The LGBTQIA+ Student Representative has the responsibility for representing the views of LGBTQIA+ students at the OU at all levels of decision making within the Open SU.
This includes amplifying the diverse and intersectional lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ students, including those who face additional barriers related to their identity.
They also monitor the University’s performance on support for LGBTQIA+ students and are Open SU’s point of contact for related issues.
Average number of hours: Averaging 2–5 hours per week, fluctuating throughout the year.
Meeting expectations: Some daytime meetings in normal business hours (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm), with occasional evening and weekend meetings.
Attendance at face-to-face meetings: Most meetings can be delivered hybrid but there are some better attended in person.
Location: To stand for the role you must live within the UK or Continental Europe.
DBS required? Yes
Term length: 2 years from 1 August 2026 – 31 July 2028.
What is the Student Leadership Team?
The Student Leadership Team (SLT) is a group of elected students who work together to improve the experience of Open University students. When you run in an Open SU election, you are standing to join this team. The President and Deputy President are paid full-time roles, while all other roles are voluntary.
How the Student Leadership Team work together
The Student Leadership Team (SLT) is made up of two teams: Elected Officers and Elected Representatives.
As LGBTQIA+ Representative you are part of the Representative team. The two teams have very clear remits:
The Elected Officers
- Led by the President.
- Each officer has a specific area of responsibility e.g. EDI or Student Welfare.
- Focus on projects, campaigns, and improving student life.
- Work together to support Open SU’s strategic priorities.
- Meet monthly to collaborate on priority projects and student issues.
- Submit monthly reports and updates to the student body.
- Lead development of Open SU Policy and Position Statements, seeking input from wider SLT, representatives and the student body.
- Provide content and information for social media, news articles and campaigns.
The Elected Representatives
- Led by the Deputy President.
- Each representative has a focus area e.g. Scotland/WELS.
- Focuses on Student Voice.
- Provides accountability and scrutiny to the Elected Officer team.
- Work closely with appointed Student Representatives.
- Ensures student experiences, needs, and perspectives influence decision-making.
- Meet every 4 months to understand what is going on in the University and for students.
- Comment on and contribute to development of Open SU Policy and Position Statements.
- Provide content and information for social media, news articles and campaigns.
Members of SLT meet as a whole team three times a year to collaborate, share insights, and make decisions that affect the whole organisation. Major decisions, such as changes to governing documents or Open SU position statements, must involve both teams.
Shared responsibilities of all elected Student Leaders
As a member of the Open SU Student Leadership Team (SLT), you play a vital role in representing students, building community, and supporting the mission, vision, and values of Open SU.
You’ve been elected by students to make a difference, and here’s what that involves:
- Working as a team to support Open SU’s mission, vision, and charitable objectives.
- Living our values: Welcoming, Approachable, Bold, Adaptable and Sustainable.
- Taking part in key events: onboarding sessions, SLT meetings, and Open SU’s biennial conference.
- Communicating effectively with fellow SLT members and staff, using official spaces and email regularly.
- Collaborating with other volunteers and Student Representatives who deliver activities, services, and events for students.
- Being the public face of Open SU: raise awareness, create promotional materials, deliver presentations, and host student-facing sessions.
- Sharing your impact: submit regular reports and blogs about your role.
- Engaging with students: supporting Open SU involvement in student-facing events.
- Championing equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything you do.
- Acting openly and responsibly, and be prepared to be accountable for your actions.
- All elected representatives are expected to adhere to our Values and Behaviour Policy, Volunteer Policy and sign a Volunteer Agreement on commencement of the role.
Role specific responsibilities
- Represent the interests, needs and opinions of LGBTQIA+ students at The Open University and Open SU, ensuring intersectionality and diverse needs amongst students.
- Work with the OU Pride Committee, OU Pride Students Group, the VP Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Open SU’s EDI and Belonging team on ensuring all policies are up to date and implemented into all work across the Open SU.
- Run appropriate campaigns specific to LGBTQIA+ students, tailored to non-brick universities, recognising accessibility, inclusion and varied experience for distance learners within the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Work with the necessary teams to produce campaign materials, that are inclusive, accessible and intersectional around LGBTQIA+ awareness days across the year, conferences, Welcome Week and any other education needs.
- With relevant team support, create LGBTQIA+ specific resources for the diverse and intersectional LGBTQIA+ community at the OU.
- Take the lead, with support from the VP EDI and the EDI and Belonging team, to be the student voice and to shape ongoing projects across the year, related to the LGBTQIA+ community and students.
- Facilitate and champion the OU Pride Students Group to build a strong and supportive environment and community at Open SU, which aims to improve support, intentional and safe spaces, and importantly collective voice amongst students.
Key skills and attributes
In additional to the shared responsibilities for all Student Leadership Team members, you will need to possess, or be prepared to develop rapidly, the following:
- Knowledge and understanding of matters relating to LGBTQIA+ students through lived experiences and a commitment to active allyship.
- A willingness to chair meetings.
- The confidence to meaningfully contribute to meetings on behalf of students, ensuring the LGBTQIA+ student voice is heard, including the discussion of topics that may impact the LGBTQIA+ student community.
- The commitment to ensuring that equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of what Open SU and The Open University deliver for students, highlighting the importance of meaningful and sustainable change for marginalised students.
- The commitment to champion LGBTQIA+ support for students at Open SU and The Open University, ensuring an intersectional and inclusive approach.
- Commitment to develop skills and knowledge appropriate to the role.
Training and support will be offered to any successful candidate.
Example of meetings attended by the LGBTQIA+ Representative
The nature of our SLT roles is that there are always additional Open SU and OU meetings that they will need to attend. This can include regular meetings or one-off activities. Below are some of the meetings that the LGBTQIA+ Representative is required to attend as an ex-officio (mandatory) part of their role – a full handover of current meetings will be provided by the outgoing post-holder:
- Open SU Student Leadership Team Meetings – These are formal meetings where the SLT discuss Open SU business, the issues facing students, and progress against the agreed priorities for the SLT. These take place every four months. The President chairs these meetings.
- Monthly Student Voice Forums (optional) – These meetings are an opportunity to hear about projects and initiatives taking place, providing input and feedback. They also provide an opportunity to engage with wider Student Representatives.
- Representative Forums – These are meetings where our Representation Team can hear from our Student Representatives about any issues that students are experiencing, allowing the Representation Team to feed this back into the whole SLT. These take place every four months.
- Student Senate Reference Group – This meeting allows you to provide your viewpoints on the topics being discussed at Senate, helping inform the opinions of the Student Members of Senate. These meetings take place on a Monday morning, four times per year.
- OU Pride Students Group committee meetings – usually once per month.
Around these meetings, you will be required to prepare for the meetings by reading the papers ahead of the meeting, and being ready and willing to contribute to the discussions.
Where a meeting is scheduled to take place in person, you will be supported to attend through the provision of reasonable expenses; however, most meetings that are held in person will also have a hybrid option.
Essential role-specific information, including eligibility
To apply, you must meet the following:
Active student status
You must be a registered and active Open University student. This means you are either:
- Currently studying a module, or
- Have previously completed a module within the last two years and are registered on an OU qualification.
Eligible modules
- You must be studying Open University modules worth at least 30 credits.
- Students registered as Postgraduate Researchers or on Access modules are also eligible.
Academic progress
To support your academic success, we will not consider applications from students who have failed or not completed their three most recently started modules at the time of application. This ensures you can focus on your studies while contributing effectively to the role.
Ability to act as the public face of Open SU
Elected officers and representatives who are not charity trustees, but act as the public face of the organisation, carry significant responsibility. For this reason, all candidates are expected to meet the same eligibility standards required of charity trustees, including not being disqualified from acting as a trustee. You can read the official UK Government guidance on the automatic disqualification rules for charity trustees.
What you can expect from Open SU
- A supportive onboarding and training process.
- Guidance and support from a dedicated staff team.
- Appreciation and recognition for the work you do.
- A non-discriminatory environment that celebrates diversity.
- Reimbursement for reasonable expenses in accordance with our Expense Claims Policy.
- The freedom to pause, take a break or step down from your role at any time.
Student Leadership Team dates for your diary
- Friday, 17 July – Sunday, 19 July 2026: in-person (Handover Weekend)
- Friday, 4 September – Sunday, 6 September 2026: in-person (Onboarding Weekend)
- Saturday, 7 November 2026: online
- Friday, 5 March – Sunday, 7 March 2027: hybrid
- Saturday, 17 July 2027: online
- Friday, 12 November – Sunday, 14 November 2027: hybrid
- Saturday, 4 March 2028: online
- Friday, 14 July – Sunday, 16 July 2028: in-person (Handover Weekend)
(all 10am–4pm for the Saturday meetings)