1. education
2. graduate school
3. college

Contents
Welcome ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Contacts .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Student Rep System ................................................................................................................................ 5
Role responsibilities – College Rep ..................................................................................................... 6
Role responsibilities – Subject Rep ..................................................................................................... 7
Benefits, Rewards and Enhancing Your Employability ........................................................................... 8
Freebies and perks .............................................................................................................................. 8
Rep of the Year Award ........................................................................................................................ 9
H.E.A.R............................................................................................................................................... 10
Training and Support ............................................................................................................................ 11
Communication ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Surveys and Feedback ........................................................................................................................... 15
Quality Assurance and Enhancement ................................................................................................... 16
Student Rep Checklist ........................................................................................................................... 17
University Structure .............................................................................................................................. 18
Student-Staff Committee .................................................................................................................. 19
Board of Studies ................................................................................................................................ 19
College Learning and Teaching Committee ...................................................................................... 20
Academic Board (UG; PGT; PGR)....................................................................................................... 21
Student Window ............................................................................................................................... 21
Students’ Union Structure .................................................................................................................... 22
Education Officer Drop-Ins ............................................................................................................... 22
SU Student Rep Forums .................................................................................................................... 22
SU Feedback Structure ...................................................................................................................... 23
The Academies and the Academic Success Programme ....................................................................... 24
New this year ........................................................................................................................................ 26
Bay Campus ....................................................................................................................................... 26
Surveys Campaign 2014/15 work placement ................................................................................... 27
Specialisation and Champions .......................................................................................................... 27
List of Acronyms .................................................................................................................................... 28
1|Page
Welcome
Hello Student Reps!
First of all, congratulations on being elected to be course reps by your fellow students! It is a
fantastic achievement, and we hope you are all pleased to be joining a network of representatives at
Swansea University.
I am Ilana Cohen, the Education Officer for Swansea University Students’ Union and I am the
supervisor of all course representatives here! Subject Reps are highly regarded by the University and
it is your chance to get yours and your course mate’s voices heard.
The transferable skills you will gain will be invaluable; from communication to sitting on committees,
your CVs will be full of qualities all employers are looking to see.
I hope you enjoy your term in office, and my door is always open for you!
Ilana Cohen
Education Officer
2|Page
Welcome
Congratulations on being elected as a student rep. The University and the Students’ Union work in
partnership together to ensure that students have the best possible experience at Swansea and your
role in the coming year will be vital in ensuring that helping your fellow students have a voice and
that their opinions are heard.
The Students’ Union and the University are proud of the student representation system at Swansea
and Student Reps are highly valued. Your role enables students to provide feedback on the quality
of their programme and their student experience at Swansea. By representing the views and
interests of other students you will be providing an essential link between students, the Students’
Union and the University.
This handbook will provide you with advice and information on your new role in order to help you
get the most out of it. If at any point in the coming year you need further support or guidance the
Students’ Union and the University are here to help you.
I hope you have an enjoyable and fulfilling year as a Student Rep.
Adrian Novis
Acting Director of Academic Services
3|Page
Contacts
Ilana Cohen
Education Officer, Students' Union
[email protected]
Fliss Wagstaff
Student Engagement Officer, Swansea University
[email protected]
Matt Hurst
Student Voice & Campaigns Coordinator, Students’ Union
[email protected]
Sara Correia
Student Experience Research Co-ordinator, Students' Union
[email protected]
Raegan Healy
Student Communications Officer, Swansea University
[email protected]
Ceinwen Cloney
President, Students’ Union
[email protected]
4|Page
Student Rep System
The University has mechanisms in place to ensure that students are represented at all levels of its
decision making processes. The structure of these mechanisms is outlined later on in the handbook,
but for now here is a breakdown of the Student Representation System and your role and
responsibilities within it.
5|Page
Role responsibilities – College Rep
Appointed: Subject Reps* can apply to become a College Rep. Applicants will be interviewed by staff
from both the Students’ Union and the University.
Term of Office: 12 months
Accountable to: Subject Reps; students they represent.
Attends: Academic Board; University Learning and Teaching Committee; College Learning and
Teaching Committee (CLTC); Board of Studies (BoS); Staff-Student Committee (SSC); College-Subject
Rep Meeting; Student Union Rep Forum;
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Attend Student Rep training;

Coordinate and chair College-Subject Rep meetings at least twice per semester;

Communicate with the students they represent on a regular basis and collect feedback
regarding their academic experience;

Represent all student opinions at all meetings they attend;

Feedback to students on the outcomes of all meetings attended;

Assist their Subject Reps with their role;

Attend and contribute to University Quality Assurance procedures (i.e. Periodic Programme
Review, Programme Approval Committees and Student Experience Engagements);

Encourage student feedback through the promotion of the NSS and other University
feedback mechanisms, including Module Feedback;

Work in partnership with the University and Students’ Union to identify examples of best
practice of student engagement and enhance the student experience.
*A minimum of a year’s experience as a Subject Rep is required to be eligible to apply for this role.
6|Page
Role responsibilities – Subject Rep
Elected: by the students within the relevant department/subject that they represent.
Term of Office: 12 months
Accountable to: the students they represent.
Attends: Departmental Board of Studies (BoS); Staff-Student Committees (SSC); College-Subject Rep
Meeting; Student Union Rep Forum.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Attend Student Rep training;

Communicate with the students they represent on a regular basis and collect feedback
regarding their academic experience;

Represent all student opinions at all meetings they attend;

Feedback to students on the outcomes of all meetings attended;

Assist their College Rep with their role;

Encourage student feedback through the promotion of the NSS and other University
feedback mechanisms, including Module Feedback;

Work in partnership with the University and Students’ Union to identify examples of best
practice of student engagement and enhance the student experience.

Subject Reps can also attend and participate in University Quality Assurance processes (i.e.
Periodic Programme Review, Programme Approval Committees and Student Experience
Engagements) but this is not compulsory.
7|Page
Benefits, Rewards and Enhancing Your Employability
There are many benefits and rewards to being a Rep and this section lay some of these out for you.
A good degree continues to be an important advantage in getting a great job, but unfortunately,
these days, it is rarely enough. Employers, sifting through countless graduate applications, will look
for someone who stands out from the crowd. Gaining experience and developing your skills whilst
you study can give you a competitive edge and the Student Rep System provides you with excellent
opportunities to do this and to build up a stand out CV.
Freebies and perks
Everyone likes some freebies so here’s what you get as a Rep:
College Rep
£150 bursary x 2*
Sweatshirt & T-shirt
Backpack
Drinks bottle
USB
Notebook
Pen
Key ring
Lanyard
Subject Rep
T-shirt
Shopper bag
Pen
Key ring
Lanyard
Free upgrades on tea/coffee from medium to large at JCs**
Access to an iPad for meetings**
*Yes, we will give you £150 at the end of semester one and another £150 at the end of semester
two, but you have to earn it! You need to demonstrate to us that you have been fulfilling your
responsibilities as a College Rep and communicating well with students.
**We only have a limited number of iPads for you to use in meetings so we can’t guarantee there
will always be one available for you. College Rep requests take priority. You lose or break them, you
pay for them.
8|Page
Rep of the Year Award
To recognise the hard work of our Student Reps and to ensure that the rest of the student body has
the opportunity to thank you for your efforts on their behalf we have the Rep of the Year Award.
Students put forward their nominations and a panel of Students’ Union and University Staff judge
who has made the most significant contribution to student engagement and enhancing the student
experience. The prize is presented at the end of the academic year at the Students’ Union Awards in
June along with an unlimited number of Highly Commended Awards.
Highly Commended Awards enable us to acknowledge as much of your hard work as possible. For
those Reps who have contributed a lot within their role throughout the year we want to make sure
that your efforts don’t go unrecognised.
Nick Short - Rep of the Year 2013/14
Becoming a Student Rep is one of the best choices you can make at University. It gives you a chance
to make a real difference, not only to your fellow course mates, but to the University as a whole. The
role of Subject Rep has never been more encompassing, ranging from being the voice of complaints
and feedback between your course mates and lecturers, to making changes at some of the highest
University committees via College Reps. You have the ability to make changes in the areas that affect
you and your class, so make the most of it!
The skills you will develop through the year will prove invaluable for the future, especially
organisation and public speaking skills. Your efforts won't go unrewarded either, with various
incentives through the year and recognition on your HEAR report.
Enjoy the year, and good luck!
Gateway to Employment – Awards and HEAR
The University offers an ever-growing variety of awards, which provide all students with the
opportunity to gain more experience and develop their skills. The majority of these are open to all
students and we could do with your help to promote them to your peers. These awards are a great
way enhance your CV and improve your employability.
SU Societies Awards
Sustainability Award
Swansea Employability Award
International Award
Discovery Award (Pathways)
Egypt Centre Award
To find out more about each of these awards check out the Gateway to Employment page on My
Uni.
9|Page
H.E.A.R
What is HEAR?
The Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) provides you with a single, comprehensive record
of your achievements whilst in Higher Education. It enables both students and employers to better
understand the achievements gained and skills developed during a student’s period of study.
Student Reps and HEAR
The University and Students’ Union have created a bespoke framework to ensure Reps are rewarded
with official HEAR accreditation in recognition of the contribution the make to Swansea University.
Obviously, this is conditional upon you meeting the requirements outlined in the table below.
Reps will be asked to give evidence where the information is available and relevant, in some cases
this will be the majority but not all requirements in order to be verified.
Award:
Requirements:
Validation Method:
Bronze (Subject
 Attend Mandatory Training &
 Verification via
Representative)
Retraining
attendance
registered signed at
 Attend all SSCs and provide
each event
attendance record
 Verification via
 Attend and assist with #StudyAid at
meeting minutes
least once a term.
and emails
 Assist with module feedback
 Verification via
publicity and completion
emails, meeting
 Assistance with the Surveys
minutes and copies
Campaign
of feedback forms.
 Attend all subject representative

Verification via
forums per term with feedback
#studyaid rota
forms or chair meeting

Verification via
 Produce a reflective feedback log
emails and
/annual report regarding
screenshots of
enhancement, student feedback,
publicity
engagement and future
 As above.
improvements.
Silver (Subject
 As above AND:
 Verification via
Rep/College
#studyaid rota
 Attend and assist with #StudyAid at
Representative)
least 3x term
 Verification via
meeting minutes
 Attendance at college level
and emails
learning and teaching committees
Gold (Institutional
Representative)



As above AND:
Represent the University at an
institutional level e.g. periodic
program review attendance.
Short-listed for Subject/College
Representative of the Year in SUSU
Awards


Verification via
attendance at
Review and
contribution to the
Student Written
Submission
Verification via the
SUSU Awards
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Training and Support
Here as an overview of the training you will receive and the support on offer to you as a Rep. For
more information and to access to Rep Resources check out the Student Rep pages on My Uni.
Meeting skills
You will learn how to:
 prepare for meetings;
 understand and contribute to agendas
 conduct yourself in meetings;
 raise issues/voice concerns;
 challenge decisions.
Communication Skills
We will cover:
 verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills;
 Introducing yourself to your fellow students;
 Gathering student feedback;
 Communicating with staff;
 Feeding back to those you represent.
Effective Signposting
Students may come to you with problems or concerns that aren’t really related to their academic
studies or may involve more complex/sensitive issues. It is not your responsibility to deal with these
matters and we will enable you to know where to direct students to obtain the help and support
they need.
How to utilise feedback
The University has a number of mechanisms in place to enable students to feedback on their
learning and teaching experience, such as Student Experience Surveys, Module Feedback and
External Examiner reports. We will show you how you can utilise the data from these various
mechanisms to support your arguments and the importance of promoting these mechanisms to
students to ensure their voice is being heard.
Quality Assurance and Enhancement
The University has a Code of Practice for Quality Assurance, which outlines the infrastructure for
assuring standards and enhancing quality as Swansea. As Student Reps you have the opportunity to
contribute to a number of the University’s quality assurance mechanisms and we will provide
training and guidance to enable you to participate in procedures such as (detailed descriptions can
be found in Quality Assurance and Enhancement section of the Handbook),




Programme Approval Committees;
Annual Programme Reviews;
Periodic Programme Reviews
Student Experience Engagements.
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Support
In addition to the training you receive, there are also a team of staff from both the University and
Students’ Union here to support you in your role. All our contact details are listed at the beginning of
this handbook and on the Student Rep pages on My Uni.
You also have access to a bookable Meeting Room in Students’ Union, subject to availability. Please
contact Matt Hurst if you would like to use this facility. Please book in advance to avoid
disappointment.
Your Education Officer will hold drop in sessions for Student Reps. We will update you with dates
and times throughout the year.
Ilana Cohen
Education Officer
Ilana is this year’s Full Time Officer for Education. Elected by Swansea students, she will be your
main voice to the University on all matters relating to your learning and teaching experience. Some
of her key objectives for her term in office are to move towards a more standardised approach to
services across the University; increased College Office opening hours; improved timetabling
procedures; better enhance student engagement in learning and teaching processes.
Fliss Wagstaff
Student Engagement Officer
This is a newly created post within the University aimed towards enhancing student engagement
and identifying new ways of enabling students to actively participate in their learning experience.
As part of her role, Fliss works in partnership with the Students’ Union to coordinate Student
Representation at Swansea and will be your main point of contact within the University for all your
Student Rep activities.
Matt Hurst
Student Voice & Campaigns Co-ordinator
Matt is responsible for student representation, campaigns and democracy within the Students’
Union.
Matt is the main point of contact within the Students’ Union for Student Representation and will be
on hand to help with all aspects of College and Student Rep activities, including committee meeting
briefings, guidance on campaigns and co-ordinating Student Rep Forums.
Sara Giro Correia
Student Experience Research Co-ordinator
As part of her role, Sara co-ordinates the writing of the Union’s Student Experience Report with
which you as Subject/College Reps will be heavily involved.
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Sara analyses information that is of relevance to student experience such internal/external survey
data (e.g. the National Student Survey), minutes of meetings, external reports etc; she looks at what
other unions and universities are doing to identify gaps; collects information directly from students
with questionnaires and focus groups. Sara can help you gather the information you need to put
forward strong arguments to the university/staff/other students when issues come up on your
course/subject area.
Full Time Officers – Ceinwen Cloney (President), Joel Gascoyne (Welfare Officer), Jerry
Isokariari (Societies and Services) and Charlotte Peters (Sports).
The full time officers are the political voice of the representatives. Themselves elected by fellow
students, they can assist you in your role as Student Reps. The five full time officers represent
different areas of student representation including Education, Sports, Societies and Welfare.
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Communication
A crucial part of your role is letting your students know what you are doing, how you are acting on
their feedback and any future developments. Below are some ideas of how to keep your students
updated.
Emails
Many students are frustrated by the number of emails they receive and often delete many without
reading them. Therefore, it is important that you try and limit the number of emails you send and
utilise other channels as discussed here for certain matters. Hopefully, once your course mates start
to recognise you as their Rep they will start to look out for emails from you.
Lecture hits
Lectures and seminars are a great way of getting a point across quickly to a large group of people.
These can also be really useful for raising awareness of key happenings such as, Module Feedback or
Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards (ELTA). Make sure to ask permission from the lecturer
beforehand.
Facebook
A Facebook group is a great way of interacting with other students on your course. Students can
leave comments and discuss matters relating to their course. Please remember, it is important to
use social media appropriately and responsibly. Try to avoid making personal comments and ask
students not to mention staff by name.
Twitter
You can keep up to date with new developments and events via Twitter. The University and
Students’ Union have various Twitter feeds with regular updates about what’s happening at
Swansea University.
Noticeboards
It’s always worth utilising your course/department noticeboard for certain information and
promoting key events and initiatives, but make sure you ask permission from whoever is responsible
for these within your College/Department.
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Surveys and Feedback
The University and Students’ Union is committed to improving and enhancing the Student
Experience, but it can’t do this without feedback from students. Over the course of the year we will
ask you to help us promote some of the key surveys and feedback mechanism to your fellow
students.
National Student Survey (NSS)
The NSS is a national survey for final year undergraduate students to give their opinion on the
quality of their course and their overall satisfaction with their institution. The results of this survey
greatly inform many university league tables and as a result Swansea University is keen to encourage
student engagement with the NSS and works very hard to improve and enhance the student
experience to ensure the best results.
Student Experience Survey (SES); Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES); Postgraduate
Research Experience Survey (PRES)
To ensure all students are able to provide feedback and to obtain a true overall understanding of
student needs, the University operates surveys for students at each level of the studies. These
surveys largely mirror the questions of the NSS to ensure continuity.
Module Feedback
At the end of each semester the University asks students to comment on each of their modules.
From lecture room facilities to the standard teaching, Module Feedback is the most direct and
effective way to tell the University what’s good and what needs improving.
External Examiner Reports
External Examiners assist in ensuring consistency and fairness of marking, and provide independent
review of the University’s marking processes. They are provided with a sample of assessed work for
each module and are required to comment upon the standards and consistency of marking, making
recommendations for further moderation if required. External Examiner reports are submitted to
the Academic Registry and distributed to Colleges for consideration and response. As members of
College and University committees, Student Reps have access to External Examiners reports, which
you can utilise to inform your arguments for change and to feedback to the Students you represent.
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Quality Assurance and Enhancement
College reps will be invited to take part in a number of University processes that seek to maintain
and enhance the quality of learning & teaching at Swansea. More detailed descriptions can be found
in the University’ Code of Practice for Quality Assurance.
Programme Approval Committee
The Programme Approval Committee (PAC) reviews all proposals for new programmes on behalf of
the University to ensure they meet the required benchmark statements set by the QAA and, more
importantly, will provide a great experience for students who undertake them.
Annual Programme Reviews
The purpose of the Annual Programme Reviews (APR) procedure is to reflect upon, evaluate and
enhance current programmes and modules. They provide information that enables the University to
ensure confidence in the validity of its programmes and their intended learning outcomes. APRs also
contribute information that will inform Periodic Programme Reviews (PPR) and decisions regarding
the future of programmes.
Periodic Programme Reviews
The purpose of the Periodic Programme Reviews (PPR) procedure is to ensure that a programme(s)
aims, outcomes, curricula structure, learning, teaching and assessment methods remain valid,
current and appropriate in line with external subject standards.
Student Experience Engagements
The purpose of the Student Experience Engagement procedure is to enable the University to address
issues in underperforming areas. The process is designed to be positive rather than disciplinary and
ensure Colleges have the required support from the University to address the areas of concern
identified. There are 3 stages of Student Experience Engagements depending on the level of
concern, which can be triggered by a number of factors. However, the principle reason will be
student satisfaction data from student survey results.
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Student Rep Checklist
☐
Student Rep Handbook
☐
Diary of meetings – Students’ Union /University/College
☐
Training Schedule
☐
My Uni, Student Representation webpages and resources
☐
Joined/Created Facebook page, Twitter account
☐
Students’Union and University key contacts
☐
Committee chairs and secretaries – who are they?
 Student Staff Committee (SSC)
 Board of Studies (BoS)
 College Learning and Teaching Committee (CLTC)
 Academic Board
☐
College Contact for:
 Booking rooms
 Accessing noticeboards
 Obtaining diary of meetings
☐
Identified and introduced yourself to your fellow course mates
☐
Picked up freebies
17 | P a g e
University Structure
Universities are pretty complex mechanisms, comprised of various departments and committees,
which all communicate and report to one another at different levels, and Swansea is no exception to
this. These structures and mechanisms can be confusing even to those within them, but hopefully
the following diagrams and explanations will help illustrate how stuff gets done.
We’ve only included the committees most relevant to your role, but if you want to learn how these
fit in to the bigger picture of the beast that is Swansea University check out the Rep Resources pages
under the Student Representation tab on My Uni.
N.B. the following descriptions are a summary of committees’ roles not the official terms of
reference.
N.B. the following descriptions are a summary of committees’ roles not the official terms of
reference.
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Student-Staff Committee
Function: To provide a means for Student Representatives to communicate with and give feedback
to Colleges on the student experience.
Convenes: at least once per semester
Reports to: College Learning and Teaching Committee (CLTC)
Student Representation: Subject and College Reps
Remit:





To provide a means of discussing all aspects of the educational experience of students in the
College;
To consider student views and feedback on:
 Teaching on programmes within the College
 Assessment and Feedback
 Academic Support
 Organisational and Management issues
 Learning Resources within the College and University
 Student Personal Development
To receive reports on the outcome of University/Students’ Union surveys of the student
experience* and the implementation of recommendations arising therefrom.
To receive reports from Student Representatives;
To consider matters arising from meetings of the Student Union Forum
*these include, but are not limited to the National Student Survey (NSS), Student Experience Survey
(SES), Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES), Postgraduate Research Experience Survey
(PRES).
Board of Studies
Function: To assure and enhance the quality of the College’s taught provision and the student’s
learning experience for all taught programmes within the remit of the board.
Reports to: College Learning and Teaching Committee (CLTC)
Convenes: Minimum of three meetings per year.
Student Representation: Subject and College Reps
Remit:


To initiate and refer proposals to the College Learning and Teaching Committee for the
introduction/modification of programmes and modules within its subject discipline(s) and
make recommendations to the College and University with regard to withdrawal/suspension
of programmes.
Receive comments from, and provide responses to, external examiners’ reports, periodic
programme review reports and professional body engagement reports.
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




Refer issues arising from the regular monitoring and review of programmes to the College
Learning and Teaching Committee.
Implement any actions and provide responses to reports, as required by the College
Learning and Teaching Committee.
To complete the Annual Programme Review (APR) for all taught programmes within the
remit of the Board.
To provide a response to external examiner’s reports, NSS, PTES and other student feedback.
Liaise with relevant subject discipline associations, professional bodies, University Academic
Board, RQSC, University Academies, Academic Registry, APECS, ISS and SALT as necessary.
College Learning and Teaching Committee
Function: To assure and enhance the quality of the College’s taught provision and the student’s
learning experience. To oversee the implementation and monitoring of University strategy and
policy for learning, teaching and assessment policy for all taught programmes of study within the
College. To oversee the activities of the Boards of Studies and learning and teaching activities.
Reports to: College Management Committee; University Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC)
Convenes: At least twice per semester.
Student Representation: College Reps
Remit:




To assure and monitor the implementation of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment
practices in the context of the University’s overall Learning, Teaching and Assessment
Strategy, policies and Codes of Practice.
To oversee the implementation of Quality Assurance and enhancement procedures within
the College including:
 Module approval (new and revised modules)
 Programme suspension or withdrawal
 Proposals for new or revised programmes
 Review Programme Quality Information and other key student experience data
To review, monitor and report on all of the following:
 Annual Programme Review
 Periodic Programme Review
 External Examiner Reports and appointments
 College’s Programme Portfolio
 College documents e.g. Student Handbooks
 Student Experience and engagement
 College’s pastoral arrangements e.g. Personal Tutoring System
 Peer observation of teaching
To provide reports to the following:
 Academic Boards (undergraduate, postgraduate taught)
 University’s Learning and Teaching Committee
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


 Collaborative Provision Committee
 Use of Welsh Committee
 Regulations, Quality and Standards Committee
To promote and implement University enhancement themes and initiatives, including those
relating to the activities of the Academies.
To promote effective and innovative research-led, practice driven learning, teaching and
assessment approaches.
To promote and assure student engagement and partnership.
Academic Board (UG; PGT; PGR)
Function: To contribute actively to the development of an academic and strategic plan for all aspects
of student provision.
Reports to: Regulations, Quality and Standards Committee (RQSC)
Convenes: Once per semester
Student Representation: College Reps
Remit:

Academic Boards will consider and make decisions/recommendations on the following:
 Quality assurance and enhancement policies
 Academic regulations and procedures
 Complaints, Student Discipline, Unfair Practice and Appeals
 Award of degrees and exit qualifications through the Award and Progression Boards
 Issues relating to Student Experience and Internationalisation
 Validation, suspension and withdrawal of programmes
 Appointment of Deans, Associate Deans and External Examiners
 Issues relating to equal opportunities, widening access, Welsh medium provision,
disability, employability.
Student Window
In addition to students being full members of committees, you also have the opportunity to
contribute via something called the ‘student window’. This allows you to raise matters from
elsewhere on the agenda, or to add additional items for discussion without the need for full formal
papers, via the Committee Secretary or Chair, up to twenty four hours before the scheduled
meeting. The idea is to ensure greater student representation and engagement.
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Students’ Union Structure
Education Officer Drop-Ins
The Education Officer will run weekly drop in sessions to which reps can bring issues and/or
concerns arising on their course. Please contact the Education Officer directly in order to find out
about the dates/times of the drop-in each week.
SU Student Rep Forums
To insure that we act together as students and in partnership with the University to improve the
student experience, we need communicate, share and learn from each other. For this purpose, all
Subject and College Reps are expected to attend the termly Student Rep Forum for their respective
college, as well as the end of year Student Rep Conference. The dates are as follows:
College of Engineering
College of Arts and Humanities
School of Management
College of Medicine
College of Law and Criminology
College of Human and Health Sciences
College of Science
Student Rep Conference (All Colleges)
Monday 10 November 2014, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Tuesday 10 March 2015, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Tuesday 11 November 2014, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Monday 9 March 2015, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Thursday 13 November 2014, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Tuesday 3 March 2015, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Monday 17 November 2014, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Tuesday 17 March 2015, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Tuesday 18 November 2014, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Thursday 12 March 2015, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Thursday 20 November 2014, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Thursday 5 March 2015, 6-8pm
Location: tbc
Wednesday 26 November, 6-8pm
Location: Hive
Monday 16 March, 6-8pm
Location: Hive
Tuesday 21st April 2015
PM, Location: tbc
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SU Feedback Structure
Subject Reps, College Reps and the Education Officer all have a responsibility to listen to students,
collect their feedback and represent their views:
Below is a diagram of how the SU is structured. Subject and College Reps feedback is central to make
sure the Union is here for students:
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The Academies and the Academic Success Programme
Academies
Since 2009 the University has established four academies each dedicated to improving the student
experience and graduate attainment. Whereas, University committees each have their own remit
and work to ensure policies are fit for purpose and regulations are adhered to, the academies are
able to take a more holistic approach and co-ordinate work across the University to identify and
disseminate good practice and expertise. They also promote new initiatives and activities and
provide a source of guidance and advice.
Below are brief outlines of the role of each of the Academies. To find out more about the work they
do and how you can get involved, you can access their webpages via the quick links menu on the
Student Rep pages on My Uni.
Swansea Academy of Learning and Teaching (SALT)
SALT was the first of the University Academies to be established and is dedicated to enhancing the
student learning experience and promoting good practice in learning and teaching across the
University.
It also seeks to develop pedagogy through seminars and workshops aimed at sharing interesting and
innovative practice.
It hosts an annual Excellence in Learning and Teaching Conference, which showcases good and best
practice across the University. It is also responsible for the Excellence in Learning and Teaching
Awards, which is awarded to staff who have made an outstanding contribution to the student
learning experience. Students are able to nominate their favourite lecturer and the award is
presented annually at the University’s graduation ceremonies.
Swansea Employability Academy (SEA)
SEA promotes new initiatives, showcases good practice and provides you with opportunities to
improve your skills and record achievement using the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).
There are Employability Directors in every College. They lead a team which will help students at all
levels of study to reach their potential – whether through a job, self-employment or further study.
SEA also works in partnership with the University’s Careers and Employability Service to provide
students with the best possible guidance, advice and access to opportunities with regards to their
future careers.
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Swansea Academy of Inclusivity and Learner Support (SAILS)
SAILS is dedicated to widening access to increase opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds
to benefit from higher education. It also focuses on ensuring that students have the support, both
academic and pastoral, that they need to succeed in their studies.
It works closely with the South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnership (SWWRWP) and other
partners in the region to further develop a culture of inclusivity and identify further pathways into
higher education for under-represented groups.
Academi Hywel Teifi (AHT)
The work of AHT is threefold. It is a centre of excellence for studying Welsh language and literature;
it promotes Welsh-medium teaching and research; it works to ensure a greater status for the Welsh
language across the University and south-west Wales.
AHT supports and enriches the Welsh-medium provision at Swansea and encourages collaboration,
entrepreneurship and opportunities through the medium of Welsh.
It is also home to the South-West Wales Welsh for Adults Centre and the Swansea University Branch
of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
Academic Success Programme
The Academic Success Programme (ASP) runs courses, workshops and one-to-one appointments to
all Swansea University students at any stage of their studies to enable them to make the most of
their learning potential. Whether a student is struggling or excelling, ASP offers something for
everyone and helps students optimise the way they study and focus their talents to get the most
from their time at Swansea University. Having many years of experience and being highly qualified,
the ASP Team are experienced and offer students friendly, professional advice and support.
As a Student Rep it is part of your role to help promote the excellent work of ASP and signpost your
peers to this service should they need it. To find out more about ASP and what they offer, you can
access their webpages via the quick links menu on the My Uni Student Rep pages.
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New this year
Bay Campus
With a campus in a park and one on a beach, in 2015/16 Swansea will become a dual-campus
university and a unique place to study.
The University is building a new, 65 acre, Bay Campus located along Fabian Way on the eastern
approach to Swansea, which will be home to the College of Engineering and School of Management
from 2015 onwards.
Singleton Park Campus has already undergone significant changes over the past few years and
further improvements and refurbishment will continue to transform the 47 acre site.
As such, 2014/15 is going to be an exciting year in the final build up to the opening of the Bay
Campus and we would like you as Student Reps be involved. There will be opportunities over the
forthcoming year to contribute to ongoing aspects of the development and the University is
committed that Student Reps play a key role in decision making processes.
Student Reps and Bay Campus
This year Student Reps have a unique opportunity to be part of Swansea University’s major
transformation as it becomes a dual-campus University and you will play a key role in
communicating this to the rest of the student body.
The University and Union are currently working hard to make sure it can offer the same standard of
services and facilities for students across both campuses. From requesting a transcript to picking up
a coffee at JCs, the aim is that students will be able to get what they need at Park or Bay.
We will also be identifying initiatives to help build the same sense of community at the Bay Campus
as currently exists here at Singleton and would like you to help us achieve this.
Check out the Student Rep pages for ways to involved and how to sign up for Bay Campus tours.
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Surveys Campaign 2014/15 work placement
In partnership with the Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) we are introducing a bespoke work
placement for Student Reps to participate in the University’s Surveys Campaign 2014/15. Student
Reps always play a key role in promoting the NSS and other surveys to students and many give up
their time to volunteer at promotional events throughout the survey period.
To enable you as Reps to get more from their participation in the Campaign we have developed 7
work placements. Successful applicants will form part of the Campaign Monitoring Board (CMB) and:
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contribute to key aspects of the development of the campaign and resulting action plans;
monitor response rates and identify strategies for improvement;
assist staff in Colleges to promote the campaign and work in partnership to identify
effective, targeted approaches to encourage student feedback;
manage and monitor promotional aspects of the campaign via social media;
plan and co-ordinate events: recruit and co-ordinate small groups of student volunteers to
promote the campaign
More information and how to apply for one of these work placements will be available on the My
Uni Student Rep pages.
Specialisation and Champions
This year we are able to offer all students the exciting opportunity to specialise in promoting or
championing a specific area or initiative that interests you. This opportunity will offer students who
have a specific interest in one or more of these areas the chance to gain a more in depth knowledge
and become a champion for the initiative, supporting its promotion and dissemination throughout
not only their college or department but the University as a whole.
This initiative is being trialled for the 2014/15 and we would hope that students who have taken on
this role would work with use to enhance and improve the programme for future years by providing
us with feedback from their experiences.
If you would like to become more involved you could choose to work with one of the following areas
or feel free to come to us with suggestions:
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Academies
Academic Success Programme
Module Feedback
Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards
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List of Acronyms
AAC
Academic Advisory Committee
AHT
Academi Hywel Teifi
APR
Annual Programme Review
AQI
Academic Quality Indicators
ASP
Academic Success Programme
BME
Black and Minority Ethnic
CCC
Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol
CES
Careers and Employability Service
CLTC
College Learning and Teaching Committees
CPQA
Code of Practice for Quality Assurance
CSE
Customer Service Excellence
DALLAS
Distance and Lifelong Learning Access Scheme
DLHE
Destination of Leavers in Higher Education
ELTA
Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards
ELTC
Excellence in Learning and Teaching Conference
ELTS
English Language Training Services
ESSA
Excellence in Student Support Awards
FAP
Feedback and Assessment Policy
FHEQ
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
FTO
Full Time Officer
GEM
Graduate-Entry Medicine
HEA
Higher Education Academy
HEAR
Higher Education Achievement Report
HEFCE
Higher Education Founding Council for England
HEFCW
Higher Education Founding Council for Wales
HESA
Higher Education Statistical Agency
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ICWS
International College Wales Swansea
IDO
International Development Office
ISAS
International Student Advisory Service
ISS
Information Systems and Services
JISC
Joint Information Systems Committee
KESS
Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship
KPI
Key Performance Indicators
LIC
Library and Information Centre
LTA
Learning, Teaching and Assessment
LTC
Learning and Teaching Committee
NSS
National Student Survey
NUS
National Union of Students
OIA
Office of the Independent Adjudicator
PAC
Programme Approval Committee
PGR
Postgraduate Research
PPR
Periodic Programme Review
PRES
Postgraduate Research Experience Survey
PSMT
Professional Services Management Team
PSPU
Planning and Strategic Projects Unit
PT
Personal tutor
PTES
Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey
PVC
Pro Vice Chancellor
QAA
Quality Assurance Agency
RCUK
Research Councils UK
REF
Research Excellence Framework
RQSC
Regulations, Quality and Standards Committee
SAC
Student Affairs Committee
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SAILS
Swansea Academy of Inclusivity and Learner Support
SALT
Swansea Academy of Learning and Teaching
SEA
Swansea Employability Academy
SES
Student Experience Survey
SIFE
Students in Free Enterprise
SITS
Strategic Information Technology Services Ltd
SMT
Senior Management Team
SPDG
Strategic Programme Development Group
SPIN
Swansea Paid Internships Network
SSS
Student Support Services
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine
SUAC
Students' Union Advice Centre
SWWRWP
South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnership
THE
Times Higher Education
tHE
Teaching in Higher Education
UAB
University Academic Board
VLE
Virtual Learning Environment
WIDAR
Workers in Democracy and Representation
WISE
Wales Initiative for Student Engagement
WOW
Week of Work
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