Student Representation
The University operates Staff/Student committees which have been set up to give students an opportunity to raise any concerns they may have in relation to their programme of study or to facilities in their particular buildings etc. These committees also provide the staff with a forum to inform students of issues they may have or information they may wish to convey.
You can make your views known to your class representatives (class rep.), or volunteer to become a representative yourself. The job of the class rep. is to represent their respective classes at various levels. Each class rep. has a seat on the SU Council which entitles them to vote on motions that are raised. Class reps will also represent the classes when dealing with lecturers and administrators across the University. The class reps are also the main link between the President and Vice-Presidents and the student body. Class reps may also have a social role, organising parties and trips for the classes, with the help of the Entertainments SU Vice-President. Many students find the experience of acting as a representative a valuable and rewarding chance to influence what the University does. As a representative, you are likely to develop skills that enhance your opportunities as you progress from the University into employment.
Students are also represented on key University committees such as the University Programmes Board and the Academic Council Quality Enhancement Committee. The University highly values the positive collaborative partnership it has with the student body and with the University Student's Union, and the UCDSU itself of course, offers a wide range of ways that you can get involved in student and University affairs.
Student Participation in Periodic Quality Review
Hearing from students is one of the key elements of the quality review process. It is important to Review Groups to understand the student experience at UCD. Review Groups consider how a school/unit operates in light of how it impacts on the student, whether in positive and/or negative ways. Your experiences are one of the most important inputs to their deliberations. Further information is available via the Guidance for Students meeting with Quality Review Groups (2014).
Student Feedback on Modules
Student Feedback on Modules is UCD’s system for collecting anonymous feedback from students on the design and delivery of modules. This feedback is an important source of information for lecturers and schools to use in reviewing and improving modules and it forms part of UCD’s quality assurance process. In some cases student feedback is an essential requirement for accreditation by external professional bodies. All students are expected to provide feedback on what worked well and any areas for improvement.
Towards the end of each semester you will receive an email to inform you that the student feedback on modules web surveys are open. All the information that you provide will be anonymous and it is taken seriously. Above all, we need you to use this important feedback system every semester so that we can hear your views. The surveys are completed at www.ucd.ie/survey. Student feedback is of critical importance to the University and we encourage, and are very grateful for, the participation of students in the Student Feedback on Modules Survey. This is an opportunity to ensure your voice is heard!
See below a snapshot of some of the topics that students across the university raised; the bigger the word in the picture, the higher the volume of comments on that topic.
This will be acted on as part of the Module Enhancement Process. For further information on Student Feedback on Modules, please contact modulefeedback@ucd.ie.
Irish Survey of Student Engagement (ISSE)
The higher education system in Ireland wants to listen to students about their experiences of higher education. Students have a major contribution to make in influencing the design of curricula, and in reviewing and providing feedback on their experience of college. Good student feedback on engagement and satisfaction will contribute to students experiencing an education that is relevant and responsive to their personal development and growth as fully engaged citizens within society. This national survey is one example of institutions and national bodies working together to gather students’ views.
The objectives of the Irish Survey of Student Engagement are:
- To increase transparency in relation to the student experience
- To enable direct student input on levels of engagement and satisfaction
- To identify good practice that enhances the student experience
- To assist institutions to identify issues and challenges affecting student engagement
- To serve as a guide for continual enhancement of institutions teaching and learning
- To document the student experience to enable year on year comparisons
- To facilitate comparison with other higher education systems internationally
Further information about the ISSE is available at http://www.ucd.ie/students/isse.html.