Rise of the course rep
Training and supporting representatives
Student representatives employ a range of skills in their role, including transferable skills such as communication, advocacy, negotiation, meeting skills to name a few, as well as develop a raised profile within their institution, and the chance to actively make changes to improve their educational experience.
Students’ unions usually provide basic training to acquaint reps with their role once elected and, often later in the year, on the skills that are key to effective representation. As course representation is often a voluntary activity, your union has a role in supporting the development of representation skills and facilitating reps to recognise their value and articulate them. These can be used later for the rep’s CV and act as a key selling point for recruitment of new reps.
Training sessions vary in length, from two-day residential courses, to two hour training sessions depending on budget and facilities. In addition, many unions hold advanced training sessions separate to an introductory training session, or deliver units of skills based training throughout the year.
Points to consider about student rep training
- How will you evaluate the success of your training or reward those that attended? Will you record numbers and details of the reps that attended, or produce a feedback form for participants to complete? Collecting this information may be useful when you approach your institution for support for the system in future.
- Is it inclusive? Take account of the varying needs of the diversity of reps. Will you need documents in alternative formats? Can the menu cater to all tastes and preferences? Is the venue accessible for all and relevant to your training activities? Will the time and date of your training allow the maximum number of participants to attend (e.g. avoiding religious celebrations, prayer times and activities and cater for the needs of those with dependants?)
- How can you make your training more appealing? Will you provide participants with snacks or refreshments? Will all participants receive a certificate?
- Check the composition of your reps and tailor your session according to the needs and interests of the reps that attend. If there are to be newly elected reps, and reps that have undertaken training in the past, can you design your training programme to suit?
- Why not include an icebreaker or time for networking, student reps often will enjoy meeting other reps and discussing the issues together, and forging links at training sessions will allow them to be more effective at working together in the future and may improve retention of reps and effectiveness of their work.
- Do you have the resources to consider online or interactive training?
- Have you accessed your NSS results? These can be broken down by department and institution to give an accurate picture of the student experience at your institution – why not pass this on to reps during training? It may give them food for thought as well as evidence to support any issues that they wish to raise in the future, or better still encourage them to get involved in your own campaigns.
- Could you work with your institution to add items to the training plan (for example, a breakdown of the school structure), or a welcome talk from your vice chancellor – this will add value to the status of your training and importance of your event
- Can you provide participants with information that is specific to their course or department to increase their interest (e.g. departmental policies, staff lists, NSS results) by splitting your training by course or faculty or by providing different activities that are relevant to their subject area?
- Could you work with a nearby institution and share resources for your student rep training?
Download the updated training package for course representatives.
There are also several examples of introductory training sessions used by Unions:
Coventry University Students’ Union
Presentation
Basic Training Session
Training Quiz
Training scenarios
Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association Class Rep Training
Students’ Representative Council University of Glasgow:
Northumbria Students’ Union Course Rep Training
Beyond your course – advanced student rep training
The wider picture - advanced student rep training
Please also visit the AMSU student reps specialist group for a variety of further great examples of student rep training sessions.
Training sessions and handouts (skills based)
Meeting and negotiation skills – Northumbria Students’ Union
Also, see the case study below.
Don’t forget that your institution may also be doing existing work on developing skills, why not work together to deliver a session or part?
Case study: Union of Brunel Students
“At UBS we gave the Learning and Development Unit a chance to speak to students about the services they offered, and ran a specially designed meeting skills session for reps, rather than re-invent the wheel, saving us on resources, but offering the reps the information and support they needed for their role.”
A representative from Union of Brunel Students
Reps can provide a great means to galvanise support or promote research or other sources of student feedback. The National Student Survey can form a key focus for student reps and provide meaningful support for their opinions. You can also download our NSS briefing for student representatives.
Return to the course rep hub
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