Rise of the course rep
A student’s academic representatives at course, departmental and faculty level are a crucial part of NUS – they provide unlimited feedback on the experiences of students as well as act as powerful tools in promoting and securing institutional change in the student experience, and embedding the learner voice at the heart of the student experience.
Student reps can also be important in ensuring that campaigns and student representation by unions are meaningful and relevant, and that representation by their unions is as it should be ‘deeply felt, widely felt, and winnable’ and will be truly valued and supported by their student body.
NUS’ Position
Aaron Porter, NUS Vice President (Higher Education) says: "NUS believes it’s important that student representation is developed to ensure it meets the needs of its students. Students’ unions have a crucial role in working with their institutions to develop effective rep systems, and supporting their course reps."
There is much good practice in this area among the sector already existing, and to celebrate this, NUS has developed this resource area for those responsible for supporting course reps and developing rep systems which brings together materials from various students' unions. NUS also hopes to expand its support and provision for course representatives in the future, recognising that they are a vital source of strength and feedback. Your opinions on how to do this, as well as further ideas for developing this resource area, would be welcomed. Please direct any comments or suggestions to us at this address to Chrystal Degale. chrystal.degale@nus.org.uk
Click on the links below to see best practice and resources from unions in England, Scotland and Wales.
- Course Rep Certificate
- Running Course Reps Events
- NUS Course Reps Conference resources - November 2008
- About student rep systems
- Student rep handbooks
- Working with the institution
- Training and supporting reps
- Course rep role descriptions
- Course rep coordinator job descriptions
- Recruiting and electing reps
- Meetings and feedback
- Promoting reps
- Recognising, rewarding and retaining reps
Further reading, resources and links
Higher education institutions
- AMSU student rep coordinators group
A mail base for student rep coordinators who share resources, ideas and experience. There is also a facebook page for this. - HEFCW (Higher Education Funding Council for Wales), Student representation structures in higher education institutions across Wales.
- Sparqs- Student Participation in Quality Scotland
a free service which is backed by the Scottish Funding Council to assist and support students, students' associations and institutions to improve the effectiveness and engagement in quality assurance and enhancement in institutions across Scotland. - Quality Assurance Agency
Student representation and feedback Arrangements.
Further education colleges
- Student representation in further education and sixth-form colleges, Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
- Student Representation in Scottish Further Education Colleges: An Aspect Report for SFC by HMIE
- Student representation in Scotland’s colleges discussion paper from NUS Scotland.
Return to this campaign's homepage or view all articles in this campaign.