Our student panel

The student panel has been involved a wide range of work, including:

• Supporting the review of blended learning
  The panel shared feedback that helped shape the blended learning review at the early stages, and continued to contribute their feedback by attending workshops and co-facilitating interviews.
• Responding to the rising cost of living
  The panel helped shape research work undertaken by the OfS and Savanta to measure how different student groups might be impacted by the rising cost of living.
• Tackling harassment and sexual misconduct
  The panel provided feedback on the OfS's consultation on a new approach to regulating harassment and sexual misconduct in English higher education and how to engage students. They communicated the importance of the consultation through videos, blog posts and a student webinar. They also provided feedback on proposed questions for a pilot prevalence survey on sexual misconduct, and one panel member is sitting on an expert advisory group to continue that work.
• Supporting funding decisions
  A student panel member is sitting on an expert panel to help make decisions on proposals submitted for the postgraduate conversion course funding competition.
• Attending meetings with the Minister of State for Higher Education and Further Education
  Panel members discussed the impact of coronavirus, the longer-term implications of the move to blended and online models of teaching, and the development of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement.
• Working with OfS policy teams
  Panel members have provided advice on how the OfS should approach important policy areas, including:
  • the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) student submission process
  • how to address the threat of essay mills at universities and colleges
  • access and participation consultation proposals
  • our approach to university or campus closures.

Case studies

Tackling harassment and sexual misconduct

Molly Lawson shares her experience on the OfS student panel, and how she participated in our work to tackle harassment and sexual misconduct at universities and colleges.

Helping students during in the pandemic

Joshua Sanderson-Kirk shares his experience as a previous OfS student panel member, and how the panel worked together to advocate for students facing uncertainty and isolation during the pandemic.