Education Officer

Education Officer

Katie Wilkinson

Katie is the Education Officer at Swansea University and was re-elected to the role for a second term! She studied Applied Medical Science at Swansea before stepping into the role. Her role focuses on supporting and representing all Swansea University students, working closely with the University’s 3 Faculties, over 450 Subject Reps and 25 School Reps to ensure student voices are heard and acted upon at every level of their education.

Before becoming Education Officer, Katie worked within the Students’ Union as student staff in JCs, building a strong understanding of student life and the support services available. She is passionate about continuing to grow the Education Officer role, making it more visible, accessible and impactful, while building on the work she delivered during her first term. She is committed to improving the academic experience for all students and ensuring everyone feels supported throughout their time at Swansea.

She is known for being friendly and approachable and is always happy to chat, listen or help however she can - whether that’s via a DM, submitting a ticket or by popping into the office (Faraday 115).

Outside of the SU, you’ll usually find Katie out on a walk, enjoying the outdoors or heading on a coffee date with friends. Fun fact: she’s already trekked to Everest Base Camp and is set to climb Mount Toubkal this summer!

From Your Officer

Katie Wilkinson

Hiya everyone, I'm Katie and I’m so excited to have been elected as your Education Officer for a second term! I studied Applied Medical Science at Swansea University, and during my time here I’ve been involved in a wide range of sports and societies, achieving things I never thought possible - including trekking to Everest Base Camp.

I’m passionate about making a real difference and ensuring students feel supported and have the best experience they can during their time at Swansea. Being a Subject Rep for my course helped develop my confidence and gave me a strong understanding of how student voice works within the University.

For the 3 years before I was the Education office, I worked as student staff within the Students’ Union in JCs and Events, where I was promoted to Supervisor. These roles have given me a strong insight into how the SU operates and how we can continue to improve the student experience. I want to use everything I’ve learned to make sure your Students’ Union continues to work for students, not just the University.

I've got lots planned for my second year as education Officer so be sure to keep an eye on my Instagram @susueducation and of course, the SU page @swanseaunisu.

To get in contact use the link Support : Help Desk and submit a ticket!

Roles and Responsibilities

Roles & Responsibilities

I prioritise students’ academic needs by listening to their feedback and representing their concerns to the University. I work closely with students, Subject Reps, School Reps and staff to deliver campaigns, events and initiatives that enhance the student and academic experience. Acting as a link between students and the University, I contribute to policy discussions and decision-making to ensure education at Swansea is inclusive, accessible, student-centred and supportive for all students.

What I'm Working On

Academic Reps | Rep Con

To plan and deliver Rep Con, a conference-style event designed to upskill, empower and connect Academic Representatives while amplifying student voice across the University.

Planned Actions

Design and deliver a conference-style event focused on Rep development, collaboration and student voice.
Facilitate interactive workshops led by the SU and University teams to support co-creation and capture meaningful student insight.
Create an inclusive and engaging environment that encourages networking and shared learning across Schools.

Measures of Success

Strong engagement and attendance at Rep Con, supported by positive participant feedback.
Clear evidence of student insight gathered and fed into University-level discussions and decision-making.

Progress

Planned, organised and delivered Rep Con, a conference-style event designed to upskill and empower Reps for the academic year ahead.
The event sold out, and although not all ticket holders were able to attend, it was well attended and received strong positive feedback.
Coordinated 3 interactive workshops to ensure student voice was heard across the University:
- An SU-led workshop delivered by the Full-Time Officers.
- A Hwb and Engagement team workshop focused on the National Student Survey.
- A University-led discussion on assessment and feedback, gathering insight into how students want to be assessed and receive feedback.
Worked with SU Services to provide catering and to secure Cove as the venue, creating an accessible and effective space for the event.

Student Experience & Visibility and Communication | Campaigns (Learning difficulty Awareness week)

To deliver inclusive, informative educational campaigns that raise awareness, reduce stigma, and signpost students to appropriate academic and wellbeing support.

Planned Actions:

Develop more educational campaigns, such as Learning Disability Awareness Week

Measures of Success:

High student engagement with the campaign and clear evidence of increased awareness of available support.
Positive feedback from students and university services on the clarity, accessibility, and impact of campaign content.

Progress So Far:

An online campaign to raise awareness and understanding of learning difficulties near the beginning of term, timed to support new students arriving at University while also acting as a refresher for returning students.
The campaign achieved nearly 35,000 views across the week across the 4main campaign posts highlighting key areas:
- What is learning difficulty is?
- Specific types of learning difficulties
- How to access diagnostic testing and what support is available from the University?
- How can the Centre for Academic Success support all students?
I worked closely with university services, including CAS and the Disability & Wellbeing team, to ensure all information was accurate, clear, and accessible.
This campaign helped students better understand their options, reduced stigma.
This supported my wider priorities around inclusive education, accessibility, and improving the academic experience.

Academic Reps | Networking and Community

To build a strong, connected, and motivated Academic Rep community by creating meaningful opportunities for networking, recognition and shared identity.

Planned Actions

Build a stronger Rep community by introducing regular Socials and networking events.
Strengthen partnerships between School Reps and Subject Reps by creating dedicated spaces for collaboration, discussion and joint problem-solving.
Improve and expand Rep merchandise to foster a sense of identity, pride and belonging, while also recognising and rewarding Reps for their commitment and hard work.
Reintroduce and embed Rep of the Month to celebrate outstanding contributions and highlight the impact of Reps.
Plan and deliver Rep Con, a conference-style event designed to upskill, empower, and connect Reps while amplifying student voice

Measures of Success

Increased sense of community, motivation, and belonging among Reps, measured through engagement with events, uptake of opportunities and qualitative feedback.
Stronger collaboration and communication between School and Subject Reps, demonstrated through joint working, event participation, and shared initiatives.

Progress So Far

Successfully relaunched Rep of the Month, recognising and celebrating the contributions and impact of Academic Reps.
Introduced new Rep merchandise, including t-shirts, lanyards, notebooks, coffee cups for School Reps and expanded Rep discounts, supporting identity, pride and engagement.
Delivered successful School Rep training, strengthening confidence, role clarity and collaboration.
Successfully planned and delivered Rep Con, providing Reps with opportunities to upskill, network and connect while strengthening the collective student voice.
Introduced a range of Rep social groups, including a book club, study group, and walk-and-talk sessions, to support Reps’ wellbeing, encourage peer connection and create informal spaces for reps to socialise together beyond their rep roles.

Academic Reps | Training

To enhance the confidence, effectiveness, and development of Reps through tailored, collaborative, and skills-focused training opportunities.
Planned Actions:

Restructure Rep training to be more interactive, engaging and tailored to each School, allowing Reps to feel more confident in their roles.
Expand training opportunities to include Mental Health First Aid, leadership & management development and employability skills.
Deliver targeted training that supports effective collaboration between School Reps and Subject Reps, aligned with their specific aims and objectives.

Measures of Success:

Increased Rep confidence, engagement and retention, evidenced through training attendance, feedback and continued participation throughout the academic year.
Improved effectiveness of student representation, demonstrated by stronger collaboration between School and Subject Reps and high-quality student feedback raised through university channels.

Progress So Far:

Successfully filled all School Rep Roles including the College and St-Davids park roles.
Ran School Rep training at the start of term, ensuring reps understood their roles, responsibilities and how to effectively represent student voices while supporting Subject Reps within their schools.
Delivered successful Subject Rep training, focusing on gathering student feedback, co-creation with staff and confidently raising academic issues through the appropriate University channels.
Introduced breakout rooms into training sessions, allowing for more immediate interaction and collaboration between School Reps and Subject Reps in a relaxed smaller setting.
Reintroduced reps-exclusive discounts across both Singleton and Bay campuses to include 15% of everyday supporting rep engagement, motivation, and retention.
Worked with Maddie (Soc and Serv Officer) to organise Mental Health First Aid training, with several School Reps attending to better support students and feel more confident in their roles.

Academic Quality | University Quality Enhancement Review (QER)

To ensure the student voice is meaningfully represented throughout the University Quality Enhancement Review, contributing to a process that accurately reflects and improves the student academic experience.

Planned Actions:

Work with Union staff to ensure student perspectives are clearly and impactfully represented within the joint submission.
Prepare and support student representatives for board discussions, enabling them to actively contribute and share their experiences during the QAA visit.
Collaborate with University and Students’ Union staff to ensure a smooth and successful QER process that accurately reflects the student experience.

Measures of Success:

Student voice is clearly evidenced within QER submissions, meetings, and discussions.
Student representatives feel confident, prepared, and supported to participate in the QER process.

Progress So Far:

Attended initial meetings with University staff and the QAA to understand the review process and expectations.
Appointed as Lead Student Representative (LSR) for the review, taking a central role in representing the student voice.
Reviewed guidance papers for the LSR role to build understanding of responsibilities and effective advocacy strategies.
Worked with Union staff to assess the benefits and challenges of a joint versus separate submission for the QER process.
Collaborated with teams across the Students’ Union to co-write the SU section of the QER submission, ensuring student perspectives are clearly and authentically represented.
Organised and facilitated weekly catch-up meetings in the lead-up to the submission deadline to coordinate progress, address challenges and maintain momentum.
Presented on the Students’ Union section of the QER at Senate and attended a Council meeting to discuss the submission and advocate for the student voice at senior decision-making levels.

Motion | Carmarthen Campus Representation

To strengthen representation, visibility, and inclusion for students based at Carmarthen Campus, ensuring they feel connected to Swansea University and the Students’ Union.

Planned Actions:

Work closely with the Carmarthen Campus School Rep to ensure representation and initiatives reflect the needs of Carmarthen Campus students.
Increase the presence of the Students’ Union on Carmarthen Campus through regular visits by SU representatives and Full-Time Officers.
Organise inductions, small-scale events, and engagement activities on Carmarthen Campus to improve student belonging and inclusion.
Ensure Carmarthen Campus is consistently factored into the planning of Union campaigns, events, and the Freshers’ experience.
Work with University faculties and services to better utilise Carmarthen Campus spaces and improve the student experience.
Advocate for stronger representation structures, including keeping the Carmarthen School Rep role filled and exploring a Campus Inclusion Part-Time Officer role to support equality across campuses.

Measures of Success:

Increased engagement and participation from Carmarthen Campus students in Union activities and events.
Improved visibility of the Students’ Union and clearer representation structures for students studying at Carmarthen Campus

Progress So Far:

Visited Carmarthen Campus with the University engagement team to better understand the campus environment, facilities and the specific needs of students studying there.
Appointed a St David’s Park School Rep, strengthening representation and ensuring students on the campus have a clear and accessible student voice.
The Advice and Support Centre visited Carmarthen Campus and are continuing to Visit once a Month, helping improve access to SU support services for students based there.
Working with Students’ Union and University staff to arrange regular visits to Carmarthen Campus from Student Voice staff and Full-Time Officers, increasing SU visibility and strengthening ongoing engagement with students.

Student Experience & Visibility and Communication | Campaigns (StudyAid)

To continue developing and expanding Study Aid in collaboration with University teams, ensuring students are well supported during exams and key academic deadlines

Planned Actions:

Deliver a successful Study Aid campaign in January, building on previous engagement and impact.
Lead a strong marketing and communications push to increase awareness and engagement with Study Aid across all student groups and campuses.
Continue working collaboratively with the university teams to strengthen the reach, relevance, and impact of Study Aid initiatives.

Measures of Success:

High student engagement with Study Aid activities and services during assessment periods.
Increased awareness of Study Aid and associated support services across the student body.

Progress So Far:

Organised over 20 Study Aid events, including popular activities such as animal therapy, and collaborated closely with University services ready to support students during assessment periods.
Arranged free hot drinks to be available in the Library throughout the exam season.
Worked with University services to maximise Study Aid’s reach and effectiveness, ensuring support is visible, accessible, and relevant to students.
Expanded Study Aid viability beyond the traditional exam period, offering support around exams and key deadlines throughout the academic year.

Student Experience & Visibility and Communication | Library & Study Space Availability and Access

To champion student voice and work collaboratively with Library and Estates teams to ensure campus study spaces are accessible, comfortable, well-communicated and responsive to student needs throughout the academic year.
Planned Actions:

Work with Library and Estates teams to improve the comfort, usability and accessibility of student spaces on campus.
Represent student voices in decisions about library, study spaces and the wider campus environment.
Advocate for clear, transparent communication on university matters that impact students’ education and experience.
Push for study space provision and library opening hours that genuinely reflect student needs throughout the academic year.

Measures of Success:

Improved student access to and satisfaction with, library and study spaces, particularly during peak academic periods.
Clear evidence of student feedback influencing decisions on study space provision, opening hours and communication.

Progress So Far:

Collaborated with University teams and Union staff to ensure student voices are considered in decisions about library and study spaces.
Advocated for 24/7 study spaces that meet student needs, including access to PCs and other essential facilities.
Pushed for extended library opening hours, aiming to maximise availability for all students --> Extended opening hours for key assignment periods and exam periods and Weekend times are due to be extended following a consultation via a poll to reps and SU Execs.
Worked with my exec to ensure Voices are heard from across thew courses and on both campus

Visibility and Communication | Visibility of Education Officer Role

To increase awareness, engagement, and understanding of the Education Officer role by strengthening visibility and communication with student

Planned Actions:

Continue growing the @susueducation account with regular updates and engaging content
Aim to reach 1,700 followers on the page by the end of my term.
Explore new ways to engage students through social media, increasing interaction and awareness of the Education Officer role and initiatives.

Measures of Success:

Growth in social media following and engagement across Education Officer platforms.
Increased student awareness and recognition of the Education Officer role and its impact.

Progress So Far:

Used social media platforms to share updates and highlight work as Education Officer, keeping students informed about ongoing initiatives.
Developed the Education Officer brand pack, creating a stronger visual identity and improving recognition of the role across social media.

Academic Policy | Artificial Intelligence

To influence the development of academic policy around artificial intelligence by ensuring guidance is clear, student-focused, and supports both academic integrity and future employability.

Planned Actions:

Advocate for clearer AI guidelines, ensuring a student-focused approach.

Ensure students are taught how to use AI effectively for their future employment and daily lives.

Measures of Success:

Clear and accessible AI guidance that students understand and feel confident using.
Increased student awareness of how AI can be used appropriately in academic and professional contexts.

Progress So Far:

Motion | Palestinian Solidarity and Academic Freedom

Planned Actions:

Work with University and Students’ Union teams to ensure appropriate support is available for students experiencing discrimination, harassment, or hate incidents.
Promote clear messaging that condemns Islamophobia, antisemitism, and all forms of discrimination.
Engage with student groups and representatives to understand concerns and ensure student voices inform the Union’s approach.
Signpost students to wellbeing, advice, and reporting mechanisms where they feel impacted by the conflict or campus discussions.

Measures of Success:

Students feel supported and able to access appropriate wellbeing and reporting support.
Clear Union messaging that promotes inclusion, safety, and academic freedom while condemning all forms of hate.

Progress So Far:

Student Experience | Building a Stronger PGR link to the Union

To strengthen the relationship between Postgraduate Research (PGR) students and the Students’ Union, ensuring PGR voices are better represented, supported, and connected to Union services and decision-making.
Planned Actions:

Work with PGR representatives and Union staff to identify barriers to engagement and representation.
Improve communication between the Union and PGR students, ensuring opportunities, support, and representation structures are clear and accessible.
Explore new ways for PGR students to engage with the Union, including tailored events, communications, and feedback mechanisms.
Ensure greater consistency and stronger links with the PGR Education Executive Committee to improve alignment, communication, and representation.

Measures of Success:

Increased engagement from PGR students with Union communications, events, and representation structures.
Clearer routes for PGR students to feed into Union decision-making and feel represented.

Progress So Far:

Student Experience & Academic Policy | Improving academic integrity support

To strengthen academic integrity support by improving access to guidance, increasing awareness of reasonable adjustments, and ensuring students are supported both in preventing and navigating academic misconduct processes.

Planned Actions:

Partner with the Centre for Academic Success to continue improving academic integrity support, ensuring students can easily access essential resources throughout their studies.
Raise more awareness and ensure reasonable adjustments are met for students and acted upon allowing for better accessibility and more inclusive assessments.
Improve support for students accused of academic misconduct and enhance prevention efforts through better understanding about how to avoid it.

Measures of Success:

Increased student awareness and understanding of academic integrity expectations and available support.
Improved accessibility and consistency of academic integrity processes, including clearer support for students facing misconduct procedures.

Progress So Far:

Student Experience & Visibility and Communication | Campaigns (Neurodivergent Awareness week)

To deliver inclusive, informative educational campaigns that raise awareness, reduce stigma, and signpost students to appropriate academic and wellbeing support.
Planned Actions:

Develop more educational campaigns, such as Neurodivergent awareness week (16th-20th March)

Measures of Success:

High student engagement with campaigns and clear evidence of increased awareness of available support.
Positive feedback from students and university services on the clarity, accessibility, and impact of campaign content.

Progress So Far: