Zahid Raja [Archived]

Future Directions for Swansea University

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:55:00 +0100

Yesterday, I was in Newport at the new University of South Wales (Caerleon Campus) at a conference with one of our Subject Reps (Nick Short) The conference had delegates from every single University in Wales looking at current and future strands for the ‘Future Directions’ project.

The current three themes for ‘Future Directions’ are:
- Learning FOR Employment
- Learning IN Employment
- Students As Partners

I took particular interest in the latter of the three – Students As Partners. The reason behind this is that we've done some great work in the University following the release of NUS' Manifesto For Partnership. My view on this was whilst there is excellent partnership work going on in the centre between students and the University we now need to look at how we embed this throughout the University.

At the conference, I asked what kinds of activities institutions should look to engage in order to foster culture change throughout the University towards students as partners.

As a Students' Union I have committed us to develop the Swansea University Student Engagement Hub. A new resource for University staff where students highlight good student engagement practices. We’ll be looking at each College and each Professional Service department as well as the academies to look for examples where people have successfully engaged students.

At the conference, Nick Potter, from the Higher Education Wales Pro Vice Chancellor Learning and Teaching Advisory Group gave a presentation on the opportunities and the challenges to Universities in Wales.

Nick suggested that it was now a reality that all students should have a job to get through University and critiqued Swansea Metropolitan University Students’ Union who provided students finding it difficult to make ends meet a food bank suggesting such measures were unnecessary.

I challenged that and asked if Universities in Wales now have an obligation to stamp out costs associated with studying and lower the costs of University-managed accommodation (whose prices have risen well above inflation) – his response was that ‘that sort of discussions should come within fee plan negotiations’ - all I can say is that I look forward to the fee plan negotiations next year.

As the conference came to a close, we reflected on what new work Future Directions should engage whilst also conceding that current strands need to be highlighted in some capacity to encourage institutions to develop these areas.

Want a free dinner, some drinks and maybe get a job out of it?

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:10:00 +0100

So just because exams finish, doesn’t mean we stop trying to help you get your dream job! I’m delighted to announce that we have 40 spaces available for the Swansea University ‘Meet The Employer’ event which will then be directly followed by the Swansea Employability Academy Awards Dinner (all of the free food.)

This will take place THIS THURSDAY (June 6^th) in Café West (Fulton House) at 5.30pm. Dress code: business (so suits, basically.)

This networking opportunity will give you a platform to chat to employers about what they’re looking for in applicants when you’re job hunting. I wouldn’t come expecting employers to be handing out jobs, but they will certainly have the invaluable contacts and the advice to help put you on the right track when it comes to finding your dream job.

The event is hosted by Pro Vice Chancellor Hilary Lappin-Scott and the Guest speaker for the dinner will be Simon Gibson.

If you want to go, you need to get in touch with Heather to RSVP...like now. I’ve been told that this is strictly first come first serve (i.e literarily when the first 40 emails go that's it) and there will be no exceptions once spaces run out: H.F.Doidge@swansea.ac.uk

Any other questions, drop me an email: educationofficer@swansea-union.co.uk

Free Maxwell - Take Action

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:29:00 +0100

At NUS UK Conference, we were privileged to hear from Maxwell Dlamini, the outgoing President of the Swaziland NUS.

Last month, Maxwell (now Secretary General of the Swaziland Youth Congress) was detained and has been charged with sedition (actions that are deemed to tend toward insurrection against the government).

Maxwell’s arrest follows a number of events over recent years in which student unionists in Swaziland have been unable to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of arrest or harassment by the Swazi government. (Source: Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=19400)

NUS UK have called on students in the UK to urge the Swaziland government to listen to and act on their legitimate calls for democracy and rights for the people of Swaziland.

Before I got elected as Education Officer, I was involved with campaigning for human rights; one of the key things that I promised myself before I started the new job was to carry on that work. So why should you care? Well, imagine if this happened to us in the UK. I'm a strong believer in treating others how you'd like to be treated. If my government started persecuting Student' Union leaders here, I'd certainly like the support of the international student movement in stopping them.

So here is the plan: instead of reinventing the campaign lightbulb, those of you who want to get involved can help me to join the current work that National Union of Students UK, The Free Maxwell Dlamini Campaign, and Action for Southern Africa are all doing to help free Maxwell.

Firstly, I’d ask that you sign the change.org petition petition here

Secondly, join me on Fulton House Lawn on Friday 24^th May at 9:30pm to form a giant human M with candles (if it's raining, I'll buy some glowsticks.) If you reckon you can spare 5 mins to join us, give me a heads up over email: educationofficer@swansea-union.co.uk or confirm on our facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/162625833906887

We’ll use pictures from this event to create postcards that students can sign which we’ll send to the Swazi Ambassador. This kind of action does have an effect, check out this clip: http://vimeo.com/48147746

#StudyAid is back for the summer

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:33:00 +0100

#StudyAid is here. From the 8^th-31^st May, the Students’ Union will have a presence in the library and the refectory for 2 hours a day with free tea, coffee and other goodies (basically, ice pops when it’s hot.)

You can come and chat to us about anything and we’ll be able to point you in the right direction for advice and support if you need it. Or just come and get a free cup of tea / coffee to cheer yourself up.

We’ll also be using this time to raise awareness of Subject Reps and College Reps whose elections will take place in the first two weeks of June.

We’ll usually be in the library between 7pm-8pm but this might change, follow @susuvoice to find out when and where.

Got a question, or want to volunteer? Get in touch with Zahid: educationofficer@swansea-union.co.uk

Introducing Swansea University Paid Internship Network.

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:11:00 +0100

When I was elected this year, I promised we’d move employability up the agenda. We’ve done just that: 3.5 careers advisors became 7, 200 Week Of Work placements were created - and as a University, we’re now ready to have a full debate to turn ‘transferable skills’ into something more meaningful.

It’s time to go further.

When it comes to employability, the Students’ Union has always said that the best work experience we can give to students is a paid experience. Where students take on meaningful projects and are recognised for their work like they would in any other job outside of University.

This evening, the University will be launching the Swansea University Paid Internship Network (SPIN.) SPIN is a new scheme being introduced by Swansea University to help its undergraduates gain valuable knowledge and experience of working life. SPIN will be launched in partnership with South Wales Evening Post: thisissouthwales.co.uk

Businesses who take part in the scheme will be highlighted in the South Wales Evening Post for their contribution in helping create the future leaders of our economy.

As the name implies, this is a paid placement which takes place during the summer holiday period. Placements are paid at the minimum wage level, part of which may be funded by the University, and last for between 4 and 6 weeks. Longer work periods can be agreed with the student either before or during the placement itself. The aim is for the students to undertake either a single large project or a range of smaller projects, determined by the employer to fit with their business needs.

SPIN is open to all students to apply but is targeted at 2^nd year students in particular. Payment is made directly by the employer to the student.

Questions: educationofficer@swansea-union.co.uk

Defending your employability: how challenging the status quo can coexist with #GettingTheJobDone

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:59:00 +0100

This week, I've written into the Times Higher Education to defend why we're putting Swansea students ahead in the graduate job market. Here is my letter:

Regarding “Students are sent to the rat race maze: syllabus is history”: Swansea University Students’ Union makes no apology for pushing employability to the heart of the student experience. While we are committed to fighting for the best in learning and teaching, I believe that this now includes equipping students with the skills they need to compete in the global marketplace.

It is not enough to leave university knowing your subject matter. Students want and need jobs at the end of their degrees and employers want students to be productive members of their organisations. If our graduates are going to be successful in the world of work, universities need to get a grip on the employability agenda to equip students with the tools they need to succeed.

Swansea’s employability initiatives have been developed in partnership with the students’ union, and we are proud of working with the institution to provide the best opportunities we can for our students in the workforce. Our success is measured by the fact that 91 per cent of our graduates are in employment and/or further study within six months of graduating, and of those in work, 78 per cent are in graduate-level employment.

Despite these successes we will not rest on our laurels: we are determined to improve the figures by continuing to bridge the gap between the academy and the workplace.

However, there is room for debate about whether our approach is right or wrong: challenging the status quo can coexist with getting the job done. Earlier this year, the students’ union hosted a panel debate that included Steph Lloyd, president of NUS Wales, and Sir Terry Matthews, the billionaire business magnate and Swansea alumnus, about what the employability agenda should look like in Wales. I would now like to invite Steve Sarson to a debate this June during our Summer Employability Week about whether or not universities can and should teach employability.

Zahid Raja (@SwanseaRaja)
Education officer
Swansea University Students’ Union

Read the letter in this weeks copy of Times Higher Education or online by clicking here.

Swansea University Curriculum Reform - With Students, Not At Students

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:24:00 Z

Most Universities go through a process called curriculum reform – where Universities look at everything from course infrastructure, to what exactly is taught on courses in order to refresh what and how they deliver degrees.

For example, the University of Hong Kong completely reconstructed its curriculum putting 'experiential learning' at its core whilst embracing internationalism to realise its ambitions in creating 'global citizens' who could compete in the global job market. Swansea University’s ambitions are not too far off here.

The University of Southampton announced that it would reform its undergraduate curriculum to offer students "breadth and depth" to come in line with higher student expectations with the rise in tuition fees. The Vice Chancellor of Southampton University, Professor Nutbeam said that the reforms would be rolled out as quickly as possible to prevent the institution from succumbing to "analysis paralysis". "We're just going to try this to see if it works," he said.

I’m not being funny, but our degrees aren’t an experiment and we’re certainly not a focus group to determine the next best product for those to follow.

Last week was also the launch of the Swansea University Academy of Inclusivity and Learner Support. It reminded us all that Swansea University transforms lives – people come from many different backgrounds to achieve fantastic results. Simply put – you come here, you work hard and if you put the effort in, you do well. That changes lives and I don’t want to see that pattern of transformation eroded.

At the same time, I appreciate that we can’t stand still and that we need to keep moving. However, whilst I appreciate that Swansea University have gone for an enabling approach; students need to have confidence in the system.

My point here is that curriculum reform should and can be transformational. My argument is that you’ll only make this work when you bring students along with you. This can’t be something the institution decides behind closed doors to then unveil at a glossy launch event with the press and canapés – this is NOT ok. Students must be full partners at each and every stage of curriculum reform. Conception to end.

Action taken: I made these points at University Senate (the highest body that looks at University Education in the institution) and I've also sent the paper back with questions to the Pro Vice Chancellor for Student Experience as well as the Academic Registrar.

Reward an excellent Uni staff member NOW - you've got till 22nd March!

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:51:00 Z

You have exactly one week to nominate someone who has made a difference to your life at Swansea University.

This year the SU lobbied the University to change the awards to reflect what students want - and we won! (click here to read the news story)

So get on it and show that you do care about the people who make a difference to your student experience. There are 8 awards and the recipients of the awards will be honoured in the University whilst also receiving a £1000 grant. Smashing!

So have you got that amazing lecturer? Remember that careers advisor / librarian that saved your Uni life? Nominate them here, NOW. DEADLINE IS THE 22ND MARCH.

What is it ?

The new Excellence in Learning and Teaching / Student Support Awards (ELTA / ESSA) is awarded annually to staff who have made an outstanding contribution to your learning experience either through teaching or support. The University want you to recognise your excellent lecturer, amazing tutor, life saving librarian or genius College office (or anyone else who has gone out of their way to help you for that matter) by nominating them for one of the new awards.

The Awards demonstrate our appreciation of the quality of the teaching and or support that we receive, and all students will be given the opportunity to nominate their chosen member of staff for this award. You have one week – nominations close on the 22^nd March.

So how do I nominate someone ?

Each lecturer / member of staff must be nominated by two separate students. Once two separate student nominations have been received a supporting nomination from a colleague and the Head of College will be completed. IT’S ALL ONLINE.

So, if there is someone who has really made a difference you would like to nominate, download the appropriate form and then email the completed nomination here: salt@swansea.ac.uk

Please encourage your course mates to nominate your lecturer as well, the more the better! Completed nominations must be uploaded no later than Friday 22nd March 2013.

There are two sets of awards.

To nominate teaching staff: Click here to download

To nominate support staff (non teaching staff): Click here to download

DEADLINE IS THE 22ND MARCH.

Surveys – genuinely, why won’t people shut up about them?

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:11:00 Z

Every year at about this time, everyone who works for a University in the UK suddenly become over the top about surveys – National Student Survey, Student Experience Survey, Postgraduate Taught Survey, Postgraduate Research Survey. The list is almost endless. Almost.

You get an endless stream of emails, your lecturers plug it at every opportunity and weird looking posters pop up all over the University bearing the infamous words ‘HAVE YOUR SAY’. It isn’t just unique to Swansea, it happens everywhere. In Bournemouth, the University there spent money sculpting a NSS sandcastle. It’s actually a little bit ridiculous.

So what’s up with all the hype? What actually happens to what you say?
The main reason why Universities accross the UK care so much about it is because they inform league tables. What you say will be used by newspapers to tell prospective students whether Swansea is good or not. Lots of people have different views about how right or wrong this is – but the fact this happens isn’t going anywhere.

To put it in plain and simple English - these surveys also define how the University make changes. They use it to decide how to spend your tuition fees – for example, lots of people said that they weren’t happy with learning resources last year so this year, approximately £3m was spent on improving the library. BOOM.

They can also change how the University works. For example, last year you said that you were broadly happy with your student experience at Swansea University. This year, the University used the comments you made about what you thought was good about the University to rollout good practice across the University. Tidy.

Everyone goes on about how much they love Swansea or have a tonne of ideas on how your department could do things better. Genuinely, put the kettle on, make a cup of tea and be honest about how you feel about your time at University.

Think of this as one way you can give something back for the AMAZING three / four years you’ve had here: http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/

Union to launch three stage campaign on Feedback / Exam Results

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:30:00 Z

At the start of this month, the Students’ Union held its first series of College Subject Rep forums. One of the themes that came out consistently was that students were not getting good quality feedback / assessment results back early enough.

Believe it or not (click here if you don’t), the University has a policy which all the Colleges signed up to at the beginning of the new year saying that they'd get results / constructive feedback to students within 3 weeks of you handing in your assignment / sitting an exam.

As this hasn’t happened in a lot of cases, I have decided to take action and launch a 3 stage campaign as part of our ‘Access All Areas’ work.

Stage 1) explaining to as many students as we can what the University have promised us.

Look out for this leaflet: https://www.swansea-union.co.uk/pageassets/education/accessallareas/fairfeedbackassessment/Your-rights-on-feedback.pdf and
Look out for these stickers: https://www.swansea-union.co.uk/asset/Blog/2/stickers.pdf
Timescale: 22^nd Feb – 15^th March

Stage 2) In all instances where feedback has been late or poor, we will get Subject Reps to investigate why.

They will also lobby for an action plan for that Subject Area. The Students’ Union will publish this for all students to see.
Timescale: 15^th March – 22^nd March

Stage 3) Forming a Students’ Union charter on assessment and feedback.

Subject Reps will outline their expectations of the University assessment and feedback policy which future Education Officers will be able to use to develop and put forward alternative ideas to current University policy.
Timescale: 22^nd March - May 31st

If you’ve got any questions or want to help, drop me an email: educationofficer@swansea-union.co.uk