Student voices: celebrating strengths and shaping improvements
Around 60 students from the Faculty of Science and Engineering joined staff at our Faculty Student Forum to recognise what students value and identify opportunities to build on these strengths. The discussion highlighted positive learning experiences alongside constructive suggestions for enhancing learning and campus life.
The forum was led by our student representatives Esa Rehman from the School of Natural Sciences and Bhoomi Gupta from the School of Engineering. Together, they welcomed students to an open, supportive space to share their experiences and help shape future improvements.
Our School Reps structured the Faculty Forum discussion around three areas: curriculum currency and what students would like to retain or change; preparedness for employment and the world of work; and the wider campus experience, particularly study spaces, facilities and affordability.
Positive findings and opportunities included:
- Building on a current curriculum: students broadly viewed their courses as up to date and identified opportunities to strengthen AI and digital skills through industry-relevant tools and clear guidance.
- Connecting learning with future careers: students identified industry and alumni engagement, work experience and practical careers support as ways to strengthen their preparation for employment.
- Celebrating learning students value: labs, workshops, group work and opportunities to apply knowledge stood out as strengths that students want to retain and build on.
- Identifying practical campus improvements: feedback provided clear priorities for improving access to study spaces, power sockets and water fountains, alongside more affordable food on campus.
The forum identified valued learning experiences to build on and clear student priorities to inform future discussions. These insights provide a constructive basis for considering improvements across learning and campus life.
