Sara Doktorova sits down with Ellen Beardsmore, student opportunities co-ordinator at De Montfort Students’ Union, to talk about what goes on behind the scenes of DSU events.
Q: What inspired you to get involved in organising student events on campus?
A: As part of my role, I am here to support student groups in organising their events, and I also take the project lead on the annual DSU Celebrates Awards. I have always enjoyed ‘hosting’ and creating spaces for people to come together and build community, so being able to guide others to do the same is a rewarding part of my job.
Q: How do you think student events contribute to building a sense of community at university?
A: Creating spaces and places for students to come together allows connections to be made. Lasting friendships can be formed in the social spaces at university, and these friendships can last a lifetime. Having an organised event to go to, takes away all of the pressure of having to make any decisions about where to go, what time to be there etc. We do the organising, students just have to turn up and have a great time!
Q: Can you describe one of the most memorable student events you’ve been part of?
A: There have been a number of events that the Students’ Union have put on for students to enjoy. I think the one that I think is the most memorable is the Welcome Festival Fair, where all of our student groups (societies and sports clubs) are able to promote themselves along with their activities, and support students to become members. The SU gives the platform for the student groups to shine!
Q: What are some challenges you face when planning and executing student events, and how do you overcome them?
A: The biggest challenges when planning events, not just student focused events, are communication and engagement. Being able to communicate with students effectively is challenging in this evolving digital world, especially when there is an overload of information. We try to remain consistent and look for alternative methods as well.
Q: How do you ensure that events are inclusive and appeal to a wide variety of students?
A: We want to give opportunities for all of our students to gain enjoyment from the events that are put on throughout the year. We know that not every event will appeal to EVERY student, but we work hard to put on a diverse programme of events and trips and activities that will support engagement across our diverse student body.
Q: What role does social media and marketing play in promoting student events?
A: Our Marketing and Communication team handle all of our social media, and SU comms. They have multiple channels that they utilise and track the engagement to know what is effective and what needs to be adjusted in order to gain a wider reach, resulting in higher engagement of our student events. All of our student groups use multiple digital platforms, depending on what is the best for them (Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Discord, DSU Website, and others)
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of organising an event for your peers?
A: The best reward is being able to watch the people you have organised an event for ENJOY IT. That can be for your peers, colleagues, family, friends, clients, being able to facilitate making memories that can last a lifetime is the BEST!
Q: What advice would you give to students who are interested in organising events but don’t know where to start?
A: Come to the HUB in the SU building and talk to a member of the Opportunities Team. They can help you visualise your idea and help you make it become a reality, whether that is through collaboration with a student group, a Student Voice leader or a one off event with support from the Commercial Team. With planning and support, anything is possible.
Q: What upcoming student events are you excited about, and what can attendees expect from them?
A: Things tend to quiet down over the summer period, however Welcome Festival in September is looking to be amazing!!!