On the 29th of September at 5 pm, voting in Student Rep Elections officially closed with results due to be announced in the near future.
Student Reps are defined by the Students’ Union as the “voice of the students on their course”, providing a “vital link between the student body, the University, and the Students’ Union.”
Their fundamental role is to listen to students’ concerns, thoughts, and suggestions about their course and pass this feedback back on to staff.
Nominations to become a Student Rep are usually held at the start of every academic year, though every course or School has a specific co-ordinator who is responsible for overseeing the Student Rep elections within their department meaning election processes can vary slightly.
Maheen Hussain and Mia Strand, two former Student Reps, told the Students’ Union: “All in all, the role of student rep itself is viewed positively by students as it provides them with a voice which gets counted for, and we are very happy being a part of that.”
Usually, in the first few weeks of term, a member of staff will contact students, inviting them to both stand and vote in the elections.
Successfully elected Student Reps will then receive training before starting their role, and there are various workshops on offer throughout the year including “An introduction to digital campaigning”, “Why is no-one listening to me?”, and “Making the most out of Meetings”.
Student Reps will also be awarded the HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Award) at the end of their post.
Additionally, as part of the Students’ Union’s Annual Celebrate Week celebrations, there are three Student Rep of the Year awards (one for each faculty), with staff and students nominating student Reps that have been consistently active and engaged throughout the year.
Winners in 2016/2017 were Hannah-Rose Ford (School of Medical Sciences), Bruna Frydman (School of Mechanical Aerospace and Civil Engineering), and Roisin Ni Chulachain (Alliance Manchester Business School).
