Students from across Westminster responded positively to how the University of Westminster Students’ Union (UWSU) valued their voices throughout the 2022-23 academic year.
Accounting and Finance students gave the UWSU a score of 78.7%, 2.6% over the national benchmark, with Management and Marketing students following suit giving it a 79.9% score, 3% over the national benchmark.
Architecture and Cities and Life Sciences students were equally as impressed with the UWSU, overall giving it a score of 86.3% and 77.8% respectively, while the national benchmark for both these Schools were 78% and 73.9% respectively.
Across the UWSU there are multiple bodies in place to support students and give them a voice. Academic Reps are students who provide a link between the wider student body and the University. They are there to listen to any issues, feed them back to the University and help make changes to improve the student experience.
Back in October, the UWSU held Voice Week, where students were given the opportunity to share their feedback. Students were encouraged to tell them how the cost of living had affected them and make requests on how the UWSU could support them. By taking part in the feedback, students also had the chance to win one of four £50 grocery shopping vouchers.
Thanks to this feedback, the University worked in partnership with the SU to provide free sanitary products across all campuses. The products include free sanitary pads, free tampons and free condoms.
Taruna Bangia, the newly elected UWSU President, said: “Ensuring that the right support is in place for students is my main focus. Periods have been brushed under the table in some communities for years, it’s high time we change that; it’s time we eliminate the stigma by normalising these notions and conversations thereof. Students are facing a cost-of-living crisis and sanitary products should never been deemed as a luxury.
“We have been working with the University to deliver the right range of products at the right locations and are still actively pushing for the campaign to increase awareness, gain further traction and address any queries that students might have.”
The elected full-time sabbatical officers are UWSU President Taruna Bangia, Vice President of Activities Muhammad Jaffar, Vice President of Welfare Divanshu Airan, Vice President of Undergraduate Education Nandini Aggarwal, and Vice President of Postgraduate Education Nazia Asakzai.
On the positive results, a spokesperson from the UWSU said: “We're really happy and feel these results reflect the work we've been doing to improve the student representative element of the Union, which helps students have an active role in improving their courses. A big thank you to our Course and School Representatives for making this possible!”
