Education Officer Blog

This month I have been diving into training and meetings to get my footing when it comes to the position of education officer.

Training

I have completed lots of training within the SU with different teams to learn and expand my skills. We focused on how to work well as a team, utilise our skills and others, and even the finer details like finance too! We were even fortunate enough to travel to Leicester University for a training day with lots of other student officers from around the midlands. Although it was information overload, I felt like I got to know lots of lovely people and bond with my fellow officers. 
 
During our training, we also met with lots of different university teams such as the RA team, finance, student support and the chaplaincy team. Everyone we have spoken to has been lovely and supportive and I hope to be able to foster these relationships to help support students with ongoing issues. I have even taken the time to meet with these people individually to discuss plans surrounding accessibility and sensory spaces.

Meetings

I have had the opportunity to dip my toes into many of the meeting groups that come with the position of education officer. Everyone in these groups has been supportive of me learning the ropes and it has been interesting to see how discussions go behind the scenes. I hope to be able to make my own points and stances in these meetings going forward to advocate for students and, once voice representatives are appointed, give them the confidence to do so too!

 Its been lots of fun getting to know lots of different staff and getting to talk to people about their ideas. I hope for positive changes to come, even if they happen behind the scenes! After a rocky start, students should start seeing positive changes to their timetables and assessments and feedback!

Student Voice Reps

Myself and the student voice team have been working together to make student voice reps even better than last year! I can't wait to get everyone's applications in September so they can start adding volunteering hours to their HEAR! 

The TRUE Varsity

We had the opportunity to meet with the University of Staffs Officers to discuss how we could work as a team to create bigger plans and support for both unis. It was lots of fun and we can't wait to see how working together can bring better opportunities for Keele!

The fun stuff

Throughout July we have had the opportunity to work with Soham on filming things for social media. We even took to this ourselves a bit during graduation week. We hope to continue this engagement as we love updating students on everything we are doing!

Graduation especially was lovely. It was great to see so many students celebrating their achievements and being able to be a part of so many ceremonies, whether Mace-Baring, Speaking or even graduating myself on Friday! 

Overall my first couple of months in office has been lots of fun and I can't wait to get stuck into getting ready for freshers!

River xoxo

Hi everyone! This year I have been working to improve your experience in a few different areas within the academic side of the university. If you have any questions or feedback around anything below (such as AI) please get in contact with me as it would be great to hear your views!

Study Spaces Survey – Open now until January!

· I’m currently gathering views on the student experience of studying on campus through my study spaces survey. It would be great to get as many undergraduate and postgraduate students are welcome to take part as the data gathered will be passed on to the university in the new year.

Brand New Voice Reps Structure

· This semester I have supported the recruitment and training of our new Programme and School Voice Reps and Faculty Officers as part of the changes brought in by the voice rep review last year. The review helped to re-balance the workload of each voice rep role and has improved student representation in undergraduate, postgraduate and apprenticeship courses across Keele.

Improving Appeals

· This year I have been working with the university to improve the student experience of the appeals process and pushing the university to be more transparent with students over its appeals and academic misconduct cases.

Student Rights Handbook

· I’m currently looking into creating a student rights handbook. This will bring together your academic, housing and part-time work rights all into one place so it makes it easier for students to know and understand what their rights are whilst studying at university.

Office for Students quality of education consultation

· The OfS currently has a consultation open on its proposed changes to how education quality is assessed at universities. I am working on putting a response together on behalf of Keele students and the SU to ensure students' voices are being heard in how their university own education is assessed in the future.

Improving Student Records Processes

· This year I have been pushing the university to improve the policies relating to reassessment and progression to ensure undergraduate have the right support as continue through their course and ensure there is consistency in how these policies are applied for postgraduate students.

Helping to Reduce Language Barriers

· This semester, me and Zoe have been pushing the university to get academic policies such as appeals made available in other languages to help support international students who have difficulties with language barriers when they first arrive at Keele.

AI Usage in Assessment

· Last year I helped contribute to the creation of AI guidance for assessment and pushed for the university to take a consistent position over students' use of AI. The next part of this is reviewing the impact the guidance has had so far to ensure students are benefiting from it and are not being unfairly penalised as well as reviewing AI use in assessment feedback.

Improving Timetabling:

· This year I’ve been continuing to push the university for improvements to the timetable as students continue to experience different issues. I have also become part of a new group which is overseeing the progression of the new university timetabling system which hopefully will result in many of the timetable issues students have had to deal over the past few years being fixed.

AI Policy:

• AI remains an issue and I continue to push for AI Student guidance as well as better communication so that students are as informed as possible with what is and is not acceptable use of AI.?

Marking and Moderation Review

• Currently working on Marking and Moderation Review, making sure students are being represented in the reviewed policy. ?

Student Voice Applications

• Worked with the Student Voice Manager to get 350 applications for Student Voice Representatives. We also had over 67 applications to become a Lead Student Voice Representative with 16 of these becoming Lead Reps.?

Student Voice Review

• Working on the Student Voice Review and changing the student voice rep system and make it easier to get voices heard and reduce barriers between different student groups to be able to incorporate student voice reps in apprenticeships and online only courses.

Study Spaces Consultation

• Had conversations with the library about improvements to study spaces using student consultation. Currently in early stages of planning this.?

Academic Mentor Review Group

• Academic Mentoring Review is ongoing. Currently reviewing the the academic mentor code of practice. The group will continue to review aspects of academic mentors as the year progresses.

October UGM – Student Voice, Academic Mentoring and Timetabling

SVRs and LVRs Update

In early October me and the Student Voice Manager appointed the Student Voice Representatives (SVRs) and Lead Voice Representatives (LVRs). Voice Rep training is currently available on the KLE for all voice representatives. Also having discussions with the Head of Apprenticeships to see how the SU and University can better improve the voice representation among apprenticeship students.

Academic Mentor Review

I am currently part of a review group looking at the role of the academic mentor, ensuring that students are getting supported properly by their academic mentors during their studies and that any changes made to academic mentoring will be for the benefit of all students and reduce inconsistences between schools.

Timetabling

In late summer I had discussions with Timetabling about the ongoing future developments being made to the timetable system. I am also having active conversations about the recent timetabling issues which have impacted schools.

Education Committees

During summer and throughout the semester, I have been attending Faculty Education and Education Committee meetings and I am part of discussions around ongoing developments such as student voice review, curriculum re-design, the restructure of both Natural Science and Medicine & Health Science Faculties and ensuring there is student representation in all academic related developments.

AI – I am pleased to see the university has published it’s study guide on AI, this can be accessed here Study Guide: Using Generative AI Effectively for your Learning (cloud.microsoft). I am continuing to push for a standard policy which requires module guides to have a clear and defined section where AI can be used in modules, including in assessments.

National Student Survey – The National Student Survey has launched, this is a survey for final years to fill in which covers the whole of your Keele experience. It is a great opportunity to have your voice heard, it has helped bring around changes in collaboration with Keele SU Officers like better peer mentoring support and 24/7 library opening hours.

Access and Participation Plan – myself and Tom are helping the university in the running of it’s student consultation around access and participation, this aims to reduce inequalities within the university for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds or those who have lower progression rates. Please get involved if you can, we will be launching a document for this soon!

Elections – Being Education Officer is an incredibly rewarding job, it’s significance is paramount to scrutinising the university and achieving big wins for students. I have loved my time in the role and can’t wait to see who is elected next!