Student Communications: Giving students and staff a chance to influence our future.

Given the changes we are witnessing in higher education it is all the more important to communicate with our students effectively and get feedback on their experiences at the University, so that we can make improvements for future cohorts. In recognition of this Student Services has appointed Malcolm Roberts as Student Communications Coordinator.

Malcolm works on behalf of Student Services and the University as a whole to improve our communications infrastructure and enable us all to communicate more effectively with students. He has already been working with colleagues in the Students' Union, ACS, Corporate Affairs, CiCS, the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health and numerous Student Services teams on a variety of projects designed around the common theme of improving student communications. These have included organising a maildrop to all students in ACS residences with information on the support services offered by the Students’ Union and Student Services; developing a new current students web page and working with CiCS and the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health to make sure it is linked in to iSheffield, student MUSE and Medicine’s equivalent system, Minerva; and working with colleagues from all areas to communicate changes and developments around the ongoing building work underway at the Students’ Union Building.

In addition to his project work, Malcolm has also brought together staff from across the University and students from every faculty to work alongside each other as part of a Student Communicators' Network. This network allows colleagues from both central services departments and faculties to meet regularly to discuss projects and issues related to student communications so as to benefit from the varied experience and knowledge of the group.

As part of the network, Malcolm runs a series of student focus groups consisting of undergraduates, postgraduates and international students from all five faculties to get their feedback and opinions on the University’s communications. This feedback gives the network an up to the minute picture of which communication methods work and which don’t, while giving the students a voice and a means to influence change within the University. Over time the network will enable the University to work with students to improve our communications methodology while gathering a strong body of feedback and evidence of managed change.

Malcolm said: "Trying to coordinate student communications is fascinating and really exciting. There is so much happening around the University and not all of it reaches the ears of our students or staff. Fortunately we can use the Student Communicators' Network and other channels which I'm developing to share that knowledge and gain invaluable feedback that will help us to steer a better course towards the future."

The need for a Student Communications Coordinator was highlighted by the Student Communications Review which was conducted in 2010–11. This University-wide project assessed student communications activity across the University and cast a spotlight on areas that needed improvement. Since his appointment in May 2012, Malcolm has been working to address the key findings of the Student Communications Review and gather more up to date feedback on the current situation at the University.

If you would like to know more about Malcolm’s work and the area of Student Communications, please contact him by email at Malcolm.roberts@sheffield.ac.uk or telephone x 23995.