Student Voice is an integral part of ensuring the OU student experience is enjoyable and fulfilling. By actively empowering students to be involved in the decision-making process, we help to make the university a more inclusive, responsive and supportive learning environment that better meets the ever evolving diverse needs of the student body.
Student Representation
Academic Representation
Academic Representation is central to Student Voice at the Students Association. With over 100 Student Representatives on every OU Governance Committee, our volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring that students' views are considered in decisions impacting the student experience.
Wider Work
Outside of the OU Governance Structure, we have Student Representatives involved in a wide range of OU and Students Association projects that will have an impact on OU students. Whether these are short term initiatives or long lasting programmes, we aim to ensure that any discussions which affect students have students in them.
Student Representatives are supported by the Student Voice Team within the Students Association. They may also be supported by members of the Student Leadership Team, or relevant members of OU staff.
To learn more about what our Student Representatives do, please click the boxes below. Applications to become a Student Representative usually open in the Spring each year.
If you have any questions about the role of a Student Representative, please contact the Student Voice Team.
Partnership with the OU
We also work closely with the OU, as outlined in the OU-OU Students Association Relationship Agreement and in the Student Charter, developed in partnership, which commits to:
- Actively supporting the Students Association to engage with all its members in order to foster a vibrant student community and promote student interests.
- Actively supporting student engagement in university decision-making, ensuring the feedback loop is closed.
- Building a partnership between staff and students.
Other elements of partnership-working include:
Developed in partnership between the University and the OU Students Association, the aim of this site is to provide a way for students to see how their feedback is listened to and responded to across the OU.
A series of forums and meetings on matters affecting your study and student experience. Students are invited to get involved with the Student Consultation Panel, in Boards of Studies forums relating to different subject areas, and in the annual Student Consultation meetings. These Student Consultation meetings take place each Spring, both online and face-to-face.
Join fellow OU students at community events, participate in workshops, forums and discussions! It's your chance to shape your OU experience.