Education

Education

The Students' Union works towards improving your academic experience in a number of ways:

  • We support, train and consult with Student Representatives on your course
  • We speak to students about their courses, assessments and feedback
  • We lobby and work with University staff members and committees
  • A student Officer represents our students and speaks on their behalf at all University academic Committees and groups
  • We run education based campaigns

The Students' Union has a full time Academic Affairs Officer who focuses on education issues within the University. Find out more about Mo Saqib, our Academic Affairs Officer, here.

If you are a University of Manchester student and have an idea about how to improve any aspect of the University academic experience then share it with us here.

 

Student Reps

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. – Anon

Student representation is about students achieving change on their course, in their Schools, in their research group and across the University. Student reps work in partnership with University staff and the Students’ Union to change students’ academic lives for the better.

On this student representation microsite you can find out more about the great things reps are doing for you. You can find out how the rep system feeds into the Students’ Union, which is the collective voice of 40,000 students. You can find out who your rep is, or who to contact to find out if we don’t know. If you’re a rep, you’ll find useful documents, links and further support to help you to do great things!

What is the student representation system?

The student representation system at Manchester is owned jointly by the University and Students’ Union. This reflects the University’s commitment to working in partnership with its students as members of an academic community, rather than merely as purchasers of degrees. Partnership means that students should be involved as equal partners in all decisions affecting their learning experience, and that they should be given equal responsibility for carrying out those decisions.

A scholar who loves comfort is not fit to be called a scholar.  – Confucius

Student reps exist at all levels of the University: every year of every degree programme should have at least one rep. Reps attend programme, discipline and School level committees to raise student issues and participate in decisions that affect students’ academic experience. They canvass students’ opinions through a variety of methods, and feed this information into their School. Student reps also attend Faculty Forums to bring broader issues to the attention of the Students’ Union, whose reps then work at a higher level to achieve changes for students.

You can find out more information about what committees reps sit on, what they do and how they all link together on this page.

What is a student representative?

Student representatives are elected to represent students on their programme of study within the University and the Students’ Union. Reps can represent their degree programme, their discipline area or their research group (for postgraduate research students).

If you want to find out more, visit this page.

Don’t be a cog in the machine: become a student rep and make a difference.

 

What are student reps?

Student representatives are:

Click below for a short introductory video about student reps.

Student reps are:

Catalysts for change

The purpose of student representation is to create positive change for students. Student reps work in partnership with University staff and as a crucial part of the Students’ Union to bring about changes at a course, discipline, School, Faculty, University and even national level (through the Students’ Union’s links with the National Union of Students).

 

University of Manchester

Active participants in the University of Manchester community

Student representation isn’t just about bringing problems to University staff for them to solve: representation should involve a dialogue between students and staff, with shared decision-making and shared responsibility for working to improve students’ lives. Students aren’t just consumers of a service, they are members of an academic community; and reps are active participants in making that community better for everyone.

Giving students a voice

Giving students a voice

Student reps sit on course, discipline and School level committees where they raise students’ issues. They canvass students’ opinions through a variety of methods, and feed this information into their School. Student reps also attend Faculty Forums to bring broader issues to the attention of the Students’ Union, whose reps then work at a higher level to achieve changes for students.

Effective representation isn’t about the number of committees you sit on: it’s about the changes you achieve for students. Committees can be a good way to bring about those changes, but it’s important to see them as part of a bigger picture.

Part of a bigger picture

Student reps are a crucial part of the Students’ Union, which is the collective voice of 40,000 students. The Students’ Union can lobby at Faculty and University level to win broader changes for students across the University – to do this, we need to know what students think. Student reps provide the link between students and their Union on academic issues by attending Faculty Forums, as well as raising any issues they need to escalate with Union faculty reps or the Academic Affairs Officer as they arise.

For more information about where reps fit in, see this page.

Want more reasons to be a rep? See this page.

Any questions or problems with this web page? Contact kate.little@manchester.ac.uk.

Why be a student rep?

To change students’ lives

Being a student rep is one of the best ways to make a difference during your time at university. It’s a great opportunity to get involved in shaping your course and improving the lives of current and future students at your University.

To gain transferable skills and become more employable

Student reps need a diverse range of skills, many of which employers value highly. The Students’ Union offers training in the basic skills you need to become a rep, as well as additional sessions to build on your basic competencies. If you are a rep and you wish to sign up for training, click here.

Examples of the skills you will be able to demonstrate as a rep include:

  • Meeting skills (possibly including chairing, minuting and drawing up agendas)
  • Communication skills (written and verbal)
  • Research and analytical skills (from surveying or talking to students, and using that information in meetings)
  • Building relationships (with students, other reps and staff)
  • Negotiation and diplomacy skills
  • Public speaking (standing for election and feeding back to coursemates)
  • Assertiveness and self-confidence

You will also have the opportunity to apply for a Student Rep Award at Bronze, Silver or Gold level to further accredit your skills development and the work you do as a rep. You can find out more about the award scheme here. You can even put yourself forward (or nominate someone else) for the prestigious Student Rep of the Year Award at the annual Students’ Union Awards.

To meet more people and build better relationships with your lecturers

As a student rep, you’ll get to talk to more people on your course and be a point of contact for them.  You’ll get to know your lecturers* and support staff better, as you’ll be in contact with them regularly as part of your role (which is handy for getting stuff done, to find things out, and even for references).

The Students’ Union also provides opportunities to meet and network with reps from other disciplines, Schools and Faculties, including access to a student rep social network. The Students’ Union offers a huge amount of extracurricular and development activities which you will be ideally placed to access as a student rep.

*Disclaimer: Being a student rep doesn't necessarily mean you'll get to meet Professor Brian Cox, but you never know...

How do I become a student rep?

Currently, each discipline runs their own election process for student reps. Elections are likely to be held in the first few weeks of term: listen out in your lectures and check any emails you get from your School. You can also ask your programme director, academic adviser, personal tutor or student support staff in your School for more information.

Please note: some Schools may already have student reps in place for this academic year, as some recruit 2nd and 3rd year reps in April. If you're not sure, ask your programme director, academic adviser or student support staff in your School.

If you don’t know who to contact, you can email the Student Union’s Academic Rep Coordinator, Kate Little, at kate.little@manchester.ac.uk, or tweet @UMSUStudentReps.

Any questions? Contact kate.little@manchester.ac.uk.

Where do reps fit in?

Student reps are at the heart of the Students' Union.

Most issues will be raised by reps at programme, discipline and School level and resolved there, but if there are broader issues these can be raised at Faculty and University level by the Students’ Union.

Student reps (also known as course reps or programme reps) are elected to represent you locally, at a programme, department or School level. They sit on University committees at this level. They also sit on Union committees to raise bigger, cross-University issues, or to escalate unresolved issues.

University Committees

Staff-Student Liaison Committee

Most Schools or discipline areas (in big Schools) have their own SSLC. It may be called a Staff-Student Consultative Committee; Taught Student Forum or Programme Committee. This meeting is normally attended by student reps from different years and programmes, and academic staff who deal with your programme or discipline area. At their most basic level, SSLCs are a forum for reps to raise issues on behalf of the students they represent, and for staff to respond and hopefully fix these issues. They are also a place for students and staff to discuss the future direction of the course, and to work together to develop courses to make them as good as possible for current and future students.

School Board/School Teaching Committee

Most Schools invite some of their reps to attend School level committees such as School Board or School Teaching Committee. These committees are the next level up from SSLCs, and normally have more staff than students present. They make decisions about all matters affecting teaching within that School, and should have provision for a report from the SSLC to outline the issues brought up by students. Reps should be involved as equals in decision-making on these committees.

Union Committees

Faculty Forums

All reps from each Faculty are expected to attend Faculty Forums, which are held once or twice a semester and are open to all students in that Faculty. Forums are a place to bring issues that are bigger than your School, or that you can't resolve at an SSLC (such as timetabling, building, library or regulations issues). They're also a place to bring any exciting ideas you may have, such as a 24-hour library campaign, a Union book fair or a University-wide policy on feedback (all of which the Union has worked on in the last 3 years).

General Meeting: Have Your Say

General Meetings allow students to set the work of the Students' Union for the next three years. Is there something you'd like to change? Do you have a bright idea that would improve your university, students' lives, the community or the world? Submit it here and it could be discussed at the General Meeting on 13th October.

Any questions? Contact kate.little@manchester.ac.uk.

Who is my rep?

If you have an issue on your course, your student rep is a good person to get in touch with. They attend meetings with staff on your behalf and give students a voice in decision-making within your School.

Student reps for 2011-12 have yet to be elected: watch out for elections in the next couple of weeks. To find out more about what reps do, click here.

This page will contain reps' contact details by School. If you are a rep, tell us about yourself here.

Any questions? Contact kate.little@manchester.ac.uk.

Student Rep Portal

This page is for current student reps to find information, documents and further support relevant to their role. If you are a student rep for 2011-12, please tell us about yourselves here!

Student Rep Portal

Why not follow UMSU Student Reps on Twitter? Or like us on Facebook? Keep up to date with relevant news and updates from the students' union easily, and share your ideas.

 

If you have trouble viewing this page, please contact kate.little@manchester.ac.uk.

Handbook 2011-12

Training

Training for 2011-12 has now finished.

Resources

Here you can find resources from training to refresh your understanding, or to print and use amongst your classmates.

 

Introductory Resources

 

Powerpoint Slides

Signposting Quiz

Student Learning Experience: Questions to Ask

Student Learning Experience: Worksheet

If you haven't attended introductory training, there will be refresher sessions in early semester 2. Training this academic year is a basic requirement for eligibility for a StAR award.

 

Public speaking Resources

Student Rep Toolkit: Addressing a group

 

Meetings Training Resources

 

Powerpoint Slides

Harry Potter Minutes Task: Agenda

Harry Potter Minutes Task: Harry Potter's Notes

Harry Potter Minutes Task: Minutes

Negotiation Task: Students

Negotiation Task: Staff

Student Rep Toolkit: Addressing a group

 

You have a great opportunity to talk to many students at once in your larger lectures or seminars.  There are a few things to remember when planning to address a room full of students, so please use this toolkit in whatever way you find it useful.

Before the session:

·         Get the permission of the lecturer or tutor to talk to the students present

·         Prepare your key message

·         Think about what will make students take action on what you talk to them about

·         Prepare any written materials or visual aides

When speaking in front of students:

·         Smile

·         Try to come across as approachable and in-the-know

·         Refer them to a website, flyer or meeting (with time and place) so that they know where to go for further information or to take the next step

·         Speak loudly and clearly, lecturers will often let you use the microphone if you need it, but an animated and clear lecture-shout might not require help

·         Use the multimedia facilities in the room that you are in.  This can include the projector (digital or old-school), or even students’ mobile phones.  You could give them a twitter hashtag, tinyurl or QR code so that they can go straight to a website from the room they are in

·         Give the students your contact details, or let them speak to you after the lecture, it will ensure that they can always find out more if they need to

·         Most importantly, give students the information they need, and a key action that they should take

After your public address

·         Feed back to the students on what action was taken

·         Let them know of any successes, or of any further action that is required

·         Keep a personal note of what action you took, and what affect it had, for your CV or personal record

·         If you need any help, do not hesitate to ask the Students’ Union, who are here to support your work as a Student Rep

·         If you feel it went well, and that you had a good impact, then do it again!  Maybe not too often, but if you are successful, and the techniques used work, then use them.  If speaking in front of a group is not for you, think of some creative ways to get a message across.  Thought about making a youtube video and playing it in front of a lecture theatre?  Thought about leaving messages on white / blackboards before a lecture starts.  There are many ways to get messages across!

Student Barometer Survey

The University is running the Student Barometer Survey for the second time this year. The data collected from the first round is already available to all Student Reps to help you make the right changes in your course and school, and this round will provide more data to use.

 There are also cash prizes that will be given to the School by the University to be spent on improving the Student Experience, and how that money is spent will be decided by the school and the students in partnership. £500 will go to the school with the best response rate and £500 for the most improved response rate, plus one £200 prize and twenty x £20 for individual students. Increasing turnout in the survey will mean more useful results, and make changing your school and course easier as you will have hard data on what students want.  You can help by encouraging students to head to MyManchester and to take part in the survey.  Tailor the points in the toolkit above to your own style, and use what you can to get students involved.  Remember that you get the data to use how you choose, and there’s lots of funding up for grabs for you and your school to improve students’ lives. 

Promoting Teaching Awards

Please help us to promote the Manchester Teaching Awards!

We are running a student-led teaching award scheme for the first time this year, and we need your help to make it a success! We want as many students as possible to have the opportunity to nominate their outstanding teachers, GTAs and support staff, and this means we need to get the word out.

As reps, you are ideally placed to promote the scheme to the students on your course. There are a variety of ways you can do this:

  • Send an email to your course - you can forward the email Kate sent you if you like, or make up your own. Just make sure it includes the weblink: http://www.tinyurl.com/manchesterteachingawards
  • Put it out on social media: if your course has a Facebook group or Twitter feed, encourage your coursemates to nominate on there
  • Template emails, Facebook and Twitter posts available here.
  • Give out flyers in your lectures or seminars - collect them from Kate in the Students' Union Activities Office
  • Do a shoutout in your lecture - check out the handy tips below to make your lecture shout memorable!

Addressing a Group

You have a great opportunity to talk to many students at once in your larger lectures or seminars.  There are a few things to remember when planning to address a room full of students, so please use this toolkit in whatever way you find it useful.

Before the session:

  • Get the permission of the lecturer or tutor to talk to the students present
  • Prepare your key message
  • Think about what will make students take action on what you talk to them about
  • Prepare any written materials or visual aides

When speaking in front of students:

  • Smile
  • Try to come across as approachable and in-the-know
  • Refer them to a website, flyer or meeting (with time and place) so that they know where to go for further information or to take the next step
  • Speak loudly and clearly, lecturers will often let you use the microphone if you need it, but an animated and clear lecture-shout might not require help
  • Use the multimedia facilities in the room that you are in.  This can include the projector (digital or old-school), or even students’ mobile phones.  You could give them a twitter hashtag, tinyurl or QR code so that they can go straight to a website from the room they are in
  • Give the students your contact details, or let them speak to you after the lecture, it will ensure that they can always find out more if they need to
  • Most importantly, give students the information they need, and a key action that they should take

After your public address

  • Feed back to the students on what action was taken
  • Let them know of any successes, or of any further action that is required
  • Keep a personal note of what action you took, and what affect it had, for your CV or personal record
  • If you need any help, do not hesitate to ask the Students’ Union, who are here to support your work as a Student Rep
  • If you feel it went well, and that you had a good impact, then do it again!  Maybe not too often, but if you are successful, and the techniques used work, then use them.  If speaking in front of a group is not for you, think of some creative ways to get a message across.  Thought about making a youtube video and playing it in front of a lecture theatre?  Thought about leaving messages on white / blackboards before a lecture starts.  There are many ways to get messages across!

 

StAR Awards

Recognition of your work – apply for a St.A.R. Award

Student reps work hard, and we think you deserve a reward! This year we’re launching our brand new St.A.R. (Student Academic Representation) Awards to recognise and reward our excellent student reps. There are three levels of award, with more work required to reach silver and gold than for bronze. The successful applicants will receive their award at a presentation evening early in Semester 2. These awards are great things to put on your CV, and they help us to identify the great things our reps are doing for students!

 

How to apply

1. Download and print a form from here.

2. Complete the details at the top.

3. Complete the Bronze section (you need to do this for all levels of award). You will need to ask your School representation coordinator/programme director/SSLC chair to sign off that you have attended meetings in your School. Make sure you attach evidence that you have requested feedback from students (e.g. copy of an email or Facebook message).

4. If applying for Silver, fill in the Silver section. You need to meet three of the criteria in order to be eligible. Attach evidence in hard copy by stapling it to the back of the form.

5. If applying for Gold, make sure you have filled in Bronze. Then, write a statement (800 words max) telling us why you are an exceptional rep, focusing on the impacts you have achieved during your time in office and addressing the criteria (below).

6. Submit the form to Gabrielle Ostmeier in the Students' Union Activities Office, or hand it in at the SU reception. Done!

Any evidence (copies of emails, posters, testimonials from students, Google surveys etc) will need to be attached in hard copy. All submissions will need to be signed off by your coordinator and backed up by evidence.

Any queries? Email gabrielle.ostmeier@manchester.ac.uk.

Criteria

Bronze St.A.R. Award

Evidence of all 3 criteria will be required.

1.    Attendance at Reps Training.
2.    Attendance at all Staff Student Liaison Committees or equivalent (or submit apologies)*.
3.    Notify those students you represent of relevant forums or committees in advance and request feedback.

* Awards will not be given to Reps who submit apologies to all SSLCs (or equivalent). It is assumed that Reps will attend as many meetings as possible and send apologies in all other circumstances.

Silver St.A.R. Award

 

Evidence of at least 3 criteria will be required for a Silver Award.

 

1.  Use of several methods to collect feedback demonstrating that good quality and wide ranging feedback is being collected.

2.  Regular emails summarising/reporting on forums/committees sent to students 

3.  Attendance at additional training sessions or events such as Faculty Forums, Assemblies, NUS Course Rep Conference, etc

4.  Evidence of preparing a handover for next year’s reps.

Gold St.A.R. Award

There are no strict criteria for this award, which is given to excellent student reps. All applications will be considered by the S.T.A.R.S. Award Committee and awards will be made at their discretion. Examples of excellence would include (but are not limited to):

  • Evidence of effecting change as a direct result of student representation (e.g. change to School feedback policy; increased contact hours etc. Any major wins.)
  • Evidence of campaigning innovatively on an academic issue, or engaging lots of students on your course with a particular issue, even if it is not yet fully resolved
  • Evidence of working to develop and improve student representation structures within your School (e.g. developing a comprehensive handover for new reps; working in partnership with staff to change how representation works in your School)
  • Evidence of high engagement with Students’ Union academic campaigns (e.g. canvassing coursemates on a particular issue and feeding this back to the union; doing lecture shouts to promote a campaign or event)

Meeting report form

Using Ning

Student Reps Ning Site

If you're a student rep, you can sign up to our very own social network for student reps, accessible here.

If you haven't received an email with a link, let Kate know at kate.little@manchester.ac.uk.

What can I use Ning for?

  • Discussion forums - talk to other reps in your School or Faculty, or from across the University. Ask and answer questions about being a rep. The forums are moderated by Students' Union staff who can also answer any queries you may have.
  • Sharing resources - you can post photos, videos or blog posts about any great things you've been doing in your role as a rep, and other reps can view and comment on them (like on Facebook).
  • Updates - news and updates from the Students' Union will be posted regularly in blog and video form.
  • Events - view a calendar of all the training dates for introductory and advanced training, as well as Union meetings and any interesting speakers you may wish to see.
  • Live chat - talk to other reps or Students' Union staff (if they're online) and get immediate answers to your questions with the live chat function.

How to sign up

Ning is by invitation only, to make sure that only student reps become members. If you haven't already told us about yourself, do so here and we will send you an invitation by email which will look like this:

Click on the link to join up. The website will ask you to enter a password, then to create your profile:

You will then be taken to your Ning homepage, which looks like this:

Have a look around and a bit of a play, or look at our in-depth guides for help with using all the Ning functions.

Any questions or problems? Contact kate.little@manchester.ac.uk.

Ning: Main page

The main page of Ning looks like this:

See below for a guide to all the features of the main page.

Main page

  • Purple Box: Shortcuts to add content or apps (see apps page for more info)
  • Welcome to Ning: a little bit about the UMSU Student Reps Network.
  • Videos: watch videos uploaded by members of the network. If you have a rep-related video you'd like to share, you can do so here.
  • Groups: join and create groups, such as "Social Sciences reps" or "PGR Reps" to talk to reps with similar interests.
  • Forums: Start a discussion on any topic
  • Chat: live chat with other online members. Ask a question and get an instant answer.
  • Latest activity: all activity from all members of the network.
  • Photos: photos uploaded by all members of the network. If you have a rep-related photo you'd like to share, you can do it here.

Sidebar

  • Inbox: Send or receive private messages to other members of the network.
  • Alerts: Messages sent to you by apps you have installed (if any).
  • Friends: your friends on the network. You can add friends by clicking on their profile and clicking "add as friend". You may wish to add other reps from your School; staff and officers from the Students' Union and any member who is posting interesting things.
  • Settings: change your privacy, appearance, email and profile settings, and link your account to other services such as Facebook, Twitter and Google.
  • Members: all members of the UMSU Student Reps network.
  • Badge: you can customise and add a badge to your own website (if you have one) showing that you are a member of UMSU Student Reps.
  • Blog Posts: Latest blogs from members of the network. If you have something you'd like to blog about relating to student reps, you can post it here.
  • Events: Latest events created by members of the network. If there is a rep-related event you'd like to share, you can do so here and invite people. You can also attend events created by the Students' Union, such as rep training.

Ning: My Page

My Page on Ning is like your Facebook profile page: you can write a bit about yourself; upload a picture; post photos and write comments on other people's pages. Your page automatically shows your Faculty and School, and you can search for other reps in your Faculty or School based on this information.

Your Page will look like this:

  • Latest Activity: displays what you've been up to - groups joined, photos uploaded, events attending etc. You can edit this by clicking "edit" on the right hand side.
  • Profile Information: displays your School and Faculty.
  • Text Box: You can edit this by clicking "edit" on the right hand side. This box can be used to write a little bit about yourself: we suggest that you start with writing which degree programme and year you are a rep for, and you may wish to include the committees you sit on.
  • My Photos: you can upload photos here. We suggest that this is used to showcase good things you're doing as a rep, or things you are working to change within the university, rather than photos from your Friday night out!
  • Comment Wall: Like your Facebook wall, you can post updates and other people can write comments. You can also comment on other people's comment walls.

Google Docs Guide

Google Docs is a great way to get a vast selection of comments from students very easily. The strength is that students can see comments posted by other students and respond to them: it's much more interactive than a simple "email me with any comments".

 

Sign up

Firstly, you'll need to create a Google account for yourself if you don't already have one. Go to http://docs.google.com to get started.

Creating a document

Documents, similar to those produced using Microsoft Word, are useful for getting a variety of comments, and allowing students to respond to points raised by each other. For example, if you wanted feedback on a list of individual units, to feed into an annual review of teaching or just to inform your contribution at meetings, you could create a document with a short heading outlining what you are looking for, and a list of units for students to enter comments underneath. An example of the type of document you will end up with is available here, thanks to the work of last year's Physics reps and EPS Faculty Officer.

Sharing your document

In order to allow students to comment on your document, you need to share it with them. To do this, click on "Share" in the top right hand corner of your screen. Your document will automatically be set to "private" so only you can view it. Click "Change", and select "anyone with the link". This will allow you to email the link to the students you represent and be fairly confident that comments are only from these students. You also need to change the access settings to "can comment", otherwise all they will be able to do is view your document. When this is done, you will be given a link which you can cut and paste into an email, or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Creating a Google Form

If you've filled in our "tell us about yourself" or "keeping us in the loop" form, you've used a Google Form. Google forms are really useful for collecting lots of quite specific information, or creating a questionnaire, but are less interactive than documents as students can't read each other's posts and respond. Forms are better for quantitative information, for example if you need numbers or percentages to back up your arguments in meetings. (It's also worth remembering that, if you're an undergraduate, the NSS can give you additional numerical evidence, as well as comments).

To create a form, select "create new form". You can then give your form a title and blurb, and insert the following types of questions:

  • Text - one-line answers such as name or email
  • Paragraph text - longer answers such as comments
  • Multiple choice - choose one from a list
  • Checkboxes - choose one or more from a list
  • Choose from a list - choose one from a drop-down list
  • Scale - rate something on a scale
  • Grid - choose criteria in rows and columns

You can also add headers and page breaks by selecting "Add item" on the top left.

Change the theme to make the form look a bit nicer by selecting "Theme" on the top left.

You can email people a link to your form by selecting "Email this form" on the top right, or you can embed it in your webpage (if you have one) by selecting "More actions" and "Embed".

When you return to your form, you will be taken to a spreadsheet of responses. To go back to editing the form, select "Form" and "Edit Form" on the top row of the spreadsheet.

You can also view a summary of responses in pie-chart and graph form by selecting "Form" and "Show summary of responses", or you can export the data to an Excel spreadsheet if you wish to do more in-depth analysis by selecting "File", "Download as", "Excel".

Presenting your data

You may wish to present your data in an easy-read way, such as a report, rather than simply sharing the raw data with your Programme Director or committee. You may alternatively just wish to present your findings verbally at your next committee meeting, or put key findings in a PowerPoint presentation. Do get in touch if you need any help, or if you want us to help you promote your findings.

If you have any queries, please contact kate.little@manchester.ac.uk.

Key contacts

Student Officers

Your student officers are elected annually to represent you at the highest levels of the University. The full-time officer responsible for student reps is the Academic Affairs Officer, who is supported by four part-time Faculty Officers and a part-time Postgraduate & Mature Students Officer. Contact your officers to escalate any issues you're having trouble resolving; to chat through a big idea you might have; to find out what they're saying to the University on your behalf; or to ask for advice about any aspect of being a rep.

Academic Affairs Officer: Mo Saqib

Full-time sabbatical officer with overall responsibility for education issues.

mo.saqib@manchester.ac.uk

0161 275 2930

Postgraduate & Mature Students Officer: Sarah Kerton

Part-time officer with responsibility for postgraduate and mature students.

postgrad@umsu.manchester.ac.uk

0161 275 2930

Engineering & Physical Sciences Faculty Officer: Ghalia Albarazi

Part-time officer with responsibility for students in the EPS Faculty.

engineering@umsu.manchester.ac.uk

0161 275 2930

Humanities Faculty Officer: Nick Pringle

Part-time officer with responsibility for students in the Humanities Faculty.

nick.pringle@manchester.ac.uk

0161 275 2930

Life Sciences Faculty Officer: Luke Newton

Part-time officer with responsibility for students in the Life Sciences Faculty.

luke.newton@manchester.ac.uk

0161 275 2930

Medical & Human Sciences Faculty Officer: Markus Arnold

Part-time officer with responsibility for students in the MHS Faculty.

medical@umsu.manchester.ac.uk

0161 275 2930

Students' Union Staff

The Students' Union employs a member of permanent staff to support student reps. Contact Kate for any administrative queries; to find out more about representation within your School or Faculty; to apply for a StAR award or to submit minutes of meetings (which is required for some levels of award). You can also contact Kate if you're not sure who you should direct your enquiry to, and she can point you in the right direction!

Academic Representation Coordinator: Kate Little

Full-time staff member employed to support student reps.

kate.little@manchester.ac.uk

0161 275 2938

Researching Your Student Experience

Student Written Submission 2010

Every six years the University is audited by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). As part of this process, the Union is invited to submit a written assessment of the University's teaching and learning provision and mechanisms for assuring and enhancing a quality student experience, from the perspective of the student body. This is based on evidence from a number of sources, which will be detailed under Methodology.

The Students' Union believes that the University's self-evaluation document is a comprehensive and accurate picture of how quality assurance is managed at the University of Manchester. We are confident that the University values the student voice as integral to this process, and wish to support the University by providing high-quality evidence of student opinion and strong representation at all levels to ensure the student voice is heard.

The document is laid out in four sections:

  • 1. Is the information that the institution publishes about itself accurate?
  • 2. Do students know what is expected of them in order to do well?
  • 3. What is the student experience like at the institution, including teaching and learning opportunities, support received and access to learning facilities?
  • 4. Do students have a voice, and how do you know that anyone listens to it?

Download the complete Student Written Submission

Download the summary Student Written Submission

The University received a judgment of "confidence", which means that it meets UK expectations for quality and standards. The QAA identified a number of features of good practice in its report, as well as some recommendations for future action. You can download the QAA audit report here.