QAA welcomes new members of student committee

The Quality Assurance Agency has welcomed a new cohort of members to its Student Strategic Advisory Committee (SSAC).

SSAC's membership comprises students, student representatives and staff from students’ unions or representative bodies in higher education, whose expertise, experience and perspectives provide QAA with essential guidance and advice.

QAA is committed to the involvement of students throughout its work. This reflects one of the key principles of the UK Quality Code – the commitment "to engage students as active partners in assuring and enhancing the quality of the student learning experience".

During the current academic year, SSAC will support QAA in setting priorities and promoting opportunities for student engagement across the agency. 

'The work of the members of the Student Strategic Advisory Committee is vital to all of our activities,' says Tom Yates, Director of Corporate Affairs at QAA. 'We believe that quality enhancement and assurance activities should actively involve students and learners, and promote the student voice, and this of course extends to the governance of QAA itself.'

The new committee members include Alex Stanley, who currently serves as Vice President Higher Education for the National Union of Students. Alex says he believes that it is crucial that 'the concerns of students are not just heard but acted on' across the HE sector.

Other new members include President Education at the University of Sunderland Students' Union Dola Dada, Vice President Education at the University of Essex Joe Holmes, Academic Representation Officer at the University of Portsmouth Marija Solic, former Vice President Education for the Open University Students Association Cinnomen McGuigan, former Vice President Education at Edinburgh University Students Association Sam Maccallum, and former sabbatical officer at Southampton University Students’ Union Emily Bastable.

'Working with students takes the guesswork out of quality in HE and often leads to more innovative solutions to the most wicked problems,' Emily says.

'There is something really powerful about empowering students to change the communities they are a part of for the better,' adds Bath SU President Jimena Alamo, who is also the independent student member on QAA's Board.

This is a sentiment echoed by Calum Campbell, another new member of the committee: 'Student engagement in all areas of further and higher education is vital as it ensures courses and degrees are relevant and effective. When students are involved in shaping their education, it leads to higher motivation, satisfaction, and overall success, building a culture of continuous improvement.'

Swansea University's Emmanuela Oladipo agrees: 'Student engagement in quality is essential for fostering an enriching educational experience that benefits both students and educational institutions.'

This point is also emphasized by Ulster University's Odhran Winters who stresses that 'student engagement is everything when determining the value of education.'

'Student engagement directly impacts learning,' says The University of Manchester's Yukino Sakae. 'When students are actively involved, they are more likely to be motivated, and their feedback can drive improvements to ensure that educational programmes are as effective as they can be.'

Former Student President at Dundee & Angus College Amy Monks feels the same: 'Student engagement is so important because, in order to create the best education experience, we need to keep the student at the heart of what we do.'