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Student Engagement & Alumni

The Student Voice Our aim at NCL is to build a thriving student community. We recognise that every student is unique and, therefore, do not take a one-size-fits-all approach as we wish to ensure that all of our students benefit. How do we achieve that? Have a read through the below. The Student Voice Our Student Engagement initiative was launched in 2022; it built upon some existing structures such as our Student Representatives Policy, as this already represented well views, opinions and questions posed by our valued students. Our students are genuinely placed at the centre of everything that we do at NCL, and it therefore made perfect sense that we should ensure that we hear the Student Voice at all levels, including, but not limited to, matters concerning: the curriculum; social activities; learning and teaching; premises and facilities. The Student Engagement & Alumni Team A key part of the Student Engagement Initiative was to ensure the appointment of a dynamic, get-up-and-go, team of employees specifically responsible for the success of this. And to make sure that that team supported NCL students across all campuses (currently three). A Student Engagement & Alumni Manager was appointed (reporting to the Head of Progression & Student Engagement). They are supported by two full-time Student Engagement Officers. They are supported by an occasional team of tele-sellers, responsible for raising awareness of activities and events being organised by the team; encouraging students to complete NSS and HESA Graduate Outcomes surveys; alongside other activities as required. Events We plan and continue to carry out a wide range of events every year. These vary from on-campus events, to sporting events, to artistic occasions (see the College’s Facebook and Instagram pages for examples). We organise exploratory trips within the UK, but also undertake trips overseas – in the last year or so, for example, we have been to Barcelona, Venice, Lisbon and Athens. NCL also has its own tour company – NCL Tours – so do talk to them if you are looking to take a family holiday, or book a flight, they will be happy to help. The full calendar of activities will be informed by our students themselves; through regular dialogue between our students and our Student Engagement & Alumni Team.

 

Student Association At the core is our Student Association; all our students are counted as members of that Association. We have produced a detailed Student Engagement Framework, which informs how this operate, and how it benefits all of our students. The Association ensures two-way communication between students and the College. In addition to ensuring that you all have a say in college life, the SA will create an environment that will complement the educational activities of the student body, represent students on various College Committees and Boards and promote Health & Safety. The SA will also support the creation of a thriving student community. Student Representatives Our students are placed at the centre of everything that we do; we therefore wanted to hear the Student Voice at all levels, including, but not limited to, matters concerning: the curriculum; social activities; learning and teaching; premises and facilities. How do students get to have their say? We take a tiered approach to this: Students> Student Representatives> Student Vice Presidents> Student President>Student Representatives Committee; more on this, below. Our aim is for every class to be represented by two Student Representatives. Even better, why not become a Student Representative, yourself!

 

At the beginning of each new intake (in September, January and April), we will visit each class, and, by a show of hands, ask who would like to volunteer to be a Student Representative. If there are only two volunteers, the class will be asked if they are happy for the two volunteers to represent them. If all are in agreement, then the two volunteers will become the Student Representatives for that class. If an agreement is not reached, the class will be asked to discuss amongst themselves, who they would like to represent them, whereon staff will return the following week to resume the election process. Our Student Engagement initiative was formally launched in 2022; it was built upon some existing structures such as our Student Representatives Policy,  which then created our Student Engagement Framework. This drew together, and sought to respond to, the already well represented views, opinions and questions posed by our valued students. In 2023, we appointed our first-ever Student President; this role is elected each year (or two in the case of a President continuing with their studies). The President is supported by Vice-Presidents, and a Campus Representative, per campus, plus the Student Representatives themselves. Equally, we strive to keep in close contact with our alumni students, so that they are also able to participate in these events and remain an integral part of the NCL Family. This also ensures that our alumni students are able to continue to take advantage of all the employability and entrepreneurship tools, which you will read about on the Employability & Progression page.