In an attempt to modernise how student voices are represented across the University of Exeter, the Students’ Guild has unveiled their ‘Representation Review,’ followed by a consultation period. Running from 22nd September until 31st October, the Guild is aiming to hear the opinions of all students, in a bid to make student representation more ‘inclusive, engaging, transparent and adaptable.’
In anticipation of remodelling how students are represented, the Guild has released a review document labelled ‘Student Representation – The future of representation for students at Exeter.’ Taking two years to develop, this 16-page review outlines the reasons, findings, and future of representation at Exeter.
The decision to review student representation at Exeter has come around as a result of a reflection on the 2023 Big Guild Survey, which saw only 36% of respondents tell the Guild that they ‘felt represented by their elected officials.’ Another point of consideration for the Guild was the recent election turnout of 12%, causing concern for the way in which students are currently engaging with representation.
Guild President Sebastian Racisz admitted to Exeposé that the current structure “has its limitations and is not always widely understood,” stressing the importance of taking time to rethink how student representation works. Sebastian has additionally recognised the crucial nature of taking a step back for this review, to “acknowledge a system that hasn’t been very flexible” with an evolving student population.
The current structure “has its limitations and is not always widely understood.”
Sebastian Racisz, Guild President
The largest adaptation to the Guild’s new methods is the change in structure. The current structure comprises five elected officers, including the roles of President, Education Officer, Societies and Employability Officer, Communities and Equality Officer, and Student Living Officer. Under the new changes suggested, the Guild will have only two elected officers – those being the positions of Education Officer and Student Experience Officer, with the official titles of these roles to be confirmed in December 2025.
Under the new changes suggested, the Guild will have only two elected officers…
Whilst concerns were raised that this structural change would centralise power rather than broaden it, Sebastian claims that this system would create adaptability, as additional roles could be created. These additional paid or elected part-time roles could support a plethora of specific groups and communities across our student population, including postgraduates, degree apprentices, and international students.
In turn, this new system aims to target broader views and widen our representation, accounting for a diverse student population of over 30,000 people. The Guild has claimed this structure will provide ‘more ways for more students to lead, influence and be heard, whatever your course, background or experience.’
… this new system aims to target broader views and widen our representation, accounting for a diverse student population of over 30,000 people.
With extremely low turnouts for Guild elections, I further queried whether this change could rebuild trust and engagement for students. Sebastian’s answer to this was that as you “start embedding students at different levels… slowly but surely the system will evolve and become more flexible, rebuilding the engagement with students.” Whilst this new system is not guaranteed to see overnight results – and the Guild is not claiming that – are the foundations being set to make a policy that will adapt to change and represent wider student views for years to come?
As you “start embedding students at different levels… slowly but surely the system will evolve and become more flexible, rebuilding the engagement with students.”
Sebastian Racisz, Guild President
What’s next after this consultation period? Once reviewing and engaging with student feedback has been completed, the Trustee Board will decide and finalise the structural changes. In Sebastian’s words, he “hopes it doesn’t die here.” For him, this period represents a legacy of change, built on the principle of “remaining adaptable and flexible.”
As the consultation period draws to a close, the Guild faces the task of proving that these reforms can rebuild student engagement. With the representation of student opinions used to make these decisions, a legacy waits to ensure that all voices at Exeter are heard.
