usw course rep training

Course Rep Training 2014/15(second session)

Ellen-Rose Jones – VP PontypriddJenny Catherine – Academic Affairs Coordinator

Aims of the session

• Refresher on your role as a Course Rep• Stress the importance of the student voice• Teach you about Quality Assurance• Help you research and campaign• Effective meeting behaviour• Inform you of upcoming events

• Your role:

Recap from the first training

Gather student feedback

Liaise with SVRs/ Course Reps

Raise concerns at meetings

Follow up points raised

Feed back to students

Start

• Think about the topics that may affect students during their studies

• Name 3 big issues from each category:- course-specific- Faculty-specific- University-wide

Issues students can face

Student experience

Course issues

Specialised equipment

IT and library

Assessment and feedback

Academic support

Student engagement

Quality of teaching

Communications

• Academic staff or Course Leaders for course-specific issues

• Student Voice Representatives for Faculty-wide issues

• Students’ Union for advice on campaigning• Full-time Elected Officers for extra support• Student Council Officers for liberation issues• Support services for anything else

Who to go to for support?

• SU President: Carys Rhiannon ThomasSUPres@southwales.ac.uk

• SU Vice-President Pontypridd: Ellen Rose Jones

vicepresident.pontypridd@southwales.ac.uk

• SU Vice-President Newport: Drew BurmanVicePresident.Newport@SouthWales.ac.uk

• SU Vice-President Cardiff: Roz Green-Innes

VicePresident.Cardiff@SouthWales.ac.uk

Full-time elected officers

SU President

Chair Student Council Pontypridd

SU Vice President Pontypridd

Black Students Officer

International Students Officer

LGBTQ Officer

Mature Students OfficerPost-Graduate and Part-Time Students

OfficerSocieties Officer

Sports Officer

Supported Activities Officer

Students with disabilities Officer

Welsh Language Officer

Women’s Officer

Carys Rhiannon ThomasGareth LuTherynEllen-Rose JonesJessica WuAwele OtakporCeri ViscountThompson OrieItoro EffiongDaniel WilmotPhilly HearndenVacantFrankie RidleySally DaviesJade Procope

Elected officers

• Your role is vital in ensuring the quality of your degree• The student voice should be at the heart of decision-

making• Course Reps are the first point of contact with students• Student Voice Representatives sit on University-level

Committees• Elected officers represent ALL students• Importance of gathering effective feedback

Student Representation

• Questions you can ask your course mates:- Do you feel the course is making you more employable? - Is the course well organised?- Do you receive sufficient information about careers

through your course?- Does your course match your expectations?- Are the library and computing facilities adequate?- Does feedback help you improve your performance in

future assignments?

Student Feedback

How you can have an impact

•Attend training•Attend Course Rep Assembly•Research and Campaign

Students' Union

•With other Course Reps•With SVRs•Attend Student Staff Liaison Committees/Course BoardsLiaise•Module Evaluation Forms•National Student Survey (NSS) - KIS•Internal Student Survey

Complete forms

http://uswcoursereps.forumotion.co.uk/

• Higher Education Institutional Review• Student Staff Liaison Committees• Course Boards• Review and Revalidation• National Student Survey (NSS)• Student Led Teaching Awards (SLTA)• Students’ Union / Student Council - Campaign

Students and Quality

• Is it a ‘change’ or ‘awareness’ campaign?• Research existing practices to support your campaign• Plan how you can resolve this. (what tactics will you

use? Be inclusive)• Submit a motion to the Student Council (anyone

can!) (contact Glenn Page – glenn.page@southwales.ac.uk )

• Brand your campaign (logo/slogan)• Update your course mates!

Campaigning

• Documents you may come across: Evaluative reports on the course; external examiners’ reports; annual reports; statistics, etc.

- Highlight examples of good practice to be commended

- Note points that may be an ‘issue’ needing investigation

- Chase up to see if they are being dealt with (you can ask SU staff to assist you in this)

Analysing data

• Prepare for the meeting: read documents, gather feedback, plan your participation

• During the meeting: clarify issues; don’t ask multiple questions or make long speeches; TAKE NOTES.

• After the meeting: be clear on key outcomes; discuss what you have taken from it; refine a what is left to do.

Effective Meeting Behaviour

• Course Rep Awards• Student Led Teaching Awards (nominate staff/students who make a

difference)(nominations will open end of February; event will be held after Easter)

• NSS 2015 (May) Help us raise awareness!

• Quality Assurance Agency review (visits March/April)

• Keep an eye out on the SU website and get involved

Upcoming Events

• 2014/15: Institutional Review by the Quality Assurance Agency

• Student Submission (1st draft SU website under ‘Get involved – Campaigns – 2014/15 – Institutional Review’)

• Get involved: focus groups, surveys, raise issues with SU staff.• Attend the review visit (03/14 and 04/14)

Email: jenny.catherine@southwales.ac.uk More info: http://www.uswsu.com/campaigns/2014-2015/institutional-review

QAA Review

• Help us improve our training session, please give us your feedback! Was this session useful?

• How can we improve the support we give to you?

Exercise & Feedback

• Previous minutes:- Disruptions to studies due to building work- Lack of software/out-of-date (J1)- Coursework given on material not covered - SU review process- Length of halls contracts

Course Rep Assembly