We have recently launched Your Voice Matters, a joint initiative from the University and Students' Union to improve the student experience and provide more opportunities for students to give feedback.
We sat down with Professor Mark Simpson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), and Rebecca Gilling from the Students' Union to find out more about Your Voice Matters and what it means for students.
What is Your Voice Matters?
RG: Your Voice Matters is an initiative where we can gain feedback from students and learn about their experiences. At the same time, we are launching a brand new student charter which is a set of agreements about what students can expect from the University and the Students' Union, and what the University expects from students while they are here.
MS: Importantly, Your Voice Matters provides a student feedback route that we can act upon. It ensures that we hear the student voice and we react to any issues. It is also important that we acknowledge the good things - we need to know what is working well so we can amplify this further.
Why is Your Voice Matters important?
MS: Your Voice Matters is important as we want to put students at the heart of everything we do. Fundamentally, the University is about the student and staff community and we want to be clear about how that community works together and what the expectations are on each side.
RG: The student experience is at the centre of everything we do, your voice really does matter and we do want to make improvements and celebrate our successes.
What does it mean for students?
RG: Your Voice Matters has been developed jointly by the University and the Students' Union and we want students to be central to this campaign. There will be plenty of opportunities to shape the student charter and we would encourage as many students as possible to get involved.
MS: It allows us to collaborate and will ultimately help us work as a community to rectify any issues and create a positive future.
Tell us about the student charter?
MS: The student charter is an opportunity for us to be clear on what students can expect from the University and what we would like students to contribute.
If you think of the University like a gym, you don't go into the gym and expect to get big muscles without any effort. You need to play your part too, but equally, you need to be clear about the part the gym will play.
The University is similar as education only works if both parties are clear about how they interact and how they work together.
RG: The student charter offers students the chance to contribute to the agreement, as well as outline what they expect from their time here.
What else does Your Voice Matters involve?
MS: It's ultimately about feedback - we want students to let us know if we are not meeting their expectations. We have provided a simplified route so students can contact the University course management team to let them know about any concerns or feedback they might have and we can then act quickly and decisively.
How do students provide feedback?
MS: As part of Your Voice Matters we provide a direct route for students to contact the University. By completing the Student Charter Form our dedicated team can respond to student queries, rectify any problems, and listen to things that are working well to amplify them across campus.
RG: This dedicated route provides an overview of how students are feeling and allows the University and Students' Union to address any concerns and ultimately improve the student experience.
Why are you launching Your Voice Matters now?
MS: It felt a good opportunity to launch Your Voice Matters at the start of this academic year. Students have now returned to campus following the pandemic and we wanted to pick up on their experiences. There is a positive vibe on campus now which is lovely to see, and we want to ensure we continue to meet students' expectations.
RG: As we are welcoming students back to campus this is a chance for us to work collaboratively to shape the year ahead and consider how we want to move forward now we are back on campus.
How can students get involved?
RG: Students are at the heart of this initiative, so we want to follow up as many opportunities as possible for feedback. There will be a chance for students to get involved in focus groups to shape the student charter for this year, so keep an eye on social media channels and the website for more information.
MS: We want to act upon any feedback and ensure the student experience is the best it can be. The success of this initiative relies on students letting us know what is working well and telling us about any concerns they may have.
What role can staff play?
MS: Staff are vital to Your Voice Matters and we want to encourage staff to really engage and listen carefully to the pulse of the student community.
Your Voice Matters is central to our approach in achieving positive student experiences and staff can help us to engage students and respond quickly to any feedback.
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