Student Representatives
Please note that these videos were produced before our rebrand to Open SU.
Student Representatives play an important part in Open University Governance structure and decision making. Student Representatives make positive contributions at committees to enhance the OU's teaching and learning experience for all current and future students.
Student Representatives are in a unique position to be able to influence the future direction and quality of their module/qualification/pathway and how the University delivers the higher education experience to its students.
Student Representatives are appointed to a Board of Studies or Academic Commitees within their area of study.
Student Representatives receive dedicated support from the Student Voice team and the wider SU so that they may carry out their role confidently. We offer training and development opportunities to all.
As full members of OU Committees students have the opportunity to develop key transferrable skills that can be used for future employment and beyond.
Student Representative core activities include:
- Reading papers in advance of each committee meeting
- Papers are sent to students in advance of meetings. Student Representatives read the papers.
- Student representatives can raise and highlight items as and where appropriate at the committee meetings, speaking on matters affecting students.
- Attending committee meetings
- Meetings are held online, in-person or a blend of hybrid depending on the committee.
- Students are notified in advance of the meeting timetable
- Providing feedback and writing reports
- Student Representatives should complete a report after they attend a committee meeting so that feedback, positive change and the impact of the collect Student Voice is available to all.
Why is it important to get involved with Student Voice?
When you become a Student Representative you are joining a community that are dedicated to making positive change now and in the future. With over 40 individual commitees and over 100 student representative roles, we will continue to enhance the student academic experience for many years to come.
The image below describes the governance structure and demonstrates the direction of the student voice from Boards of Studies, right though to Senate, the Open Universities most senior decision making academic committee.
Committee Chart
Committee Descriptions
How do you become a Student Representative?
We invite all students to get involved by applying to be a Student Representative, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements for the role. Student Representatives are appointed by the Student Voice team, with scrutiny from the Open SU Appointments Committee.
The duration of the role will usually be a minimum of 12 months and upto 24 months.
There is a full induction and onboarding programme for all students and you will be supported throughout your time with us.
Applications are open at different times of the year. If you are unsure if applications are being accepted, please email oustudents-voice@open.ac.uk for more information.
Am I eligible to apply to be a Student Representative?
To apply for a Student Representative role at Open SU, you must meet the following criteria:
Active Student Status
You must be a registered and active Open University student. This means you are either:
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Currently studying a module, or
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Have previously completed a module and are registered to begin your next module when the Student Representative role starts.
Eligible Modules
You must be studying Open University modules worth at least 30 credits.
Students registered as Postgraduate Researchers or on an Access module are also eligible.
Role-Specific Requirements
Some roles may have additional eligibility criteria. For example, certain positions might require you to be studying specific modules or qualifications. For example, if you are studying Maths, you will not be eligible for a Law committee.
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 is to help you prioritise your studies and maintain positive academic progress.
Decisions on eligibility will be made by the Student Voice Team at the time of application.
If you are interested in becoming a Student Representative and would like more information, please get in touch with us, we will be happy to hear from you (oustudents-voice@open.ac.uk).