Your Voice
Body
In SPS we take student feedback seriously. We seek out student views throughout the year and use your thoughts and ideas to improve teaching, learning and the student experience across the School.
Find out more about student voice at the University
- Student representation
Each academic year, the School recruits Programme Representatives. Programme Reps are students who are tasked with gathering feedback and representing their fellow students. They are the link between students and staff, attending regular meetings to ensure that we are continuously listening to and engaging with your feedback.
- Raise an issue
If you would like to raise an issue that affects a group of students, or your whole class, one of the most effective ways of doing this is by contacting your Programme Rep. If you don't know who your Programme Rep is, ask your Course Organiser.
- How do Programme Reps represent students?
Programme Reps work with the support of EUSA and their subject area or programme to gather feedback, thoughts and ideas from the students they represent.
They will raise issues on your behalf at meetings with key members of staff and let you know what was discussed, and what resolutions or recommendations emerged in relation to your feedback, as well as any actions taken as a result.- Student-Staff Liaison Committees
Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) meetings are held between relevant members of staff and Programme Reps each semester, usually around Week 7.
Remit for Student-Staff Liaison Committee
Undergraduate SSLCs are usually held at subject-area level. An additional UG School Forum is held once a year between a smaller number of Programme Reps and members of the School Learning and Teaching Directorate.
You can view minutes from the SSLC's at Student-staff Liason Committee minutes
Postgraduate SSLCs are usually held at School level.
- Become a Programme Rep
There are lots of great benefits of becoming a Programme Rep:
- making a positive contribution to the University by improving the student experience in your School for your peers
- receiving specialised training and ongoing support via the Student Rep Forum. The basic online training will help you understand how to represent students’ views democratically, be an effective student leader within the Students' Association, and work constructively with the University to solve problems and implement positive changes
- improving your leadership skills and employability by meeting expectations to earn recognition for your role, including Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) recognition and/or the Edinburgh Award for Representing Students.
Programme Rep responsibilities
- undertake the training offered by EUSA
- actively work with the support of EUSA and tyour subject area or programme to gather feedback, thoughts and ideas from the students you represent
- attend and actively contribute to Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) meetings (two per academic year) and annual School Forum (UG only)
- close the 'feedback loop' by letting the students you represent know how their feedback was communicated in the SSLCs, what resolutions and recommendations emerged in relation to this feedback, and any actions taken in reference to these.
Edinburgh University Students' Association training
For Programme Reps to gain HEAR recognition, they must successfully complete the Programme Rep Training by the end of Week 6 and a handover document by the end of the academic year.
The training will cover the role of a Programme Rep in relation to quality enhancement; working with students to gather representative feedback on the student learning experience; communicating feedback to relevant staff; and the support available from the Students’ Association.
New for this year, the training will also provide additional information regarding the Programme Rep role in the hybrid teaching model, and how Reps can effectively use online platforms to gather feedback.
If you are appointed as a Programme Rep, you will be contacted by the Students’ Association with full details.
How to apply
The deadline for all applications will be 12 noon on Friday the 29th of September 2023
Please complete the application form via the link below. As part of the application, you will be asked to provide a short statement of no more than 100 words on why you would like to be considered for this position.