Engagement Ready Students

Student Representation

Support and embed a robust system of student representation to promote engagement at course, school and faculty level. Alongside this we will ensure that student representatives receive the specialist training, tools and support required to carry out their roles effectively.

Student Voice Network

Establish a student voice network for student representatives, Unijob advocates and ambassadors, and individual students who want their voice to be heard. This network will be co-led by Chester Students’ Union (CSU) and will link with the Students as Partners (SaP) network already developed. This network will act as a platform for gathering ideas, generating change and showcasing partnership practice.

Employment Opportunities

Review, expand and further promote Unijob employment opportunities for students, including student ambassadors, advocates and learning facilitators. This will develop student skills acquisition, benefit our students financially, and ensure we are making the most of our students’ knowledge and experiences. We will ensure that employment opportunities are backed up by high quality, tailored training and support.

Induction and Transition Framework

Enhance the University framework for induction and transition, that facilitates a whole-University approach, captures the need to support multiple annual intakes and fosters an early sense of belonging in our students in their first weeks and months of study. We will also develop our induction programmes specifically for underrepresented student groups and for international students, mindful that most are new to living and studying in the UK. Induction and transition will also reflect the expected duties of the University to uphold freedom of speech and expression, and guidance and training demonstrating our commitment to preventing harassment and sexual violence across our University sites.

University Events

Deliver a wide-ranging University events programme, including online events and in-person events across all sites. These events will provide students with scope for challenge and debate, facilitate networking and the acquisition of both employability and life skills, and expand our students’ social capital. We will also connect with our local communities to encourage and enable staff and student participation in community events.

Chester Students' Union

Work in partnership with Chester Students’ Union and the Athletics’ Union to expand our provision of student societies, networks, student-led sports clubs and volunteering opportunities. Priorities will include a greater range of academic societies, a wider diversity of faith-based and cultural societies, more societies and networks for students from underrepresented groups, promoting the benefits of joining a sports club, and enhanced provision for international students and research postgraduates. We will develop and champion our volunteering provision as an integral part of our Careers & Employability service. We consider engagement with the above groups, activities and sports clubs to have a positive impact on our students’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and we will promote the valuable sense of belonging and community that they offer. We will continue to develop the mobile app to allow students to identify societies and networks that match their interests. We will encourage successful society leaders to mentor and develop newer ones.

Student Support Services

Continually improve and promote access to student support services that are tailored to students’ needs, that help remove barriers to engagement and that provide expert advice and advocacy when students require it. We will prioritise further work to address student mental health and isolation, tackle unacceptable behaviours, to include harassment and sexual violence, and develop our multi-faith Chaplaincy. We will draw on relevant Charter frameworks to assess and improve our provision, including the Mental Health Charter and International Student Charter and will promote our pledges to destigmatise harmful experiences relating to alcohol and substance misuse through our Recovery Friendly University Pledge.

Peer Mentoring

Develop and expand our mechanisms for peer-to-peer-support, particularly our peer mentoring schemes for applicants, students and graduates. We will promote opportunities for peer-led and social learning across academic departments via the 2025 Academic Framework and academic support services. We will also enhance the peer support advice and guidance available for students, including ‘Look after your Mate’ and active bystander training.