Volunteering as a course representative

Hafsa found being a course representative helped improve her confidence, “Sometimes you have to stand up in a lecture hall in front of lots of people. It boosted my confidence a lot because I’ve never been able to stand in front of that many people before. I wanted to overcome that. 

“I got to talk to the lecturers more and build more of a relationship with them. I got to establish relationships with students as well. I noticed before I was a course representative that not all the students used to talk. It might have been because they were having online lectures then dealing with coming back after Covid. They weren’t used to talking to anyone or making new friends. I feel like the role has helped me communicate with them more than I used to.” 

What enticed Hafsa to volunteer was the opportunity to give back, “I feel like whenever I needed help from the community, I’ve always got it. I thought if I have the chance to volunteer and help someone else, I’m going to take the chance.” 

Day-to-day, Hafsa represents the students on her course, “Any feedback the students give to me I can pass on to the Students’ Union officer. It’s about improving the university. We’ll highlight the positive things and if there’s any negative feedback it’s used to make improvements.” 

By volunteering as a course representative, Hafsa has been able to gain new skills, “My communication skills have really improved. I feel like I can go up to people and ask them questions. I’m now able to build friendships easily. I didn’t have that before. 

“You also get to find out about lots of different services and events, you get opportunities that go on your CV and it’s a positive experience that works well while studying.” 

How to become a course representative

If you’re interested in becoming a course representative, find out more on the Students’ Union website. You can also find out more about other opportunities on the volunteering page.