The question of “What’s the best way to select student reps?” frequently arises within the Higher Education community. Universities and student unions utilise a variety of methods, depending on their specific needs and objectives, to select student representatives. Some opt for traditional elections, either manually or via technology, while others favour a more voluntary approach, recruiting students based on their skills and willingness to champion their peers.

Like many institutions, you might be re-evaluating your current selection process to bolster both rep and student engagement. To shed light on this, we hosted a webinar that explored the advantages and disadvantages of rep elections versus voluntary recruitment methods.

Our guest speakers, Antony Catt, Academic Representation Project Analyst at Nottingham SU, and Georgina Newham, Student Voice Coordinator at SU Bath, shared invaluable insights based on their research and experience, covering:

• Popular selection methods
• Their functionality
• Advantages and disadvantages of each system
• Student perspectives
• Implementation and improvement strategies

Antony discussed his institution’s transition from an election-based system to a voluntary recruitment model, detailing both the positive and negative aspects of each. He also provided advice on how to implement significant changes and gain the support of key stakeholders. Georgina explored the different tactics for hiring student reps, factors affecting their success or failure, the role of rewards, how different student types affect the recruitment process and the impact of the pandemic on student behaviour in this regard.

Both speakers encouraged attendees to reframe their understanding of what ‘engagement’ in the student voice truly means.

By watching the webinar replay, you’ll gain:

• A comprehensive understanding of the merits and shortcomings of election vs. recruitment methods
• Lessons learnt from both successful and unsuccessful selection methods
• A fresh perspective on ‘engagement’ in the academic voice
• The opportunity to reconsider your current recruitment or election strategy
• The chance to share best practices or experiences with peers in the field

Don’t miss this opportunity to revisit the conversation and discover new ways to select your reps. Watch the webinar replay today!