On Wednesday, 22nd October, I met with Lydia Arnold, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor. Her recent work to enhance the student experience, informed by a detailed analysis of graduate feedback, has identified four key areas for development. Lydia and wider university staff are already working to introduce measures that address, evaluate, or reduce the impact of these concerns.

Given the alignment between her current priorities and the objectives of my campaign, we agreed that collaboration would be highly valuable. After an informative meeting, our next step involves arranging a joint discussion with university placement coordinators and academic staff responsible for the standardisation of placement-related learning. Throughout this discussion I aim to visit:

• Final year industry placement experiences

• Early years foundational placement exposure

• Preparation for first and second year students

• Concerns before heading out on placement and during the initial preparation period

Through gaining insight into student experiences and existing processes, the objective is to highlight where enhancements can be made, present informed recommendations, and collaborate on actions that advance placement preparation and elevate the quality of industry placements for all students.

Lydia is very eager for students to participate in this discussion. Whether your placement experience has been positive, challenging, or a mixture of both, all perspectives are valued and welcomed. If you would be interested in attending, or if you would prefer to share your feedback anonymously, please feel free to contact me via Outlook or Teams with anything you believe should be raised or considered.

I am in frequent conversations with Lydia, and she has highlighted the potential to offer food vouchers for students who attend. This is not yet confirmed, although it is currently being explored.