Wow what a first few weeks it has been, and it's time you guys had an update as I attempt to close the communications loop on what an Education Officer does…
When I ran for this election back in March, we were all still able to meet up in the Plug and Tub. For lots of us, the impact that strikes had on our learning and teaching was at the forefront of our minds, not a pandemic…
Soon after elections week, the University moved teaching online and we all went through the Covid-19 lockdown. We were anxious over the health of our loved ones and ourselves, we couldn’t see our friends and we started being inundated with zoom quizzes and teams’ meetings. Well doesn’t that seem like a world away from where we are now? We still need to abide by government guidance, but the overload of zoom quizzes has stopped and meeting face to face with your friends has resumed albeit at a social distance. The uncertainty of what tomorrow, next week, or next month will bring has definitely spiced up the Higher Education Sector! When I ran for this role, I certainly didn’t expect to be involved in the planning process of reopening campus for the next academic year.
Before my first update begins, I can’t start without mentioning how devastated the Officer team is over the recent news over Rob’s passing. Having spent the two weeks prior to starting work in an intensive handover period bonding as a team, I am still struggling to find the words to describe how I feel and the heartbreak we all hold. I have to thank every person who has offered help and support to the Officer team. Whilst we are still grieving and adjusting to being a team of five, we hope to make Rob proud in the work we do over the next year and will ensure he is with us in everything we do.
There have been lots of things happening on a local and national level that have really shaped the first few weeks in the role. I’ve been working closely with the Student Academic Advisory Panel (you guys are incredible!!), relaying information, engaging in discussion and providing updates in the appropriate meetings over what has been discussed, making sure that the student voice is heard and recognised in all areas. This has been crucial, as now more than ever we need to know about your concerns for the next academic year so we can lobby the University - ensuring that you receive the high quality education that you deserve. I also facilitated a Q&A session with the Student Academic Advisory Panel, where they asked Peter Lambert (Pro-Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching) and Prof Tim Ibell (Leading the Resilient Curriculum Project) some challenging questions to engage them in discussion over what the next academic year will look like.
One of my weekly meetings is Resilient Curriculum, where the learning and teaching side of the next academic year is discussed. This includes how in-person teaching, engagement, and live online interactive learning will take place, in addition to timetables, module changes and study space. I also attend Placement Resilient Task Group where we discuss what happens if you can’t find a placement due to Covid-19, health and safety concerns, and ensuring departments are supporting you correctly throughout the whole process. I am also frequently in contact with Peter Lambert and Cassie Wilson (Vice-President Student Experience) having discussions around topics such as Personal Tutors and making sure students have access to the correct equipment and software to be able to study from home next year.
Another aspect of the Education Officers role is that you’re a Governor of the University alongside Francesco (SU President). This means I sit on the governing body overseeing the University’s finances, estates, buildings and strategy. In the last meeting Francesco and I attended we raised important issues around degree outcomes and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. This is also where we approve finance papers that come from another committee I sit on (Finance Committee). Although when we are in Council, we are governors, it also allows us to ensure that the student voice is represented and raised to the highest level.
It is also super important for me to keep up to date with what is happening in the sector, next week myself and the rest of the officer team will be at NUS Lead and Change Conference, networking with other SU Officers across the country allowing us to engage in campaigns on a national level. I’ve also attended webinars on Black Lives Matter and strongly believe that the progress and momentum must not be lost, and that universities need to keep the movement going. One of the ways that I will be ensuring this is by focusing on, and holding the university to account, on the work being done to decolonise the curriculum. This is something that myself and Freya (SU Community Officer) are closely monitoring and will be working on throughout the year. Other topics that are on our radar are Brexit (yes, it is still happening…) and the impact this will have on HE institutions across the UK.
I am also very aware that for many of you being at university isn’t all about the learning and teaching. That certainly was the case for me, being able to get involved in the SU as an NUS Conference Delegate, Senate Rep and taking part in sports (Trampolining and those 4 Volleyball sessions I attended) allowed for me to make some of my closest friends and really settle into Bath. I don’t think I would’ve had half the fun or been so emotionally attached to Bath if it hadn't been for sports nights in score or sofa chats in the SU. For many people university is a place where you find your voice, stand up for what you believe in, learn to lead, empower others and really shake the sector creating movement – something which I am extremely passionate about. For others, the involvement in sports and societies is crucial, finding your kind of people is so important and the need for these opportunities to be available albeit in a socially distanced way is vital next year.
So, if I’m going by the progress that’s been made and the impact your voice as students has had since I started this role, I’m extremely optimistic about the upcoming year. It will be a strange one, but as we start to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I cannot wait to see you back in some way (socially distanced or virtually!) next semester.
Love Annie SU Education Officer x
