Student handbook > Student Representation
Your feedback on all aspects of your experience while you are studying with Bath Spa University is very important to us. As well as opportunities to evaluate your modules and to feedback your views to the institution in which you are studying, there are also opportunities for student representatives to take part in the following:
Student Representatives Committee
The University has established a new student representatives Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Academic Quality and Standards Committee (AQSC). A student academic representative from each partner organisation within the Wessex Partnership will be invited to participate. Meetings will normally take place three times a year at Newton Park Campus or Sion Hill Campus.
Duties of the subcommittee include:
- advising AQSC on the implications for students of the outcomes from university quality assurance procedures, including external examiner reports;
- advising AQSC on the outcomes of the National Student Survey, and any other similar measure of student satisfaction;
- advising on any other matter that may be referred to the committee to AQSC.
Benefits of Representation
You are strongly encouraged to put yourself forward for this opportunity:
- you will get to know BSU ‘home’ students as well as those from other partner institutions, and learn from their experience
- you can make a difference to the experience of your fellow BSU students at your institution;
- you will gain skills in committee participation which will also strengthen your CV;
- and last, but not least, you will be paid £100 + travelling expenses for each meeting you attend.
Representation at Wessex Partnership Biennial Review
Bath Spa University is committed to ensuring high quality for its teaching and learning provision wherever it may be located. We have rigorous systems in place for ensuring quality at the university and supporting provision in Wessex Partnership institutions. We continue to seek improvement and your view as students is particularly important to us.
As part of this process we include student representatives as part of the biennial reviews which are held for each programme at each partner institution in the Wessex Partnership. We do genuinely want feedback about the programmes and how they are performing. Guidelines for student representatives are provided to participants and can also be accessed through the Wessex website.
Student Academic Representatives
StARs (Student Academic Representatives) are elected for every subject at Bath Spa University and Wessex Partnership institutions. Their role is to represent other students doing a subject with them.
What do StARs Do?
Identify and promote good practice within courses.
Talk to, and listen to, other students doing their module or year for their subject.
Raise any issues with appropriate staff or at department meetings, if needed.
Report back to other students the results of these meetings.
Liaise with other reps from their course to collate findings and identify issues arising between different groups.
What are the benefits of being a StAR?
You have an influence over the running of your course. Through this work, with assistance from Bath Spa SU, you will develop skills such as working on a committee, problem solving, public speaking and time management. These ‘key skills’ are vitally important in today’s employment market, and will be a major asset to your CV.
What are Staff-Student Liaison Committees?
Staff-student liaison committees, or a variation of it, exist for every subject at Bath Spa University and the Wessex Partnership institutions. They are a part of the review process for subjects which continually assess their quality and development. They are made up of staff involved in teaching the subject and student reps from that subject for each year (or level). They usually meet at least once a term.
What support is available to StARs?
Training – Reps are offered training by Bath Spa Students’ Union in the skills they need to effectively fulfil their role.
Advice – The Students’ Union President (Welfare & Representation) offers advice on specific issues and general problems.
Information – The Union produces a StAR handbook and a range of leaflets, resources, documents and an online area regularly updated just for StARs. You will also get access to course notice-boards, as well as help whenever or wherever you may need it.
How do I become a StAR?
If you are interested in becoming a StAR for your subject, simply log onto the SU website (www.bathspasu.co.uk/reps) and download a form ASAP and hand it to your tutor, and they’ll do the rest.
Skills and Training
It is widely recognised that employers are looking for more than just a qualification from graduates and prospective employees. Extra-curricular activities are highly valued as an indication of wider life skills. With this in mind, Bath Spa University Students’ Union is offering, to those who complete online StAR training, a Skills Certificate to include in your CV/Portfolio. This enables you to express clearly to potential employers, the skills you have acquired and been trained in through the extra-curricular activity of being a StAR.
To attain the skills certificate, and the skills necessary to represent fellow students, the Students’ Union will be providing an introductory compulsory training session. There are also online key skills sessions for you to complete should you wish to enhance your skills further such as negotiation training etc. These enable you to learn and develop your role and skills. We’ll even put on transport if you don’t study at the site where we’ll be holding the training!
Further details will be sent when you send back the nomination form to your tutor/course leader.
Contact Details:
Tel: (01225) 875588
www.bathspasu.co.uk/reps
Email: reps@bathspa.ac.uk