7: Student Voice and How to Get Involved

Student voice

There are a number of ways in which you can get involved in the life of the Department, and contribute towards our successes, such as:

• Involvement and engagement with the Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC)
• The Undergraduate Mentor Scheme
• Engaging in Department activities such as Careers events, Warwick Economics Lectures, Economics Bites sessions, social events
• Joining one of the Economics Societies
• Becoming a Student Ambassador
• Sharing your views in a student focus group
• Becoming involved in the Warwick Internship Scheme for Economists (WISE)
• Applying to take part in the Undergraduate Research Support Scheme (URSS)

These are interesting and fantastic opportunities for you to develop skills that you might not ordinarily use. Through contributing in this way you can demonstrate your resourcefulness, adaptability and willingness in your CV.  

Director of Student Engagement and Progression

The Director of Student Engagement and Progression (DSEP) Dr Christian SoegaardLink opens in a new window, will act as champion for the student voice in the department and is responsible for working with you to enhance the student experience. This includes a focus on building a learning community, supporting student learning, and developing department policies and practice to improve student experience. The DSEP works closely with the undergraduate Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC), and is always keen to hear your views and feedback.

Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC)

What is the Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC)?

The SSLC is a committee made up of elected student representatives and members of staff. This provides an accessible arena for you to discuss issues connected to teaching, learning and student support with staff. The SSLC meetings also provide an opportunity for us to consult with you and receive feedback on new proposals. The SSLC should always be consulted on any major changes to course structures or content.

You can find information about the SSLC and find out who your student rep is and how to contact them here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/current/ug/resources/get-involved/sslcLink opens in a new window

What kind of issues does the SSLC discuss?

The Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) provides you with the opportunity, as a student, to take an active part in the development of department policies. The agenda of the SSLC contains some fixed items such as gender, diversity and inclusivity issues as well as items related to student careers and library issues. In addition, students and staff have the opportunity to raise items to be discussed at the meetings such as:

• Student Engagement - e.g., reintegration ideas for returning students and social opportunities

• Teaching issues – e.g., lecture and module support and feedback class content, and new module development.

• Education quality – e.g., issues related to the expected standard of your course.

• Assessment issues – e.g., marks distribution

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive. The SSLC is a platform to address any issue that is deemed to be important in improving the teaching quality and overall student experience in economics.

The SSLC is an important platform to have your say and provide feedback to us. The Committee has also been very useful in the past simply to ask questions that were unclear to many students. This makes the SSLC a good opportunity for you to communicate with us. SSLC agenda items should only be issues that concern a wide population of students. The SSLC should generally not be a channel for evaluation of individual modules, or to address a specific problem that concerns only one student. Instead, this should be done via the module evaluation form or by contacting the UG office. However, if the SSLC representatives feel that there are some issues that have not been addressed via these channels, they are then free to raise these in the SSLC meetings.

During the Diploma course, the SSLC representatives will meet with staff and students in other degree programmes within the Department five times. SSLC reps are advised to make sure you prepare for the meetings and have a list of issues that you want to bring to the Department which can be put on the agenda.

Membership of the Economics Undergraduate SSLC

There is one main SSLC for all undergraduate level degree courses within the Department. There are a maximum number of student SSLC representatives per year and per degree course based on the total number of students that are part of the course. Larger courses will typically have more SSLC reps to ensure representation, and a fair workload.

Student reps from each Year 2 and 3 degree course are elected at the end of the previous academic year. Student reps from Year 1 are elected during the first two weeks of the Autumn term. We encourage you to take part in the elections, either by voting or by standing as a candidate and to be aware of who your representatives are. Representatives from our joint Degrees are also invited to sit on the Economics SSLC and representatives from EPAIS are invited to sit on the Politics SSLC.

The committee is led by an SSLC Chair and two Deputy Chairs, elected by the student SSLC reps. For a full list of the duties of the Chair and Deputy Chairs of the SSLC see the SSLC webpageLink opens in a new window and Handbook.

There are various members of staff who attend the SSLC to make sure every aspect of student life is represented and to respond to issues raised in an effective way. The Director of Student Engagement and Progression (also the SSLC Convenor); the Deputy Director of Undergraduate Studies; Undergraduate Programmes Manager; Undergraduate Student Engagement and Experience Coordinator and one of: the Head of Department, the Deputy Head of Department (Teaching and Learning) or the Director of Undergraduate Studies, together with any other relevant member of staff.

Information about the Economics SSLC can be found on the SSLC WebpageLink opens in a new window.

Meetings and attendance

There are two SSLC meetings in term one, two in term two and one meeting in term three, making a total of five meetings per academic year.

Meetings are placed evenly through term in order to conduct effective follow-ups on any issues as required. Each meeting is to be kept within 60 minutes, unless pressing matters demand an extension.

As the committee only meets twice a term, representatives are expected to be present at all meetings. In the event of absence or an early departure, all members are expected to send their apologies to the SSLC Deputy Chair, before the meeting, clearly stating the reason for their absence. This will be kept on record for future reference. In extenuating circumstances, with prior information, one absence may be condoned. If a student representative misses more than one meeting, the attendance policy dictates that the said representative must attend a meeting with the SSLC convenor about their continuation on the committee. This is subject to a case-by-case review and exceptional circumstances are taken into consideration.

Agenda, minutes and annual reports

The meeting details, agendas, minutes, annual report and any other publications relating to the current and previous year's SSLCs can be found on our website.

How to get involved in the SSLC

• Stand as a candidate in the autumn and/or summer elections.
• Vote for your preferred candidates in the elections.

• Submit an item for the agenda of the SSLC meeting by contacting one of your SSLC representatives.
• Keep up to date with the agenda and minutes of the SSLC meetings.

Please remember that personal problems or grievances are not a matter for the SSLC; these should instead be addressed by following the Department's Complaints and Grievances Policy.

For more detailed information and previous minutes and agendas please see the SSLC information on the Economics website.

Useful Information for SSLC Representatives

• There will be 30 or so representatives from the different courses.
• Out of these, a Chair will be elected whose main task it is to chair the SSLC meetings.
• The Deputy Chair takes minutes of the meetings and replaces the Chair in his/her absence. The minutes are circulated to all students so you know what’s going on.
• The first thing to do for the representatives is to look at last year’s SSLC annual report to get a feel for what has been discussed.
• It is also useful to begin each meeting with an update on how the issues of the last meeting have been addressed since then.
• Before each meeting, the UG Office will ask you to prepare a list of items to be discussed. All the representatives, and the Chair and Deputy in particular, are responsible for collecting these issues and sending them in on time.
• Ask your fellow students what they think about the courses.
• Your job is to help the students and the Department to communicate. If you are willing to listen carefully to both parties, and if you like to communicate and to analyse problems you will be able to make a great contribution.

Student Societies

Warwick Economics Summit

Warwick Economics SummitLink opens in a new window is one of the largest student-run academic conferences in Europe, featuring world-renowned figures, engaging debates and educational workshops. The Summit covers a range of global issues from the fields of politics, development, finance and psychology. It provides an opportunity for anyone with an interest in economic affairs and politics to discuss the latest worldwide developments. In the past, the Summit has hosted Nobel Prize-winning academics such as George Akerlof and John Nash, along with key policy makers such as Andrew Bailey. The weekend offers the chance to meet and learn from a truly diverse group of students, and to socialise and network with delegates from around the world. Find out more at www.warwickeconomicssummit.com/ .

Warwick Economics Society

Warwick Economics SocietyLink opens in a new window is one of the longest standing academic Students' Union societies and one of the largest on campus with more than 1700 members from 130 degree programmes. It aims to offer you a diverse range of events which help you to progress, not only academically but also within your chosen career path. With sponsors including top law, accountancy and banking firms, the society host some excellent careers events and talks. Warwick EconSoc put on some of the most talked about socials on campus, and also boast some of the strongest sports teams at Warwick. They also produce Assumptions magazine, and run an annual debating competition where the winners are able to debate in a larger competition against students from other top universities.

Warwick Women in Economics

The Warwick Women in Economics SocietyLink opens in a new window (WWiE Soc) was launched after the successful Women in Economics Student-led workshop was held at the University of Warwick in January 2020. WWiE Soc is the UK’s first student society dedicated to supporting female economics students at university and further down the economics career track. The society not only provides a safe and welcoming space for female students but a place in which everyone can come together to discuss important topics related to gender equality. The society welcomes all students to join them. For more information see: Women in Economics Society (warwick.ac.uk)Link opens in a new window.

Rethink Economics Warwick

The Rethink Economics Warwick Link opens in a new windowstudent society is part of 'Rethinking Economics,' which is an international network of students, academics, and professionals aiming to build a better economics in society and in the classroom. As students, academics, and policy-makers, the society want answers to the fundamental questions of economics and of the economy itself, such as the nature of money, the role of the state, and the behaviour of households and individuals, among other such questions. The society would like to open up the discourse to different approaches, different models with different methods, making different assumptions. Whether it is different schools of thought within economics, or even fields outside of economics such as political science and anthropology, rethink economics wants to ignite debate within the discipline. You can find out more about the society here: https://www.warwicksu.com/societies-sports/societies/48581/ .

Prosper Warwick

Prosper Warwick EconomicsLink opens in a new window is a community dedicated to the early career journey with Warwick Economics (or wider joint degree) students who identify as black. They aim to help students bridge the gap between their economics degree and its real life vocational application, so they have finance, law and technology streams as well as a free flow stream for those still figuring things out. They provide great connections with firms across a wide variety of industries as well as opportunities for upskilling and mentorship. You can find out more about the Society hereLink opens in a new window.

Economics Student Ambassadors

Each year there is an opportunity for some of our students to become Economics Student Ambassadors to promote the Department and enhance their own student experience. During the 2024/25 academic year these are paid roles.

Student Ambassadors assist in the running of numerous events including:

• Open Days and Offer Holders Open Days
• Widening Participation and Outreach events
• Campus tours
• Student Experience events and activities
• Induction sessions
• Alumni events

Activities may include conducting campus tours; talking to visitors and prospective students, as well as new students especially during the first weeks of term; signposting visitors and running sessions on student life. We are also looking for Ambassadors who can help us with case studies, photoshoots and producing videos about student life at Warwick.

There are numerous benefits including:

• An addition to your CV that will enhance your employability
• A chance to share your passion for economics and your studies at Warwick
• A chance to meet and help other students.

If you would like to be considered for this exciting opportunity in your second or third year, please apply once applications open during the summer via the Department's Ambassador webpage.

Undergraduate Mentor Scheme

We run an Undergraduate Mentor SchemeLink opens in a new window each year in order to further enhance the student experience. The scheme helps first-year students to integrate more swiftly into the Department and University life. It also provides opportunities for Second and Final Year students to get involved and enhance their CVs and skills.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, students can submit an application for the scheme in term 3, and if successful, become a mentor the following academic year. There is an application form to complete and if you are selected you will be required to attend a training session. See the Mentor Scheme webpagesLink opens in a new window for more information.