Student representation

The Student Representation System (SRS) is a partnership between the University of Birmingham and the Guild of Students. The aim of the SRS is to ensure that every student and postgraduate researcher at Birmingham is effectively represented to the University and the Guild by a fellow student or postgraduate researcher, and are partners in their education to allow a more active involvement in, and ownership of, their learning.

Student representation at Birmingham is coordinated by a joint University-Guild committee, which is co-chaired by the University Director of Student Engagement and the Guild Vice-President (Education). This is known as SRSAB. 

More about SRSAB

Information on the Student Representation System can be found on the Guild of Students website (www.guildofstudents.com/studentreps/).

If you have any further queries about the SRS please contact the Guild of Students. 

The information below has been provided for Staff Liaison Contacts (SLCs) and any other University member of staff involved in the operation of the SRS.

A Staff Student Forum (SSF) Teams site has been created to support staff in the implementation and operation of the SRS. Registry, the Guild and staff involved with SSFs (or equivalent) will be able to continually monitor the operation of the SRS and share issues/ideas/good practice throughout the year. Support will be provided via the site when required.

• SSF Teams site (opens in new tab)
• SSF agenda template (DOC - 2.01 MB)
• SSF minutes template (DOC 2.01MB)
• SSF Terms of Reference template - taught (Word - 910KB)
• SSF Terms of Reference template - research (Word - 910KB)
• Dubai SSF Terms of Reference template - taught (Word - 224KB)
• Dubai SSF minutes template and guidance (DOC - 2.33 MB)

The Guild also has a Staff Guide which contains updates and information for the year:

• Staff SRS Guide 2024 (PDF - 1.26MB)
  

You should also be aware of the key dates in the SRS calendar, and how to inform Registry and the Guild of any changes to SSF staff contacts.

• Staff SRS Guide (PDF - 1.26MB) 
• SLC Calendar for Dubai (PDF - 131KB)

 

You should be familiar with the University's regulations on student and postgraduate researcher representation, and the Code of Practice on the SRS*. Regulations 2.3 and 2.4, and the Code of practice on the Student Representation System. 
* Legislation are cohort specific. Please ensure you view the Regulation and Code of Practice specific to the year the students started their studies.  

• Cohort specific legislation page

To support the Code of Practice for the Student Representation System, a Code of Conduct (below) has been introduced to ensure that the expectations from all reps remain the same.

A student rep:

1. Will actively engage with the Rep System and Rep Community throughout the year.

2. Will deliver feedback at key points within the academic year and endeavour to close the feedback loop where possible.

3. Will use my position as a Student Rep to the academic benefit of all students.

4. Will respect all students’ contributions to the feedback process and to our academic community equally when gathering feedback and representing students.

5. Will deliver all feedback and discussion with students and staff in a respectful and reasonable manner at all times, even where I may disagree.

6. Will honestly and constructively represent the views of my cohort, as I understand them, when delivering feedback.

7. Will attend committee meetings relevant to my role wherever possible; and where absence is unavoidable, to inform the relevant chairs or organisers at the earliest opportunity prior to the meeting.

8. Will engage fully and enthusiastically with the Rep System to the best of my ability and understand that I am able to seek support from the Guild of Students and my School where I am uncertain or facing difficulty

Complaints against those who may have broken this code of conduct or against the system as a whole can be filed by completing a complaints form which can be found here: I'm A Rep - Guild of Students

A Student Representation System Benchmarking Toolkit has been jointly agreed by the University and the Guild of Students to support the development and operation of a successful SRS. The Toolkit is to be used by staff and students to understand the baseline expectations in the running of the SRS at School, Department, student, staff, University, and Guild of Students level. Good and excellent practice is also included to help improve.

• Student Representation System (SRS) Benchmarking Toolkit (PDF - 829KB)

 

Students and postgraduate researchers can volunteer to be a representative via the Guild of Students online portal. On registering via the portal, volunteers are requested to complete a mandatory Canvas course outlining the basics of the role and responsibilities. It is not until the course is completed that a volunteer becomes recognised as a representative.
The Guild of Students will support and organise the election of School and College Reps. Please contact the Guild to discuss these.
Information about the training that is available to student and postgraduate researcher representatives is available below:

• Volunteering portal
• Training available to representatives 

The role descriptors for the Student Rep scheme are currently being updated.

The Student Representation System is one of a number of quality assurance processes which help check that the University is meeting agreed standards and expectations. Student Reps may be asked to comment on other quality assurance process during their time as a Rep; to help them understand what quality assurance involves and what the different processes cover here are some quick guides:

• Quality Assurance Quick Guide (1.82 Mb) - an overview of what quality assurance is. 
• Student Representation System Quick Guide (1.81 Mb)
• University Legislation Quick Guide (1.81 Mb)
• Programme and Module Development Quick Guide ( 1.81 Mb)
• External Examiners Quick Guide (1.82 Mb)
• Annual Review Quick Guide (1.81 Mb)

These quick guides can be shared in SSFs and to all students who wish to understand these processes better. 

The Academic Engagement Fund is a small pot of money, from which Student Reps can each bid for up to £150. 

More information and the application form can be found here: I'm A Rep - Guild of Students

The SRS Staff Experience Forum were started in 2015 as a means for University and Guild of Students Staff that are involved with the SRS to come together to discuss potential support, developments and share best practice.

The forum is informal and open to any University or Guild of Students member of staff . The aims of the forum are:

• To share and disseminate best practice
• To discuss potential developments or initiatives that can be made to the system
• To discuss what support can be offered by the Guild of Students

If you would like further information regarding the SRS Staff Experience Forums or would like to submit an item for discussion please email the Student Voice Department studentreps@guild.bham.ac.uk.  

Staff members can find out more about the SRS by contacting Registry (Policy).

Information regarding Student Representation on University and College committees can be found in the following document:

Student Representation on University and College level committees (PDF - 48KB)