Skills
Development
through
Student
Representation
Module Handbook
Avril Honan, University of Ulster
Students’ Union
Contact: a.honan@ulster.ac.uk
Skills Development through Student Representation
Who the module is designed for:
Representatives of all levels, whether at
Course, School or Faculty. It is suitable for
newly elected representatives and also those
with some previous experience of the role
What the module leads to:
Successful students will be awarded 5 credit
points towards the University accredited
Certificate in Personal and Professional
Development.
IT DOES NOT COUNT TOWARDS AN
UNDERGRADUATE OR POSTGRADUATE
DEGREE.
It can also be used as evidence to use the
role of Course Representative included in
the EDGE Award
Key Dates:
Registration for the module is open during
Semester 1: it closes on the last day of term
in Semester 1.
During Semester 1 students must have
completed the following:

A registration form for the module

The Students’ Union online training
During Semester 2 students must complete
the assessment for the module, as detailed
in this handbook.
Key Contacts:
Avril Honan,
Student Engagement Manager,
University of Ulster Students’ Union:
a.honan@ulster.ac.uk
02890368712
1
Module Rationale
This is a second semester module that should be completed by course representatives have
completed the UUSU training on campus and/or online through BBLearn.
The role of student representative requires a knowledge base and a range of organisational,
negotiation and leadership skills. This Module provides an opportunity for students to
develop and to become aware of the importance of the knowledge and skills necessary to
collect, collate and communicate student issues to staff and students in a variety of
contexts.
Module Aims:
This module aims to:
 Assist students to understand and undertake the role of course representative;
 Identify learning opportunities within a student representative context;
 Equip students with the ability to articulate their experiences and skills;
 Support the review of evidence against key employability skills.
2
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this module, a student will:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
K1
Be aware of the importance of providing constructive feedback
K2
Be familiar with the University and Students’ Union frameworks for achieving
feedback from students
K3
Understand what is entailed in the role of ‘representative’.
K4
Recognise key employability skills and how these can be developed.
INTELLECTUAL QUALITIES
I1
From the experience reflect on and assimilate information to help inform future
career planning.
PROFESSIONAL/PRACTICAL SKILLS
P1
Reflect on and improve own learning and performance
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
T1
Evidence Communication skills
T2
Evidence Problem Solving skills
T3
Cite examples of working with others
3
CONTENT
Student Representation
Why become a Course Representative contributing to improving student experience; skills
and experience development.
Understanding the student experience and student journey.
Influences that impact on a students’ learning experience – putting things in context
The University structure: how courses and quality are managed.
The Students’ Union; representing and advocating for students, and your role within it.
Defining the roles of a Course Representative; staff/student liaison; information gathering
and dissemination.
Effective communication and negotiation skills and conflict management.
Preparing for, and participating in, university and student meetings; how to give
constructive feedback; how to facilitate dialogue among students
Employability Skills
Identifying what employability skills are and how these can be developed through the role
of course representative; establishing current skills profile and opportunities for
development; exploring methods to ensure skills identified are evidenced.
TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS
The learning and teaching methods adopted will involve active learning by students. The
principal methods will be by lectures, workshops and guided independent learning.
This module will be delivered online through the Blackboard Learn System.
4
ASSESSMENT
Your assessment should be submitted by email (as word/PDF documents) to Avril Honan
(a.honan@ulster.ac.uk) :

Portfolio of evidence

Reflective journal entry (500 words)
Result will be PASS or FAIL
100% Coursework
0% Examination
READING LIST
Recommended
Gillen, T (1999): Agreed! Improve your powers of influence.
London, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
University of Ulster Students’ Union: Course Representative Handbook
Websites:

Career Development Centre : http://careers.ulster.ac.uk

The Windmills Virtual Career Coach: http://www.windmillsprogramme.com/

University of Ulster Students’ Union: www.uusu.org

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education: www.qaa.ac.uk

The National Union of Students (nus) www.nusconnect.org.uk

Quality Matters: www.qualitymatters.nus.org

NUS Manifesto for Partnership:
http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/campaigns/highereducation/partnership/a-manifestofor-partnerships/
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
This module recognises the value of student representation undertaken while at University.
It provides a structure for recognising and recording the learning and development of
employability skills in the context of a class representative. The module enhances self
awareness, self confidence and encourages assessment against identified skills.
5
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA TABLE
PLEASE NOTE *Submission dates*
This module is provided for students across all levels of undergraduate study and will be started at different periods of time for different cohorts. Therefore the
submission deadline for all students is 4th April 2014.
This module is PASS/FAIL and you will be advised of your grade and given written comments on your work three weeks after the FINAL SUBMISSION DATE (note:
not when you submit).
Type of Assessment
1. Student Representative
Skills Portfolio – submit as a
word document through
BBLearn
What should be included
EVIDENCE THE TIME SPENT CARRYING
OUT THE ROLE AND THE SKILLS YOU HAVE
ACQUIRED
The Journal should include a log of the
activities undertaken by you, as well as
evidence of meetings attended. By doing
this you will illustrate the key skills that you
have developed in your time of being a
representative.
2. Reflective Journal –
submit as a word document
through BBLearn
REFLECT ON YOUR WHOLE TIME AS A
REPRESENTATIVE AND IN PARTICULAR
HOW YOU HAVE DEVELOPED YOUR
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Learning Outcomes
K2
K3
T1
T2
T3
Additional Information
This is your opportunity to record all of the meetings
you have attended, and to record the interactions
between yourself and other students in regards to
this role. Things you should include in this are:



I1
P4
K4
Minutes from meetings that you attended
Screenshots of any facebook groups you
have created, or managed, to communicate
with your class
Examples of emails between yourself and
students/staff resolving an issue
(anonymised where appropriate)
This journal should be 500 words.
We want you to write reflectively on your time as a
representative – focus on your skills development
using the activities you carried out as examples: the
aim of this assessment is to think about how the role
has improved your employability.
Answer the following questions when writing this:
1. Why did you take on the role of Class
Representative?
2. Which skills do you think you would improve, was
this the case?
3. If you were to take on the role again, is there
anything that you would do differently?
1