The Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs) Review Collection 2024 cycle is upon us yet again! We caught up with last year’s winners to hear about the initiatives that made them winners and the impact the WUSCAs have had on the university and its students.
We were delighted to talk to Amy Carpenter, Associate Director, Careers, Employability and Enterprise at the University of Suffolk, about the university winning the WUSCAs 2024 submission-based award, which this year focused on Career Coaching and Work Placements.
Amy shares what this significant win meant to the university and its students, what they did as an institution to deliver so well for students, and why participating in Review Collection is so important.
The Review Collection cycle is fundamental to the WUSCAs, why do you think it's important for universities to capture the student voice?
In a competitive higher education environment, it is essential that every university understands the difficulties, achievements, and prospects involved in delivering an outstanding student experience.
Gaining authentic insight into university life by capturing the student perspective is vital for meeting or exceeding student expectations. This approach is key to fostering strong relationships between students and institutions, ultimately driving positive transformations and boosting student engagement.
Taking part in Review Collection ensures universities learn exactly what students think about their institutions, what are some of the ways they could use this insight?
The Review Collection Cycle offers universities deeper understanding into how students think and feel about a wide range of aspects of an institution. This feedback can then be utilised to enhance student experiences and address areas requiring challenge or change.
Students are at the heart of every university, and in a sector influenced by broader macro factors, leveraging student insights for informed decisions across facilities, educational offerings, and overall student experience to name a few areas, will distinguish institutions that actively incorporate the student voice.
We collected a record-breaking 39,000+ reviews this Review Collection cycle, why do you think more and more students are open to sharing their views and opinions?
Social media has created a public forum for individuals to express their views and opinions, and it is encouraging to observe that students feel empowered in sharing their thoughts through various platforms, including the review collection cycle. Providing feedback enables students to have their voices heard and collectively amplify the student voice, paving the way for reflection and positive change.
What do you believe are the factors that led to the University of Suffolk winning the submission-based award - Career Coaching and Work Placements - at WUSCAs 2024?
The University places students at the centre of everything, and a key aspect of the entries was providing clear evidence supporting the importance of feedback and evaluation embedded throughout our activity in the chosen submission area of Career Coaching and Work Placements. In doing so, we demonstrated our approaches to ensuring that initiatives have a positive impact on our students, responding to concerns and feedback for continuous improvement and enhancement whilst using student experiences to inspire and engage with the next cohorts.
The submission award placed a particular focus on our Micro-Placement scheme; highlighting the ways in which we continue to support our students and graduates beyond completion of their Micro-Placement, which we believe was also an important factor. Our Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team build strong relationships with participants and will continue to support them for as long as the individual needs by sharing opportunities, offering support and guidance, and encouraging them to pursue activity that will help them towards their chosen goals.
What have these wins meant to the University of Suffolk and what has it meant to your students?
We truly believe our actions align with that which delivers values to our students, therefore receiving external recognition for our work is a fantastic achievement. The recognition we have received is particularly significant as it comes from the most crucial group of all: the students themselves. Being praised by the very individuals who are at the core of all that we do is the ultimate accolade possible in our eyes. For our students, we hope this demonstrates to them that they are a part of a university community that is offering outstanding support in the area of Career Coaching and Work Placements and can be assured that they are able to access a team of professionals who have received national recognition.
How have you been using these achievements to promote your institution to prospective students?
We’ve worked hard to create an environment showcasing the latest teaching facilities empowering students to achieve great things. Our recent accolades serve as proof of the advantages of being affiliated with the University of Suffolk where we encourage exploration, growth, and the shaping of promising futures for employable graduates.
We have been sharing our successes throughout every stage of the student journey – from prospective applicants to graduation and beyond. By doing so, our aim is to consistently demonstrate that our institution is a place where students' voices are heard, transformation is positive, and the possibilities are limitless.
Visit our WUSCAs page to see how your institution can participate in Review Collection for WUSCAs 2025.
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