• Why Stand?

Why Stand?

Here are just some of the reasons why you should run to be a:


 

Full-Time and Part-Time Student Officer Roles

  • Leadership experience

    You get practical experience of being leader in a large, multimillion pound organisation, working with others, making real decisions and influencing others.

    You’ll gain invaluable insight into how the University and Students’ Union work and get to shape the future of these organisations.

  • Represent the views of over 25,000 students

    You’ll have the privilege of listening to the views of all the students at Queen’s and representing them in the University, in your community, in your city, and in government to make real changes that have a real impact on their lives.

  • Meet loads of new people and gain new skills

    No matter which role you go for, you'll meet loads of people and gain lots of experience including: chairing meetings, leading campaigns, managing budgets, communicating and team working.

    Plus, you will get access to training in areas like: public speaking, people management, event organisation and the art of negotiation. This expertise is for life.

  • Stand out to future employers – it’s a one off, unique opportunity

    Leading the Union and working with dedicated and professional staff members will increase your professional awareness and help you to boost your skills and your CV – employers will be really impressed … dream job here you come!

  • Be part of a national student voice

    You’ll work with student representatives from other Unions across NI, GB and ROI and be part of a massive student movement to lead the change that matters.

  • Make real decisions that make a real impact on students’ lives

    You really can make the changes that matters to students at Queen's and make a positive impact on their lives. You have access to the decision-makers in the University, City, and Government - you also have the power to get matters on the agenda and the University has to listen to you!

  • Do something different every day

    One minute you could be lobbying MPs and the next you could be accompanying a student to talk to the University about a problem with their course. There's no other role in which you'll gain so many diverse skills in so little time.

  • Have the chance to stand up for what you believe in

    You'll have influence and access to the people who can implement the changes you believe in and want to make happen.

  • Full-Time Student Officers - Receive £18,500 and 42 days' holiday

    As a Full Time Student Officer, you'll receive £18,500 over the 12 months with 42 days' holiday, including all the Statutory and University holidays. The role starts on 1 July, 2022 and ends on 30 June, 2023.

  • Part-Time Student Officers – Degree Plus Accreditation

    All of our Part-Time Student Officers are eligible to apply for Queen’s Degree Plus (Combined Experience).

  • P.S. Taking Part Counts

    Even if you're not successful, running in the Student Leader Elections is still a great opportunity. You get to advocate for the things that you believe in and shape student opinion.

    Not only does it look great on your CV, but you also get great experience managing budgets, being creative, showing determination, working to deadlines, and running a campaign.


 

Faculty and School Representative Roles

  • Leadership experience

    You get practical experience of being student leader in a large University, advocating for students, influencing senior decision-makers, working with others, making real decisions and influencing others.

    You’ll gain invaluable insight into how the University and Students’ Union work and get to shape the future of these organisations.

  • Be the voice of all the students in your Faculty or School

    You’ll have the privilege of listening to the views of students and representing them to the University.

  • Meet loads of new people

    In your role, you’ll get the opportunity to meet lots of new people. This not only includes the students in your School or Faculty, but the other Student Reps and lots of staff members too.

  • Gain new skills and stand out to employers

    Before you take up your position, you will get the chance to take lots of training which will help you in your role and during your year, you’ll gain valuable experience which will develop and improve your communication, team working and negotiation skills to name a few!

    By sitting on various committees and attending meetings, you’ll also gain invaluable insight into how Queen’s University and the Students’ Union works.

    All this knowledge, expertise and skills are for life and is really sought after by employers.

  • Degree Plus Accreditation

    All of our Faculty and School Representatives are eligible to apply for Queen’s Degree Plus (Verified Activity).

  • Make real decisions that make a real impact on students' lives

    You’ll work with other Reps and staff members to help make real changes that have a real impact on students and their experience at Queen’s.

    You'll have a seat at the table at important meetings, the ability to get issues on the agenda and access to the staff of Queen’s who can implement the changes you want to make happen.

    Student Reps have made some big improvements for students in the past and made a real positive impact on their lives, like:

    • Improving the quality of course content and teaching
    • Organising study skill sessions
    • Securing longer study space opening hours
    • Extending the dates of deadlines
    • Organising School feedback sessions to engage other students
    • Organising events with other student reps
    • Working with lecturers to improve the format of assessment and feedback
    • helping signpost students to important support services

     

  • Be part of the greater student voice

    You’ll work with student representatives from across University and within the Students' Union to make change.

    You can also avail of opportunities to work with students in the national students' unions to make change at a national level.