rep reports on www.mynsu.co.uk

•To introduce a system that enables the Students’ Union to track issues from the point they are raised through to their resolution

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference

What did you / your colleagues say in the PL Survey 2008?

Positive Trends:1.Programmes are overwhelmingly successful at recruiting Course Reps2.Programme and subject leaders are confident in their understanding of the Course Rep role3.Course Reps are involved in a wide variety of activities4.Programme and subject leaders pursue a variety of strategies to promote the role5.There is confidence in the current Course Rep system across the University: only two participants disagreed that it plays an overall positive role in quality assurance. 

Some Ambivalence:1.There is little consensus on how the accountability of Course Reps to their peers as their representatives can be monitored and structured in practice2.Students are not perceived as having a strong understanding of the Course Rep role at the point of recruitment3.Managing Course Rep performance is a challenge, though Course Reps are perceived as having relatively developed meeting skills such as diplomacy and assertiveness

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference

Quiz Time

5 things that you can do:1. A timely, annual democratic election process will ensure that all students have equal

opportunity to represent their peers. This also encourages interest in the role and leads to a Rep who is recognised by, and more likely to be engaged with their peers

2. Trained Reps are more effective, so you should insist that they attend one of the designated training sessions, hosted by the Students’ Union.

3. Meet the Rep before they attend their first meeting to help familiarise them with the school’s structure and meetings that they will be invited to attend. A Rep who feels welcome, and whose input is valued will be more likely to contribute to the meeting.

4. Arrange an informal meeting once a term with your Reps to get to know them.

5. When a Rep raises an issue always acknowledge it and provide feedback

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference

Session Objectives?

•Identify current methods of gathering ‘the student voice’

•Discuss current practice and what the Students’ Union could do to be more effective at representing students

•Discuss what the University could do to be more effective at gathering and reacting to student feedback

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference

Thank You…Any Questions?

Programme & Subject Leaders Conference