A message to Students’ Union sabbatical officers and student academic reps

A message from Professor Michael Arthur, President & Provost, to say thank you to the student sabbatical team and student reps and pay tribute to the power of partnership. Dear sabbatical team and student reps, I am writing to thank you for working with us so effectively this year. The idea that universities should work in partnership with students sounds unbelievably obvious, and yet it has taken time and hard work to foster a culture in which the student voice is heard loud and clear at all levels of the university. Your work with us through the crisis has shown us just how powerful that partnership can be. I chaired the National Student Survey from 2006-2009, as the idea of seeking consistent feedback from students was starting to gain traction - and I brought that commitment with me to UCL when I joined in 2013, sponsoring our ChangeMakers programme, and seeking to consult widely with students wherever possible. I considered that we were making great progress in putting students at the heart of our decision-making. Our experience through the pandemic has accelerated that progress significantly.