Wow, what a year it has been! From supporting students to thrive in all areas of their academic experience here at Leeds Beckett, to ensuring students have a sense of belonging and ensuring the academic approaches are accessible by design, it has been a wild ride but one that I have thoroughly enjoyed! Every student has worked incredibly hard this year in what has been a transition to what will hopefully be an innovative version of the pre-covid curriculum.

I have successfully created, delivered, and am in the process of evaluating an innovative solution to the Students' Union's strategic theme of developing a sense of belonging (Accelerate) which I started in the Business School and hope to roll out in an improved format 2022-23.

Moreover, I have worked well and formed meaningful relationships with a wide range of stakeholders both internally and externally. Alongside this, I have also represented you, the most important people in this remit, to ensure you have the best academic experience possible whilst studying here at Leeds Beckett.

I have launched a research project (Access 2) linked to NUS's New Vision for Education which focuses on blended and accessible learning. Following this, a report will be written and I will use the insight to listen to what you told me and act accordingly to lobby the university, whilst ensuring your needs are met.

The ways in which you learn best combined with making connections on your course is incredibly important to me but also links to how much you will ultimately succeed and progress onto graduate employment when ready to do so.

This is also known as completion and graduate outcomes terminology, that the University have particular interest in and an acronym known as the Teach Excellence Framework (TEF) measures this nationally to ensure Universities comply, otherwise they can be scrutinised by the OFS (Office for Students). It is my role over the coming months to write the student submission, so stay tuned for that!

Finally, I want to say how proud of you I am! Best of luck with your results I am here for you if you want a chat - drop me an email at m.darroch@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. Sending my best wishes to the class of 2022 who will be departing in July and I look forward to representing all students next year!

Meg x