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Catching up on student communications

11 Dec 2012

Student communications professionals met up in Manchester last week to share the latest developments in this new but rapidly expanding Higher Education communications specialism.

Student communicators crossing the Old Quad

More and more universities are making specific appointments to student communications officer and manager roles in response to the growing emphasis on improving the student experience.

The University has been focusing resource on improving student communications for a number of years and now has a dedicated team in place in the Directorate for the Student Experience, working with colleagues across the institution.

On Friday 7 December, Student Communications Manager Alex Waddington and his colleagues Pete Morris (Student Communications Officer) and Leah Clegg (Student Communications Intern), got together with student communications professionals from seven other universities for a day of discussions on topics of mutual interest.

Colleagues attended from;

  • The University of Liverpool
  • Birmingham City University
  • Nottingham Trent University
  • York St John University
  • Swansea University
  • Kingston University
  • University of Edinburgh

Their discussions focussed on the following topics:

  • Development of institutional student communications strategies;
  • The value of student newsletters in enhancing student communication;
  • Using communications to enhance NSS participation;
  • Using social media to communicate with our current students;
  • Working with colleagues in Schools and departments.

Organiser Alex Waddington said: “The day started as a series of emails from newly appointed student communications colleagues at other University, wanting to talk to us about what we do and how we have approached the task of making improvements.

“We are really keen to learn from others what they are doing and share knowledge, so there seemed an opportunity to have more of a round-table event. It was a really successful and useful day, with lots of valuable information and ideas being shared. We’re hoping it will become a regular event.”

In May, Alex and Jenny Wragge, Senior Student Experience Officer, presented at a CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) event in London on student communication, focusing on promotion strategy for the NSS.

Interested in finding out more about student communications?

The Student Communications Team is happy to provide colleagues with professional guidance and advice on relevant issues. Please contact:

Resources and networking opportunities are developing to support the growing student communications function in UK universities, including: