The Office for Students (OfS) has appointed eight new members to its student panel.
The panel meets regularly throughout the year to advise us on our approach to regulation. The new appointees will join five current members, providing vital insight so that students' views are reflected in everything we do.
The new panel members are (in image order from left to right):
- Thibau Grumett, who recently graduated from Pearson College London having studied Business Management and Entrepreneurship.
- Anita Hashmi, who is a PhD student at Manchester Metropolitan University in the field of conservation ecology of African herbivores.
- Molly Edwards, who is studying an undergraduate degree in education studies at UCL.
- Oscar Minto, who is a recent law graduate from the University of Reading, and is currently the education officer at Reading University students’ union.
- Misha Patel, who is studying for a DPhil in engineering science at the University of Oxford.
- Michael Steele, who is starting a foundation year in clinical science at the University of Bradford after recently completing his A-levels.
- Nkechi Adeboye, who is an MSc student in development studies at the London School of Economics.
- Thomas Freeston, who is the vice-president (welfare and community) at the University of Kent's students' union after completing a BSc (Hons) Psychology and MSc Management at the University of Kent.
The new panel members will take up their posts from September.
Martha Longdon, chair of the student panel and the OfS board's student experience member, said:
'Thank you to everyone who applied and expressed an interest in joining the panel. It's positive that so many people wanted to be part of the conversation on students' interests and ensuring the OfS hears them. Our selection team were encouraged by the exceptionally high quality and diverse spectrum of applicants, which made the final decision a tough one.
'Congratulations and welcome to our eight new panel members, who I look forward to working with and discussing their experiences of higher education. They join five current members and will expand the panel's experiences to reflect the diversity of students across the UK. I'm confident they will reflect the wider student population to ensure the views of all students play a central role in the OfS's ongoing work.
'I'd like to wish the outgoing panel members all the best for the future. The student panel plays a crucial role in informing the OfS's regulatory work. I look forward to hearing the views that the panel members bring to the table.'
Susan Lapworth, chief executive of the OfS, said:
'We were hugely impressed by the calibre and insight of the many students who applied to join our student panel this year. The panel ensures that the views and experiences of past, present and future students inform our work and I look forward to hearing from our new panel members during the months to come. I know that they will bring fresh ideas and constructive challenge to ensure we regulate so that students from all backgrounds can chose high quality courses leading to successful outcomes in and beyond higher education.'
Jo Barlow, Erk Gunce, Miranda Harmer, Maisha Islam, Molly Lawson, Francesco Masala, Nikhita Nachiappan, Bryony Toon, Aimear Wolstenholme, Niel Lewis, and Ramy Badrie stepped down from the panel in July. We would like to thank them for all their hard work during their time on the panel and wish them all the best in the future.