By Grace Gumpo
A full time staff and student voice co-ordinator is launching a campaign urging people to engage in getting their opinions heard.
Natéa Joseph works for the Student Voice organisation at De Montfort Students’ Union and is about to launch its Find Your Frequency campaign.
She said: “Student Voice is a platform for students, not our voice but students’ voice. It opens opportunities for students to advocate for other students.”
She said: “There are a lot of academic queries about block teaching, quality of studies, study and work balance.”
“Depending on the enquiry, academic advice, visa or housing queries will be handled by the Advice Team; student representation, Course Reps, Student Voice Leaders and campaigns by the Student Voice Team; and society-related enquiries by the Opportunities Team.”
She added: “The impacts of Student Voice are the invisible disability campaign by the disabled student liberation officer featured on BBC radio, alongside the DSU Pantry which gives out 10 free items of free food on campus.”
“We encourage students to engage in Student Voice by highlighting its benefits such as its transferable skills to good jobs, personal development in public speaking and advocating for topics they are passionate about, alongside the qualities that it highlights such as advocacy, empowerment, belonging and representation.”
“Student Voice also builds identity and a platform stepping into a leadership role as it mirrors a management role alongside the sociable aspect of the job which is the ability to conduct yourself in a room, how you communicate yourself and being trained to communicate your needs which are not taught in a university course.”
To get in contact with Student Voice, email Voice@dmu.ac.uk or visit the Hub between 10am and 3.30pm on Mondays to Fridays.
On its website, the DSU says: “Student Voice leaders work closely with other elected student leaders including liberation officers, faculty and course reps to help to build a united student voice ensuring the best interests of students.”
“Find Your Frequency advocates for your frequency, your path which helps students understand their path.”
“This year we want to develop liberation officers to become communities rather than become one standing role.”
