We had the chance to share a 2-hour session around the student experiences, a powerful and insightful session designed to give students a platform to share their lived realities and co-develop solutions for a more supportive university environment.
The University Council plays a crucial role in shaping the student experience by overseeing key decisions that impact academic and campus life. It brings together university leaders, student representatives, and other stakeholders to ensure students’ voices are heard and acted upon. Recognising the importance of firsthand experiences. We had the chance to share a 2-hour session around the student experiences, a powerful and insightful session designed to give students a platform to share their lived realities and co-develop solutions for a more supportive university environment.
A Space for Honest Conversations
The session began with five students bravely sharing their personal experiences, highlighting challenges they have faced during their time at university. These accounts were raw and unfiltered, focusing solely on the struggles before any intervention or support was introduced. One student’s testimony was also recorded and shared, ensuring a range of perspectives could be heard.
Turning Challenges into Action
Following these testimonies, we moved into a scenario-based workshop where students and Council members worked together to design comprehensive support packages tailored to each experience shared. This collaborative approach ensured that student voices were not only acknowledged but actively included in shaping practical solutions. A representative from each group then shared their discussions with the wider Council, providing real-time feedback on how the university could enhance its support mechanisms.
Hearing from the Students Themselves
After the workshop, the students reconvened to reflect on their own experiences, this time discussing the interventions they received and identifying areas that required improvement. This full-circle approach allowed the Council to see both what is working well and where gaps remain, ensuring a clearer understanding of the student journey.
An Open Forum for Connection
To close the session, we transitioned into an informal coffee and chat, where students and Council members had the opportunity to engage in open discussions, ask questions, and continue meaningful conversations. As part of this, two boards showcasing student feedback were displayed, offering further insights into the student experience.
A Meaningful Impact
The University Council expressed their deep appreciation for the session, noting how valuable it was to hear directly from students in such an open and engaging format. The workshop not only provided a safe space for students to share their realities, but also encouraged real collaboration between students and decision-makers, ensuring that student experience remains at the heart of university policy and practice.
Let’s hear from some of the students who attended the University Council:
- Dee Whyte: “Being part of the student panel for the University Council Day was an eye-opening experience. It was valuable to the other students who joined and the council members. We shared our own experiences and many others that students can relate to. In addition to this, opinions and feedback were shared from a session we had during Union Council for the University council members to read. They were all very intrigued and were putting action plans together to take forward to improve”.
- Erin Cook: “The university council was an amazing opportunity to make some important contributions to the minds and decisions made by council members. As a student, I had the opportunity to share my experience and how I would have liked support, but also the support that helped. The conversations we had were very impactful and I hope the council members take everything that was said into consideration when making future decisions”.
- Euan McGinness: “I truly felt that honest statements were listened to and appreciated. The council board made it explicit that they are used to structure change and want to make a meaningful impact across BNU. It was a pleasure to meet new faces and sit on a board that represented students so well. Genuinely, the University has us as its top priority, and I look forward to future change for the better. The experience has been brilliant!”.
- Ada: “The University Council appeared scary at first, and I felt very overwhelmed. Like, who would want to listen to me? After a while of sharing our stories, I understood that we are vital for each other to improve the experience for both parties. I felt listened to and approached with kindness. I will encourage anyone to take part in this, it’s a great opportunity to address issues in real-time. The council is a group of very strong and committed individuals, ready to network. I am grateful for this opportunity”.
By continuing initiatives like this, we can ensure that every student feels heard, supported, and empowered to thrive. We hope this session is the beginning of more, and we look forward to building on the conversations and actions sparked here.