Sydney Student Voice is a pilot initiative designed to support staff across the University in professional services units, faculties and University Schools to effectively engage students as co-design partners in strategic student experience projects.

Partnering to improve the student experience

Improving the student experience is a core strategic priority for the University. Collaborating with students as co-designers of strategic initiatives ensures that projects are aligned with student needs and deliver meaningful, fit-for-purpose outcomes.

Aligned with our Sydney in 2032 strategy, co-design projects to improve the student experience may relate, but are not limited, to:

• student engagement and events
• campus spaces
• policy development and implementation
• processes and procedures
• food on campus
• security and safety
• curriculum reform
• assessment reform
• systems
• student services.

Not sure if your project fits? Send an email to [email protected] to talk it through.

Support for staff

The Sydney Student Voice team provides tailored support to staff working on strategic initiatives. This includes:

• Recruitment of student partners: Identification and engagement of students from relevant cohorts based on project needs.
• Coordination and funding of student reimbursement: Management of student reimbursements, either through casual employment (hourly rate) or vouchers (approx. $50/hour/student).
• Session design: Planning and facilitation of partnership sessions, workshops, and meetings.
• Reporting: Delivery of findings and recommendations to inform next steps.

Process for engaging students

1. Initial contact: Express your interest by emailing: [email protected] with details of your planned project.
2. Briefing meeting: The Sydney Student Voice team will meet with you to understand the project scope, requirements, and timelines.
3. Solution development: Within one to two weeks, the Sydney Student Voice team will provide you with a tailored partnership solution for review.
4. Implementation: the team will collaborate with you to implement the agreed solution.
   
   

Become a signatory to the Student Partnership Charter

Staff and students involved in Sydney Student Voice projects will be invited to become a signatory to the Student Partnership Charter. By becoming a signatory, you commit to:

• Actively promoting and practising the principles of the Charter in your partnership work.
• Regularly reflecting on your partnership practices and seeking ways to improve.
• Sharing your experiences and learnings to help build a culture of partnership across the University through a shared repository of names, initiatives and projects.

Pilot launch 2025

The Sydney Student Voice program will be piloted across the University in Semester 2, 2025. The Student Life team will evaluate the initiative and provide a report at the end of the semester to guide future development and scaling.