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So, what does a Student Rep do?

Put simply, Student Reps are the link between you and your School. They’re here to collate your feedback, communicate your views to the University and Students' Union and work with staff to make improvements to your education.

That’s not to say all students can’t approach their lecturers or Faculty staff if they have an issue or a suggestion, however Student Reps sit on University committees so can take your feedback directly to staff and work on solutions to improve your experience.

All Reps receive training and the opportunity to attend specialist workshops. Not only is it great for your CV it’s also a really rewarding role!

Sound like something you’d be good at?

Become a Rep!

You don’t need to have any experience, just a passion for improving the student experience at Swansea University.

What is a Subject Rep?

A subject rep represents other students on their course and plays a key role in decision-making at Swansea University. They are students that want to make a positive impact on Student Experience and collect feedback from the wider student body.

Subject Reps don’t just focus on academic feedback but also other topics such as catering facilities and the bus services.

Subject Reps also work closely with the Students’ Union and University to support crucial campaigns such as Study Aid and the Big Swansea Survey.

Beyond attending meetings with staff, Reps develop invaluable transferable skills, enhancing their CV’s with qualities sought by employers.

The ideal candidates will be passionate, hardworking, reliable, and keen to make a difference. Do some of the below criteria fit you?:

Want to be part of a supportive, inclusive and fun community
Passionate about representing and helping others
Think it’s important for the student voice to be heard across the University
Would like to gain transferable skills to use in your CV
Keen to make new friends and meet like-minded people
Want to make a positive impact on the student Experience

What is a School Rep

A School Rep is a selected individual who works closely with Subject Reps to represent all students in their School. They’re supported by Students’ Union Education Officer, the Student Voice Team, and key University staff to make a real difference to the Swansea experience and ensure the student voice is represented.

School Reps attend meetings with staff in their School, the Students’ Union, and they even contribute to important University-level committees.

School Reps also work closely with the Students’ Union and University to support crucial campaigns such as Study Aid and the Big Swansea Survey.

The ideal candidates will be passionate, hardworking, reliable, and keen to make a difference.

Applications for School Reps opens in the Summer Term.

If you’d like some more info, take a look at the School Rep Role Specification

From Your Officer

Katie, Education Officer

Hey! I'm Katie, your Education Officer and I've just graduated from Applied Medical Sciences here at Swansea. During my time in Swansea, I have been involved with many sports and societies and achieved things I never thought would be possible such as climbing to Everest Base Camp for charity. I am enthusiastic about making a change and making sure students feel supported and have the best experience they can have here at Swansea. One of my priorities for this year is making sure that the Rep system is as affective as possible and making sure through Reps and feedback, that students have a say in the academics of this university.

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Meet October's RoTM!

What the Heck is a Rep?

FAQS

So, what is a Rep?

Reps represent students' views on their education and overall experience. Reps can raise feedback on a wide variety of topics such as the suitability of your lecture room, or if the course content is enjoyable. To do this Reps will speak to relevant staff members in either the university or union.

Why should I be a Rep?

- It’s good for your CV and gives you something to talk about in interviews – you’ll develop extra skills like how to give a presentation or work as part of a team
- You’ll have the opportunity to attend bespoke workshops
- You’ll get to make a difference for your classmates
- You’ll have the opportunity to win ‘Rep of the Month’ as well as ‘Rep of the Year’
- You’ll receive Rep freebies!
- You’ll be the voice of your classmates

What happens if no one stands for my cohort?

If no one stands to be a rep in your cohort but you would like to do it, email hello@swansea-union.co.uk saying you'd like to apply. Don’t forget to include your name, student number, course and year.

How to become a Subject Rep

Students who wish to become a subject Rep will be asked to complete an Expression of Interest form, in which they express their interest in the position and provide reasons as to why they’d like to become a Rep. The Students’ Union, Student Partnership and Engagement Services and Faculty staff teams then review these applications, to appoint Subject reps to their positions.

For most courses that commence in September this process and the appointments will happen in October. If your course begins in January your it will be in February. If your course starts outside these times we’ll typically try and run this process within three to four weeks of your teaching beginning.

What meetings do Reps attend?

There are two main meetings School Reps attend:

Student Staff Forums (SSFs) – Each School has its own SSF. Basically, it's the place for Reps and staff to chat about feedback they've had from classmates. These happen at least once a term.

Board of Studies (BoS) - The BoS looks at the content of courses and approves any changes that need to be made. Reps attend these with academics from the Uni. The Board of Studies meet on a termly basis.

Student Forums – Run by the Students’ Union to bring the wants and needs of the students to the higher level possible. You’ll have the opportunity to vote on key matters about your student experience and your elected officers to account. There are usually 3 of these a year.

Students’ Union Annual General Meeting – The Annual General Meeting (AGM) occurs once a year and is an opportunity for the Union to explain what impact it is having. Your elected officers and trustees will update you on the finances of the Union and you’ll have the opportunity to vote on motions that have been submitted.

Who do Reps work with?

- The Students’ Union's Education Officer
- The Students’ Union's Student Voice Team
- Other Reps and students
- Staff in your School, specifically the Student Engagement Partners (SEPs)
- Staff in your Faculty, specifically Student Experience and Engagement Officer (SEEOs)
- Other university staff as necessary e.g., library staff

What's the difference between a Subject Rep and a School Rep?

Subject Reps represent students on their course, taking any feedback (positive or negative) to the department to make sure it gets sorted. If anything becomes a bigger issue or is relevant to the whole School, the School Reps will then assist and may work with the Education Officer to get it sorted.

There are hundreds of Subject Reps as there are hundreds of courses. There are 2 undergraduate and 1 postgraduate taught School Reps per School. There are 11 Schools in total across the 3 faculties.

Being a School Rep involves greater commitment including attending Education Committee monthly to share the most pressing issues with other School Reps and the Students’ Union. They are also expected to co-chair their Schools Student Staff Forum (SSF) and attend other university meetings as necessary – but this is not a full list of all their responsibilities! As a thank you for their hard work they are eligible to receive a cash bursary at the end of the academic year.

Who can be a Rep?

Every course and every year group has at least 1 Subject Rep. Any student can stand for their relevant cohort. You don't need any experience, just some enthusiasm and a desire to make things better for other students.