Worcester Students’ Union has been ranked among the top 10 unions at mainstream universities across the UK in an independent survey.
Liam Lees, President of Worcester Students' Union, outside the Students' Union
Two thirds of students (65%) from the University of Worcester, who responded to the National Student Survey, said they felt the Students’ Union ‘effectively represents students’ academic interests’, placing it in the top 10 unions at mainstream universities across the UK, and in the top 20 when small, highly specialist higher education institutions are factored in. Worcester’s rating was well above the 53% national average.
Liam Lees, President of Worcester Students’ Union, said: “We are so pleased that students at Worcester have shown these levels of satisfaction with the support they have received from the Students’ Union. Our team of staff and elected student officers works incredibly hard and has continued to do so throughout the pandemic - which hasn’t been easy for anyone - to do our utmost to meet the needs of our diverse student body. This includes providing advice and guidance on all aspects of University life, welfare support, and a range of activities to keep them engaged and feeling a sense of community, which has been so important this last year.
“Our aim is always to provide an outstanding service for students and to ensure they have an unforgettable experience at Worcester, creating memories and developing skills for life. We have seen student satisfaction with what we do continue to increase over a number of years now and believe our culture of continuous improvement is key to this, as well as the fact that we are led by students, for students.”
The Students’ Union and University have worked closely throughout the pandemic to ensure students at Worcester received a first-class experience, academically, socially and in supporting their mental health and wellbeing.
Following the start of the last academic year, the higher education magazine WonkHE carried a survey - ‘Drop out: Averting a Covid retention crisis’ - in partnership with Students’ Unions across the Country, including Worcester Students’ Union, to find out how satisfied students were with their experiences during Covid. The results showed that students at Worcester were among the most satisfied in the Country.
The report stated: “Overall, the report shows a positive picture and highlights the importance of in-person teaching, communication with students, and the sense of community at Worcester.”
Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted, but not surprised, to see that Worcester students have rated their students’ union to be among the best in the Country. The Students’ Union elected officers and entire team behind them have done an outstanding job in representing students. In partnership with the University, the Worcester Students’ Union has worked purposefully and consistently to ensure students at Worcester have access to the support needed to navigate these very difficult and uniquely challenging times. Congratulations to the Students’ Union team.”
Worcester has consistently focused on student wellbeing while taking a highly responsible public health approach to Covid-19, operating in line with Government guidance and working particularly closely with the Public Health Worcestershire team.
This approach has proved very successful. The University’s Covid-rate has consistently been below the national average, with no known cases of on-campus transmission during the entire pandemic.
While the University has been a Covid-19 coldspot, it has also remained an educational hotspot. Worcester was one of the first universities to announce a return to some in-person teaching in May last year, with more than 58% of teaching delivered in person in the first semester of 2020.
In June 2021 the University held the first in person graduation ceremonies in the UK. Over four days it held 12 ceremonies at Worcester Cathedral. The ceremonies and receptions for those students who graduated in 2020, were attended in total by 2,400 graduate and 2,300 graduates’ guests. These were very successful and again there were no reports of any transmission of Covid -19 thanks to exceptional preparation and organisation.