Students in England are being invited to advise the higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS).
Applications open today for the OfS’s student panel, which helps to shape developing policy and projects, and supports and challenges the OfS to ensure that student views are central to higher education regulation in England.
This year, applications are particularly encouraged from:
- pre-entry students – for example, those studying GCSEs, A-levels, BTECs, Access to Higher Education qualifications and apprentices
- international students
- disabled students
- students studying at different types of higher education institutions, including further education colleges and conservatoires
- black, Asian and minority ethnic students, students of colour and students from traveller communities
- care experienced students
- LGBTQ+ students
- postgraduate research students.
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the OfS, said:
‘Being a student panellist is a great opportunity to make a real impact on higher education policy in England, and to develop new skills, confidence and knowledge.
‘As the regulator for students, it is essential that students influence our work and the decisions we take. Without students’ interests at the heart of what we do, we would not be doing our job as a regulator.
‘We welcome applications from all current, prospective and recent students and students’ union officers, no matter how, where or what you are studying and regardless of previous experience.
‘If you are interested in representing the diversity of student perspectives and helping to shape higher education in England for current and future students, we would love to hear from you.’
Applications for the eight vacancies on the panel are open until 2200 on Sunday 21 June 2020.