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Student voice

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As a student, we encourage you to engage with us in a range of ways. We welcome contributions that help to inform University decision-making, and drive improvements in the experience we provide. 

Your voice really can make a difference to how we do things here at the OU.  

Ways to engage

Consultations 

Let us know what you think about OU study, from the day-to-day student experience to policies and plans, through online forums and meetings.

Student VOICE Week

Student Voice Week is an annual celebration of ways that students can get involved in OU decision-making. Find out about 2021's activities.

National Student Survey

The National Student Survey is a UK-wide annual survey that gets sent to a random selection of undergraduate students. 

Big Blethers

At informal online Big Blether events run with the OU Students Association (OUSA) students can chat with OU staff and OUSA representatives and ask questions. They provide a strong, fun and well-connected community and are supported by the National Union of Students Scotland’s Think Positive project. Our 2021 series focuses on mental health and wellbeing. It’s also a chance to cover:

  • finance and funding
  • careers and employability
  • learning and assessment

Student and Staff Engagement Group Scotland

Our students and staff are key stakeholders in the development of University policy and in our outcome agreement process with the Scottish Funding Council. This group provides a formal mechanism to consult with student and staff representatives.

Chaired by the Director, it meets at least twice a year. Student membership comprises the OU Student Association representative for Scotland, plus up to five further current students the Association nominates.

Corporate Parenting Steering Group 

Care experienced students sit on our Corporate Parenting Steering Group, which monitors our activities to support them and ensure we meet our Corporate Parenting Plan (.pdf) outcomes. The students’ voice is integral to the design and planning of our corporate parenting activity.

A Student Reference Group also meets to inform the agenda, feed into our action plan and plan student engagement.

OU Students Association

The Students Association has a representative for Scotland, whose role has included community building activity and advocacy: on behalf of OU students to the University, and speaking for part-time and distance-learning students in Scotland at the Scottish Affairs Parliamentary Committee. 

A manifesto for the 2021 Scottish Parliament Elections (.pdf) was sent directly to all candidates directly, calling for a more equitable deal for part time distance learning students in Scotland. Its focus was on student finance, disabled student finance, childcare, broadband connectivity, and equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education.