“I really like getting involved with everything I can at UCW because I want to make the most out of my time here.

As well as studying for my Foundation Degree in Film and Media Arts Production, I also volunteer as a Student Governor and Student Representative, and represent UCW as a Student Ambassador.

Taking part is a great way to get to know everyone on different courses, and this networking has helped me a lot in meeting likeminded people to help out with my degree work and side projects.

My CV has also been boosted by all the different skills I’ve learned in these roles, so the time I put in now will really pay off in the future.

I also think it so important for students to have a loud voice in all of the discussions about how UCW is being run.

If you don’t have your say, you can’t really complain when decisions are being made that you don’t agree with.”

Recent UCW graduate Farhath Siddiqui

Your Student Experience and Engagement Manager is your representative on key committees at all levels within UCW and is there to ensure that your opinions are presented, listened to and actioned where appropriate.

Essentially, the role exists to help you have an outstanding student experience during your time with us. If there are any issues you would like to raise through the student voice, your Student Experience and Engagement Manager will be happy to take these on board. You don’t need to make an appointment; just pop into the HEART office in the Winter Gardens!

Current students who want to represent UCW in a formal position can apply to become a Student Ambassador. Our Student Ambassadors are important to how we are perceived in the community, and also play a big part in ensuring our recruitment activities run smoothly. The role includes, among other tasks, working alongside staff in delivering events in schools, attending UCAS and careers fairs to promote UCW, and also showing prospective students and their parents around our campuses and accommodation.

As well as the opportunity to gain interview practice in the selection process and learn communication, teamwork and other event-related skills, Student Ambassadors receive an hourly rate of pay. Student Ambassadors are also eligible for a reference from the HEART Team, and the hours they work can be counted towards earning the Student Engagement and Achievement Award. All Student Ambassadors are also given a free UCW hooded jumper to make sure they look the part!

To find out more about becoming a Student Ambassador and request a copy of the job description, contact the UCW Outreach Team on outreach@www.ucw.ac.uk or 01934 411 720.

Student Representatives, or ‘Reps’, have a big part to play in making positive changes at UCW. Two are chosen from every course to gather the views of the learning group and contribute to our decision-making processes.

They convey these views by attending Programme Team, Student Representative Committee and Staff Student Liaison Committee meetings. The role is all about making sure the student voice is heard by academic and management staff and that, when appropriate, these suggestions are acted upon. Reps are elected in the first few weeks of study.

‘Uni Reps’ are elected from both of our partner universities – Bath Spa University and UWE Bristol – to ensure that the views of students from the awarding bodies are taken into account in our decision-making processes.

They attend Higher Education Board of Study and Student Representative Committee meetings, and develop the relationships with the universities by organising visits from partner Student Unions, for example. This is also an elected role.

Freshers’ Angels are current degree students who help the new intake of students settle into Higher Education life at UCW.

Their role involves contributing to the design and implementation of the Freshers’ Week activities, attending all the Freshers’ Week events and activities and looking out for the best interests of new students at these events. Freshers’ Angels ensure that all new students are settling into their new environment (including the student accommodation) and help them get to know their new surroundings both on and off campus.

Peer Mentors are current degree students. The role of the Peer Mentor is to build relationships with his/her mentees, to act as a positive role model, and to support mentees to achieve their goals and make positive changes where needed.

The mentor is a point of contact who can give advice and guidance, or even be someone just to have a chat about worries with.

PAL Leaders work with our LibraryPlus staff to deliver study skills sessions to first-year students.

They facilitate group discussions, and share their knowledge in areas including academic writing and referencing, and learning strategies and techniques. This role is also only for second and third-year students, and is ideal for those who are considering teaching as a career option.

The Higher Education Student Engagement and Achievement award is a scheme to reward our students for their participation in extra-curricular actives within Higher Education at Weston College.

All HE students are eligible to sign up for the scheme. The roles that count towards the award include: Freshers’ Angel, Student Ambassador, Student Event Representative, Peer Mentor and Student Representative.

The award is broken down into three tiers, based on the number that students participate in. The three levels are:

Bronze: 25 hours of volunteering

Silver: 50 hours of volunteering

Gold: 75 hours of volunteering

Participants will record their hours in a record book and provide evidence where possible of their volunteered hours.

At completion of each level of award the student will receive a certificate stating the type of role they participated in and the level.

‘Tell Us’ is our anonymous feedback system, allowing all Higher Education students to pass on both positive comments and suggestions for improvement to the relevant staff. Please fill out the form below, giving as much detail as possible, to submit your feedback. Providing your contact details is optional, but will enable us to respond to your personally. Fields marked with * are mandatory.

FORM COMING SOON

The National Student Survey (NSS) is a national survey that gathers the opinions from mostly final year undergraduate students on the quality of their courses.

The survey asks students to provide feedback on what it has been like to study at their institution.