"If you build it" they won't necessarily come! Reinvigorating student representative engagement in partnership with students

Background

The last Faculty Forum of 2008 attracted only one student representative to attend, indicating that existing structures were both costly and ineffective. Preliminary efforts to change our approach have yielded promising results: almost 40 student representatives attended in March 2009. However this proposal will build on this limited success by providing scholarly understanding of what makes partnership with student representatives engaging and how to effect change in practice. Student engagement is an institution-and sector-wide issue (Little et al, 2009). This project would be only the first step in a broader longer-term cultural change in the Faculty towards achieving greater student engagement.

Aim of the Project:

To achieve enhanced levels of student representative engagement with the opportunities that the University provides to incorporate authentic student voices in enhancing the student experience.

Objectives:

increase level of student representative participation in existing processes/mechanisms;
develop new mechanisms/processes in partnership with student representatives and the Hallam Union;
empower student representatives to set agendas and actively research and pursue solutions.