SLT Priorities Updates
The Student Leadership Team are now actively working on the 17 different priorities, with support from other volunteers and the staff team. The priority sponsor(s) will provide updates at the upcoming meeting, and details will be shared in the minutes of that meeting shortly after.
SLT Approvals October 2023 - January 2024
Amendment to Byelaws – January 2024
SLT Statements and News Stories
EDI at the Students Association
Why you should take part in Have Your Say Day
Relaunch of International Students Newsletter
How were you affected by the Marking and Assessment Boycott?
OU Students Association achieve Learner Representative status with the new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research in Wales.
Resignations of VP Academic Student Voice, Area Representative for Wales and Area Representative for Scotland
The OU Students Association Environment and Sustainability Working Group celebrated improvements in the OU’s People and Planet standings
The Environment and Sustainability Working Group celebrated their work in 2023.
The Presidents end of year message.
Students Issues and Concerns
Vice President Engagement has heard from multiple students highlighting concerns regarding the changes with the incoming Lifelong Learning Entitlement and how it will affect STEM students studying second degrees. Research into this has shown has been inconclusive, and the Department for Education has been contacted to seek clarity. We are currently waiting for their response.
The implementation of the new format day schools within the Arts and Humanities were raised by several students including limited spaces, and in only two locations. The FASS rep spoke about these issues to the Head of School and will work with staff to ensure the next occurrences take these raised concerns into account.
Concern was raised to the FASS Rep about delays in the scheduling of PhD Viva defence. The matter was raised to the Head of School for the affected student and then furthered to the Executive Dean of FASS.
A question was raised with the STEM Rep regarding disabled access to a face-to-face session, which was passed to the Director of Teaching of the relevant School. STEM Rep also answered student queries about Library access and a question about publicising the activities of Societies.
The STEM Rep noted that it is only possible to introduce a new module to the Maths MSc Programme when an existing one is withdrawn. It is also important to maintain Pure and Applied routes through the MSc Programme, since each have different pre-requisite knowledge. Work on a new MSc module in Differential Geometry has been suspended because of the OU’s financial restrictions and the Executive Dean confirmed that the OU was considering reducing optionality, to provide a better service to students.
SLT Achievements and Priorities
In response to concerns from our Student Representatives, the Deputy President created guidance for handling approaches from students for help with individual concerns. This guidance included a reminder of the remit of Student Representatives, appropriate signposting and how to escalate issues where necessary.
The Deputy President chaired the first Student Voice Forum in Wales as part of the Higher Education Council for Wales pilot initiative. The forum brought together student representatives from higher education institutions across Wales to discuss issues affecting the student experience.
VP EDI has been working with the EDI Projects officers on their EDI Roadshow work and having completed one session in October freshers the next session is currently being planned.
The Deputy President and Associate Director for Membership Services designed and delivered training for the new Complaints Panel Pool. These developments aim to achieve greater preparedness and consistency when complaints, unfortunately, reach the stage where they need consideration by a student panel, in accordance with our Resolving and Settling Differences policy.
The FASS rep restarted FASS Connect. On the last Wednesday of every month, FASS students will get together an informal online event.
The STEM rep gave a presentation on the symmetries of hypercubes at the M500 Winter Weekend and has been asked to contribute as an article to the M500 Magazine. The STEM rep continues to be active in editing the Fusion Newsletter.
Ongoing Projects and Activities
Members of the Student Leadership Team have been involved in efforts to develop a Freedom of Speech Code of Practice, as required by recent changes in legislation in England. This work will be ongoing ahead of the implementation date in Summer 2024.
The Vice President Student Representation has been leading on efforts to fill vacant student rep spaces. They are hoping to fill as many of the vacancies to ensure that the student voice is heard in the spaces where decisions that effect the student experience happen.
VP EDI is continuing to work with the OU with their work around race equality. This work is ongoing and has so far included promotion for Union Black in black history month and will continue into Race Equality Week and wider Race Equality Charter planning.
The VP - Student Welfare took some of the responsibilities of the Area Representative for Scotland in January2023. A project (Big Blether) that the Rep was working on jointly with the University in Scotland was agreed to continue with VP - Student Welfare taking an active part on behalf of the Association. The project produced an online session with Scottish Students at the start of February that was intended for new and returning students. The session was intended to help with problems, give confidence overcoming hurdles by swapping stories and tips and finding out about resources available to help with studies. Achieved start February 2024. Achievement will hopefully have some wording removed or changed from saying that benefits normally are not affected to being removed as it does say individuals should check.
The Faculty Rep for WELS is leading on the project to increase association presence on module websites and OU study app. As Faculty Rep for WELS I am hoping that there will be more communication on module websites within WELS and the OU Study app about the association. Hoping to achieve this by the end of my current term. One way I am looking at achieving this is to present at WELS Faculty Assembly in January.
Members of the Student Leadership Team are currently working on a campaign centred on voter engagement with the expected 2024 UK General Election. This includes topics pertinent to the student experience and encouraging students to vote.
A project the former Scotland Rep was working on in conjunction with VP - Student Welfare was trying to change wording in the OU in Scotland Guidance notes in applying for discretionary funding for help with Study (PC, travel expenses etc) and now the VP Student Welfare will continue. to try and wording changed so that it does not give impression that any award will not affect benefit at all.
The President and Deputy President have continued to work on the campaign for parity for student finance for students in England. Following receipt of a response from Minister for Higher Education stating there was little demand for this, we are now working on compiling evidence to demonstrate the demand. We have written to the department of Education, after gathering of 50 Signatories from over 25 Student Unions, representing students from Universities across England. Work will continue and as an Association we will continue to highlight this disparity compared to the availability in the other nations for students, until students have equal opportunity to progress.
VP EDI has continued to work with the OU around alternative formats for students to address the previous issues students have faced. So far this project has helped to lessen some of these issues however work will continue in this area to ensure that as many students as possible receive their alternative materials on time and with minimal disruption.
The Student Member of Council, together with the President, participated in a workshop on plans for the OU going forward, entitled Campus 2030, which will be the subject of further discussions at subsequent Council meetings. There are 10 streams to this overall project, the most significant of which is whether or not the campus will remain at Walton Hall or move to a City Centre site. Decisions are expected in 2024.
VP EDI has been working with the EDI team to continue to help support the support groups as the DSG committee come to the end of their term. A new Committee for the DSG will be introduced imminently and I would like to thank the outgoing committee for all of their hard work and dedication during their term and they have grown the group and helped so many students during this time.
Other News
Our newly co-opted members have been getting up to speed with their roles, making connections with the different stakeholders at the OU and Students Association.
Members of the SLT participated in filming for the new B208 module, by giving important guidance and directing students to where support during their studies can be accessed, sharing real life student experience of studying with the OU, will enhance the study experience and connects directly.
The Deputy President compiled a response on behalf of the OU Students Association to the UK Parliament’s Education Select Committee on the affect of the Marking and Assessment Boycott on OU students.
The President and Deputy President Welcomed Students online to the Freshers Welcome Event, we were joined by members of the Leadership team who introduced themselves. During the event Association services, support, and contacts were shared. This was an exciting, and informative event which saw an increase in attendees. Positive feedback was received, and students felt that through this event they learnt of opportunities, support and groups they were not previously aware of. We will once again be kicking off freshers again and all students are welcome.
The approval of the new OU Students Association 2023-2027 Strategy brought about a wide range of launch events in the last quarter. Various members of the Student Leadership Team presented the new strategy to a wide range of stakeholders at these launch events.
The International Area Representative hosted monthly online meet-ups for international OU students during the reporting period.
Various members of the Student Leadership Team attended graduation ceremonies around the country in the last quarter. It was fantastic to be able to join, and celebrate with, other students on their special day. Attending the ceremonies included trip from South Wales to Dublin and back, via Birmingham Airport, in one day for the President and Deputy President. We were privileged to hear the many inspirational stories and hear the challenges and successes despite adversity. It was wonderful to be able to speak directly to students before and after the event and to hear their passion as they spoke, and how study has changed their lives. It was also raised by OUII the notable absence of our Association Stall, we have taken this on board all of their comments and concerns and are addressing this moving forward.
Gareth and Nichola attended the OU’s Virtual Open Day to take questions on what it is like to be an OU student from prospective OU students.
Gareth presented about the work of the OU Students Association to the Student Recruitment and Support Teams. This will help them proactively signpost to the different activities of the Students Association.
VP Community attended 2 graduation ceremonies and spent time talking to students about what OUSA is all about and how them buying items from the stall helps students through OUSET. It was also a great way to get feedback from students and also celebrate the end of their current journey with the OU in such a positive environment
The International Area Representative, with the help of her staff link, relaunched the International OU Students Newsletter. The relaunch was promoted on the Association website, social media and forums, as well as on StudentHome. The mailing list now has 333 subscribers. The newsletter was sent on 28 November 2023 and got a very high number of opens, namely 75.9%, which is higher than the average for the monthly Association newsletter and, according to Mailchimp, higher than our peer’s average. The click rate was 6.9%, which is similar to the monthly Association newsletter. The most popular links were the forum, the International Students Club and the December meet-up.
The Faculty Reps were involved in the Isolation Awareness campaign in November At Home but Not Alone whereby we did a session meet your Faculty Reps to let students know of the opportunities available to meet other students and build the sense of belonging and community.
The Student Leadership Team attended a training day, alongside members of the staff team, run by Wonkhe. This training focussed on the student journey and prioritising tackling different student issues.
The International Area Representative wrote an article for The Hoot about her experience as an international OU student. The article, called ‘My journey as an international student’, was published in The Hoot in October 2023.
The VP Student Welfare is leading on a project to create a student guide for OU students and prospective students. The project will help students by creating a guide that will primarily be a guide created by students for students with the contents mainly being tips and advice from existing and ex-students / graduates on all areas from considering to study with the OU through registering, Study, Assignments to degree Ceremony. It is hoped that it will achieve a reduction in the number of students who defer or 'drop out' of modules or even qualifications by making them aware of potential issues and solutions from actual experiences rather than 'official' written guides from a central source. It is expected to be achieved by Freshers in the summer.
All five student faculty reps hosted an online event at the autumn and spring freshers week.
People & Planet League - Several members of the SLT and Staff have been involved in successfully raising the score of the OU Students Association within the People & Planet league scoring from 0% to 100%
VP Community alongside staff members and various SLT members attended the Freshers Fair in Milton Keynes and it was wonderful to speak to the different stalls about what they can offer to students who join their club and/or society.
The President and Deputy President were invited by OUIW, to attend the Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. This is an agreement that the OUIW have led on, building partnerships between local Higher Education and Further Education institutions within South and Mid Wales, to work in Partnership with community businesses and councils, for the benefit of both students, local communities and the wider and future opportunities.
SLT Social Media Conversations
Gareth issues a call for evidence to help support the Association’s submission to the UK Parliament’s Education Committee’s inquiry into the impact of the Marking and Assessment Boycott on the student experience.
Mark announced Samantha Ferguson's (Scotland Rep) leaving and that some parts of the role would be overseen by VP Student Welfare
The Vice President Student Representation invited students to apply for the vacant student rep opportunities.
FASS rep announced that reintroduction of the monthly FASS connect during Freshers week.
Natalie (VP EDI) reflected on receiving her very first study materials in Dec 2019 ready to start her OU journey in Feb 2020 as she is coming to the end of her studies.
VP Community shared the Newport graduation ceremony on various OU Facebook groups and answered questions from students with anything they wanted to know about
The President and Deputy President had an early start as they headed to Dublin, via Birmingham Airport, for the OU in Ireland graduation ceremony.