Student Voice - Inside OCA Governance

How does student perspective actually shape high-level decision-making at the Open College of the Arts? During the Student Voice Festival we held a panel session with some of our student representatives -  Kirsten Robinson (BA Creative Arts) and Richard Thorn (BA Photography). During the session they reflected on their roles within key governing bodies, including the Academic Board, the Board of Trustees, and the Curriculum and Quality Committee (CQC).

Our Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC) is attended by OCA Drawing student Tina McLaughlin who unfortunately couldn’t attend this event. However Tina has echoed Richard and Kirsten's experience and wanted to reassure any students who are thinking about getting involved that they are welcomed and seriously listened to in meetings.

From navigating institutional jargon to understanding the unseen operational pressures behind course delivery, learning and teaching, Kirsten and Richard shared their honest reflections on what it’s like to be a student representative in a distance-learning institution. It is important to note that student representatives do not conduct prior formal consultation across the wider student body, nor do they act as elected delegates from a union. Instead, their distinct institutional value is from bringing an authentic "student perspective" to committee meetings based on their direct experience navigating the OCA.

Accessibility & Feeling Heard

Sitting on a formal committee can sound intimidating, but both representatives reported feeling welcomed and genuinely listened to. Committee agendas are explicitly mapped against annual terms of reference, making the purpose of each discussion clear.

When asked about higher education jargon and complex accreditation terminology, Kirsten emphasised that asking for clarity is always supported:

"Jargon—higher education is full of jargon... when I haven't understood one I've asked and it's been explained to me very clearly. So I don't feel daft putting my hand up and saying, 'could you just unpack that one for me because I don't really understand it.' So I don't feel in any way excluded."

Richard, who sits on both the Board of Trustees and the Academic Board, confirmed that student viewpoints carry real weight during discussions:

"Certainly when I've asked to raise a matter on both of the boards, I've been listened to... particularly the Academic Board... I know for a fact that the student's view has been well listened to."

Institutional Insights

One of the biggest takeaways for both representatives was gaining a deeper appreciation of the work required to run the OCA. Seeing behind the scenes revealed how small operational teams balance course design, technological updates, tutor support, and regulatory requirements.

Kirsten noted:

"I just haven't had any insight into just how small the operational teams are in OCA and therefore what pressures that puts on the staff at particular points. So it's been really interesting just understanding that, and I appreciate probably much more than I would have done just how much work goes on behind the scenes."

Richard also highlighted how delivery methods have evolved dramatically over time, alongside ongoing conversations regarding course structures and assessments:

"The difference in terms of delivery methods, the approach from 10 years ago when it was kind of big manuals coming with text and so on to what it is now is just phenomenal. Really is phenomenal." "Even though I come from a higher education background - I have a PhD - I struggled in 1.1... it is heavy duty... so I have a much greater understanding for those trying to make it happen for students."

Inputting the Student Voice

A major theme of the discussion was the unique challenge of gathering student feedback in a distance-learning setup. Without a traditional physical campus or Student Union infrastructure, student interactions often take place informally in virtual spaces.

Kirsten explained:

"When I try and parallel that with other universities, you kind of have the Student Union... where you have an organisation of the student body that has levels and points at which it can touch and interact with governance... Here it doesn't feel like we have that... so it's quite difficult to think about how you can involve the student voice more without it really being quite scattergun."

Richard highlighted that the greatest strength of distance learning - flexible entry dates throughout the year and a 12-month completion window - is simultaneously its greatest weakness regarding student collective momentum. Because students progress at widely varying speeds, live tutorial attendance is low, preventing the formation of cohesive peer groups or internal representative momentum.

"The student body is very disparate... a lot of people are holding down jobs, trying to look after families... and the bandwidth that they have to be able to say well I think I could do that is probably somewhat limited... So the obligation of the institution is to make it easy to make a contribution."

Richard suggested holding regular representative debrief sessions - similar to this panel- a couple of times a year to share "big ticket items" back with the wider student body.

Why Get Involved? Advice for Fellow Students

When asked by attendee Nina what inspired them to get involved, both representatives pointed to a strong personal desire to contribute rather than remaining on the sidelines.

Richard shared:

"One phrase in life I hate is 'somebody should.' I won't criticise if I'm not prepared to put my hand up and volunteer to do something... I wasn't prepared to moan without having a crack at being involved."

For students considering a governance role in the future, both reps noted that while meetings require preparation time - around two hours to read agenda papers beforehand and having a two-year term provides great continuity.

As Kirsten concluded:

"Having that second year where you do feel a bit more secure in the understanding, you feel as though you can probably contribute a bit better... so yes, I was quite keen to carry on."

---

We need you!

We are looking for some new student representatives for some of our committees. If you are interested, please complete the following form to let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you to all our Student Representatives and best wishes to Richard as he concludes his studies with OCA.