Rachel Garnham is a Senior Manager leading the Student Voice team at The Open University. Her team works in partnership with the OU Students Association to include students in OU decision-making.
The Open University has just launched its new strategy – learn and live – at the heart of which is student success. We really want to make sure more students achieve the goals that you have set for yourself. And one of the best ways to do that is by using your feedback to improve the student experience so it meets your needs.
The OU has all sorts of ways in which you can tell us what you think about your learning experience and the support you receive – you may find short feedback forms on your module website, and we use various other surveys to explore how you’re finding different aspects of your studies.
You may be asked to take part in an online consultation using a forum like the ones you engage with as part of your modules. And you may also be invited to join one of our panels where you get the opportunity to take part in a range of activities (if you can make time!) relating to services offered by the University – such as the Library or Careers services – or relating to how new modules and qualifications are developed – ‘Curriculum Design’. We even have a few paid roles that come up from time to time working in partnership with staff on particular projects such as inclusive curriculum.
Another very rewarding way of getting involved with ‘Student Voice’ is by becoming a rep on one of the University’s many committees – including, for example, the Board of Studies that relates to the Open Programme.
These roles are advertised by the OU Students Association and are a great way of not only sharing your views and finding out what goes on behind the scenes at the OU but also of developing skills that employers find valuable – for example analytical and communication skills.
One of the best parts of my job is when different teams around the University share with my team of how student feedback has made a difference, so that we can publish the impact of what you have said on the Student Voice website. For example, students studying for Open qualifications told us that tutors sometimes assume students are on named degrees and make reference to previous modules and aren’t always aware that students are studying towards an Open Qualification. In response, the Open team are developing resources for tutors to better support students on an Open Qualification and asked IT systems colleagues to ensure Open students are flagged for tutors.
This is just one of the ways your feedback makes a difference, so please do keep filling in those surveys, sign up for Student Consultation, and look out for other opportunities in your inbox, on StudentHome and on the Student Voice website.