Wednesday 15-01-2025 - 09:46

Did you know that your Full-time Undergraduate Officer Mia Stevens has been working hard behind the scenes to improve assessment feedback and marking criteria at UoB? 

Here is the latest update from Mia as she sat down to discuss some of her achievements last term!

Firstly, for those who may not be familiar, as the Undergraduate Education Full-Time Officer, what does this paid role with Bristol SU entail?

"My main job is to represent undergraduate students when it comes to their teaching and learning at University," Mia shared. "A big part of that involves going into university decision-making spaces, such as committees and working groups, and bringing in student perspectives and voices.”

“My perspectives come from talking with students, conducting research—often alongside the Research and Insights team—and holding focus groups, speaking with our academic reps and facilitating workshops. When I attend meetings with the university, I can advocate for students by presenting their experiences and opinions."

So as part of your role you have become a champion for better assessment feedback and access to marking criteria for students? Did you have a personal experience or student story that motivated you to address this issue?

"As an English Literature undergraduate and postgraduate student, I received really helpful  assessment feedback," Mia explained. "It wasn’t until I started this role and began speaking to students and reviewing responses to the National Student Survey (NSS) that I realised assessment feedback quality and access to marking criteria were major issues for other students. Through focus groups, workshops, and conversations, it became clear that this was something students really wanted to see improved. That urgency is what motivated me to prioritise this issue in my role as the Undergraduate Education Officer."

Last term you did a presentation to the Teaching Excellence Framework Oversight Board (TEF) and outlined some key changes students want to see in academia. How did it feel to see those actions endorsed and issued to Heads of Schools? 

Mia explained, "The recommendations I presented were entirely student-driven, the result of months of research and gathering student experiences. Seeing the board endorse them and send them to Heads of Schools was incredibly rewarding because it demonstrated how student voices can directly influence university policies. One key outcome was the push for more timely release of assessment feedback, which students consistently say is vital for their academic improvement."

Going forward students can now expect more timely release of assessment feedback to improve on their work. Furthermore, Mia has been working on increasing opportunities for students to discuss marking criteria with their lecturers before assessments.   

Co-creation with students and staff is a big theme in your campaign. Firstly, what does this process look like and why do you think involving students directly in shaping academic improvements is so important?

"Co-creation is about students and staff working together to shape academic improvements," Mia emphasised. 

"When students are actively involved in decisions about their learning—whether it’s designing resources or shaping assessment styles—the education they receive becomes more centred around their needs. Staff bring their expertise as researchers and educators, while students contribute their lived experience of being learners. When these perspectives combine, the result is a more effective and empowering educational environment."  

The launch of 'feedback champions' sounds exciting! What do you hope this initiative will achieve, and how do you think it will impact students and staff in the long run?

"Feedback Champions is a collaboration with the Bristol Institute of Learning and Teaching (BILT)," Mia said. "These are paid roles for students who will lead workshops, gather insights from their peers, and work with staff to improve feedback practices. This initiative represents the pinnacle of co-creation because students are at the forefront of creating resources and shaping policies that benefit their academic interests. I hope it will create a long-lasting culture of collaboration, and it really just shows that students can have an active role in their education while at university.”

This work clearly reflects your passion for improving students’ academic experiences. What’s one piece of advice or a message you’d like to share with students about making their voices heard in university decisions? 

"If you have ideas or concerns, share them with us at Bristol SU," Mia urged. "You can also get involved by becoming an academic rep, contributing to focus groups, or even just responding to surveys. Every piece of feedback helps shape the changes we advocate for. And if you want to discuss something directly, you can always email me or visit us on the fifth floor of Senate House. I am always here to talk to students about their experiences!"

What’s next for you and where can students keep following the work from this campaign? 

"I’ve loved working on assessment feedback, marking criteria, and personal tutoring improvements this year, and I want to continue building on this progress. I’m planning to re-run in the elections, to continue this work." Mia said. 

“For students who want to follow along or get involved, keep an eye on things through our channels or reach out to me directly. I always want to speak to students about their experiences and find ways I can help.”

Stay tuned for more updates from Mia and Bristol SU as we continue working to enhance your academic experience!

You can email Mia here: su-ug-education@bristol.ac.uk