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Central Representatives and O U Governance

OUSA and the O U working together

Picture of students

Representing the student viewpoint to the University is one of the most important functions of OUSA.

Apart from having a student elected member of the O U Council, OUSA annually appoints ‘Central Representatives’ to sit as student members on Senate and the majority of the principal Governance Committees, as well as on the Faculty Committees and Programme Committees.

Our Central Representatives are the students’ voice, eyes and ears and are in constant contact with the University. 

As the ‘Students’ Voice’ they ensure that the O U students’ opinion is heard by the University, they fight for the rights of the students to receive the high quality service to which we are accustomed, they put forward OUSA policy and they are involved in discussions with the O U on the best way forward, through the present economic difficulties.

As the ‘Students’ Eyes’ they read all the documentation produced by the various committees and have access to any relevant background material.

As the ‘Students’ Ears’ they listen to the arguments put forward by the University and then they send a report to OUSA Officers and their fellow Central Representatives detailing the discussions and decisions of their meetings.

If you think you would like to become one of our Central Representatives ask yourself the following questions:

Would you like to

  • Put forward the student viewpoint and experience to the university?

Do you think you can

  • Express and defend that viewpoint in a committee situation?

And then

  • Write a concise and accurate report on the meeting to feed back to the Student Association?

Could you

  • Commit to doing this four times a year? (Meetings are normally held during office hours and on campus in Milton Keynes – out of pocket expenses are paid).

If you answered yes to these questions then

We will give you

  • Comprehensive training and ongoing support and guidance throughout your term of office.

Research, postgraduate and undergraduate student

  • Committee places available

We welcome applications all the year round, although our main appointments are made in May or June for the following University Committee year.

If you think you would like to become one of our Central Representatives ask yourself the following questions:

Would you like to:

Put forward the student viewpoint and experience to the university?

Do you think you can:

Express and defend that viewpoint in a committee situation?

And then:

Write a concise and accurate report on the meeting to feed back to the Student Association?

Could you:

Commit to doing this four times a year? (Meetings are normally held during office hours and on campus in Milton Keynes - out of pocket expenses are paid).


If you answered yes to these questions then contact the Open University Students' Association at ousa-cen-rep@open.ac.uk

We will give you comprehensive training and ongoing support and guidance throughout your term of office. Research, postgraduate and undergraduate student Committee places available.

We welcome applications all the year round, although our main appointments are made in May or June for the following University Committee year.

Applying to be a Central Rep

Recruitment of our Central Reps is thrown open to all students, whether or not they have previously had any active involvement with OUSA.

For further information on the role of a Central Rep and how to apply, you can download the forms below.

Continuing applicants should complete this form:

Completed forms should then be sent to OUSA Office, PO Box 397, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6BE or emailed to the Representation team at ousa-cen-rep@open.ac.uk

Alternatively, any student wishing to apply to become a Central Rep can contact the OUSA Office, either by phone or via the email address above, to request details and application forms to be sent to them in the post.

Below is the O U Committee Digest, which provides details of forthcoming meetings that OUSA Central Reps attend. You will also find a link to a copy of the Central Representatives Handbook