Student Academic Representation in Collaborative Provision

The information below sets out minimum expectations for student academic representation that each Partner, in liaison with the appropriate School, can then develop to suit their specific needs. Each partner must, however, ensure that sufficient methods of student representation are available. Mechanisms for student representation should be reviewed in periodic, annual and Institutional review events.

Students form the heart of the University and student academic representation is very important. The University of Manchester is committed to receiving and responding to student feedback in order to bring about improvement in the quality of the student experience and development of learning and teaching within the institution. The core principle is that all students studying collaboratively should have the opportunity to contribute to and enhance their experience. It is expected that this also be the case for any of the University’s collaborative partners.

Student representation covers a diverse range of activities and structures and student feedback can be provided by a number of different means. For example, through evaluation questionnaires, the academic adviser/personal tutor system or through students being present at Staff-Student Liaison Committees or Programme Committees. Representation should enable dialogue between students and staff in order to aid development of programmes of study, the student experience and the quality of the institution as a whole. This dialogue can take place in both formal and informal structures and circumstances.

Student Academic Representatives (Reps) will be defined as those students on a particular programme of study who have been chosen by their peers to represent the interests of their peer group on Programme Committees, Staff-Student Liaison Committees, other School or Faculty committees or other appropriate groups. There should be forums which enable discussion between students and staff at each of the following levels and which are suitable to the particular structures inherent within the levels:-

Programme or Discipline (dependant on number of programmes)
Partner Institution
University (through annual, periodic review)

All students should be able to contribute to and enhance their experience while studying at the partner institution. All students should have an opportunity to become a student rep to represent their programme, institution and there should be a democratic process to select student representatives.

Student Reps should always be invited to relevant meetings. If a student rep is unable to be present, the Chair should feedback information to the rep by use of email, etc. If the Chair is aware that a rep is unable to attend a meeting which has specific student matters are on the agenda, the Chair may wish to contact the student rep prior to the meeting to request any comments or suggest sending an alternative rep in their place.

Partners should assign a member of staff to act as Student Representation Co-ordinator to be the first point of contact for students and reps on representation issues.

Particular consideration should be given to those students who are either part-time, postgraduate students, on multidisciplinary programmes or away from their normal place of study on placements. Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that these particular students have access to representation structures. Meetings should be planned at times/dates which would not unduly prevent these particular students from attending.

Administration and co-ordination of student rep processes is delegated to a partner institution, including development of documentation, guidance, recruitment and training. Partner staff should ensure that open, fair elections are organised, with all students having an equal opportunity to put themselves forward to become representatives.

It is suggested that the partner provides the following (where appropriate) to student reps:-

a pigeon hole and notice board.
specific information on the committee/body that they are a member of
adequate notice of meeting dates and ensure that relevant papers are distributed to Student Representatives
the support of a Student Representation Co-ordinator within the partner.

The Role of a Student Representative

The main duties include to:-

Liaise between students and staff on matters of mutual interest or concern;
Attend Staff-Student Liaison Committee, Programme Committee or other relevant meetings;
Voice student views to staff involved in programmes;
Provide two-way feedback on the quality of units, programmes and teaching;
Promote active student involvement in the development of programmes