Student Charter

Foster a culture where staff and students are working together in partnership and provide an inclusive, supportive and safe learning environment where all students and staff can flourish and are able to fulfil their personal potential. This can be achieved through promoting and encouraging a collaborative attitude and mindset.

Recognise and celebrate the diversity of the student population and provide an excellent student experience, that supports all students to fully take part in university life and taking measures to support removing barriers to participation. Support for this approach is provided from the University’s Race Equality Plan and commitments to the Race Equality Charter.

Commit to ensuring that all members of the University community, external contractors, and visitors are safe and treated with dignity and respect.

Commit to supporting the health and wellbeing of its students and staff community. The University is committed to student wellbeing, including mental health and the well- being goals of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. Meet its statutory responsibilities regarding equality, diversity, safeguarding and protected characteristics.

Endeavour to protect the health, safety and well-being of all members of its community. Commitments to this are delivered within the Student Health and Wellbeing Strategy, as well as via the University’s sexual consent module and through the University’s approach to the Prevent Duty and ensuring that members of the community are not vulnerable to or drawn into terrorism.

To support this culture, the University has:

• Student Code of Conduct;
• A Strategic Equality Plan;
• a Student Health and Wellbeing Strategy;
• a suite of student-facing policies which includes a Non-Academic Misconduct Policy
• a Safeguarding Policy;
• a Cause for Concern Reporting Form
• a Professional Relationship Policy;

Student Engagement and Representation

Recognise the Students’ Union as the voice of UWTSD students.

Support effective student representation for all its students;

• Ensure that the student voice is heard at all levels of decision making;
• Be open and transparent about decisions made at all levels as appropriate;

Ensure regular formal and informal feedback opportunities for all students on all aspects of their experience:

• Work with students to respond to their feedback on their experience;
• Let students know what has been done with their feedback;
• Use feedback to continually enhance the student experience.

Learning and Teaching

Offer a high quality learning experience, by:

• Working in close partnership with students;
• Providing high quality, useful academic feedback on assessments;
• Offering a well-designed student-centred curriculum which focuses on four key principles (collaborative, inclusive, personalised, and professionally-focused) and delivers distinctive graduate attributes;
• Supporting students appropriately academically through its Academic Success framework;
• Continuing to invest in both physical and electronic learning resources to support a diverse curriculum;
• Investing further in the development of learning and teaching to ensure pedagogy continually evolves;
• Provide appropriate environments and facilities for learning and teaching and ensure that students are supported to fully access their learning;
  • Where necessary making adjustments in line with the Cancelled, postponed and rescheduled class policy
• Provide high standards of teaching, enhanced by a range of opportunities, including:
  • Study through the medium of Welsh and/or bilingually
  • Study abroad (where possible)
  • Continuing personal and professional development, and lifelong learning
  • Recording lectures in line with the University’s Lecture Recording Policy

Student support

Ensure that high quality support systems are in place so that all students, including those with declared disabilities (both seen and unseen), are enabled to achieve positive outcomes, academically and professionally. With a clear direction outlined within Chapter 12 Student Policies (Pages 146–148) of the University’s Academic Quality Handbook and the Student Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Provide proactive support for students in relation to student facilities and services through its Student Hwb.

Ensure that staff supporting students are appropriately trained (e.g. through Mental Health First Aid training) so that they are able to proactively identify issues, support students effectively and appropriately, and are able to signpost where necessary.

Provide pastoral care through tutors and supervisors.

Ensure that all students have opportunities to develop skills that enable their academic, personal and professional development.

Provide an appropriate support framework to students experiencing mental health differences and/or with additional learning needs.

Ensure that a transparent and consistent framework is in place to provide students with the opportunity to apply for targeted financial support in case of financial hardship and to enhance their study opportunities.

Welsh Language and Bilingualism

Promote the use of the Welsh Language and a bilingual culture across the University and comply with the Welsh Language Standards, including:

• Providing students with the option to communicate with and receive services from the University in Welsh or English
• Providing student assessment through the medium of Welsh, regardless of the language of tuition
• Providing students with opportunities to learn or enhance their Welsh language skills. 

The Students’ Union endorses the University’s Welsh Language Strategy and where possible supports the University to achieve objectives. The Students’ Union works closely with the Centre for Welsh Language Services and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to provide wider study opportunities for Welsh medium students and develop resources to support their studies.

Provision of Opportunities

Provide appropriate support, resource and facilities to the Students’ Union for UWTSD students to ensure the provision of a range of student-led activities that will enhance student experience.

Provide and promote a range of opportunities to enhance the overall student experience, employability and sustainability skills, including:

• Sustainability-focused opportunities (e.g. Sustainability and Civic Mission internships delivered in partnership between the Students’ Union and University);
• Study abroad exchanges
• Work taster, work placement and other employment focused activities(where possible)
• Volunteering
• Careers information and advice
• Further study opportunities
• Opportunities for recreational and competitive sport

Use research and scholarship to enhance and enrich the student experience, strengthen student engagement, and deliver graduate skills through direct links with industry.

Information and compliance

Provide accessible and understandable information via the University website on all:

• University regulations
• Policies
• Student Complaint and Academic Appeal Policies

(including to the right to refer a complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator and on the support available in relation to these.

The University complies with its responsibilities under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 as set out by the Competition and Markets Authority including by:

• Providing clear details of on the full cost of study, including additional course costs to all students;
• Providing information on changes to courses at the earliest possible opportunity, using relevant communication channels;
• Adhering to the courses’ terms and conditions outlined clearly through Student Agreement 2023-24;
• Complying with relevant data protection legislation (e.g. through the student privacy notice).

Complying with guidelines in relation to:

• Digital Teaching and Learning Standards and Digital Framework both of which include a focus upon inclusivity;
• Feedback turn-around times;
• Timetables;
• Lecture Recording Policy.

Service its contractual obligations to students and comply with its commitments under consumer law as outlined by the Competition and Markets Authority.

In doing so, the University will work to protect the student interest when responding to circumstances such as significant changes to how a course is delivered or course closure.

The University has in place procedures to respond to these circumstances which will mitigate the potential impact on students and which recognise the different needs of its diverse student body.

Concerns, appeals, and complaints

• Commit to the OIA and QAA guiding principles in relation to concerns, appeals, and complaints.
• Ensure that concerns and issues are addressed and solved swiftly and, where possible, informally.
• Ensure that all students raising a concern, complaint or appeal are treated with dignity and respect and with regard to their welllbeing.

Initial Point of Contact

The Student Hwb serves as the initial contact point for student queries.
The Student Hwb can be reached through at hwb@uwtsd.ac.uk or on 0300 131 3030

As part of the University Community

Recognise the importance of equality and diversity by treating all members of the university community and local communities with respect both in person and on other channels such as social media.

Make a positive contribution to the university community, while on placement and in the local communities that the University is based in and students live in. Students must abide by the University’s Student Code of Conduct.

Participate in student feedback and representative processes to enhance the student experience of all.

Commitment to Study

Make a positive contribution to their learning community and participate constructively in group work.

Engage fully with their studies:

• Attend scheduled classes and proactively seek support if needed
• Prepare for classes as required;
• Attempt every assessment component of each of their modules
• Engage proactively with feedback from tutors to improve academic work
• Follow local government and University guidance in relation to health and safety

Use the facilities and resources of the University with respect and consideration.

Support

Proactively seek support when needed, whether this is generic academic support from a tutor, financial support, specialist support related to a disability, wellbeing support, or support in relation to a facility.

Work in partnership with the supporting member of staff to solve and address any issues.

Support your fellow students, without posing a risk to yourself and/or others, especially if they are in difficulties or don’t understand procedures. For example, you can offer help by directing your fellow student to the appropriate support service (e.g. the Hwb or Student Services).

Work together with other students as part of the community of staff and students.

Administration and compliance

Enrol on an annual basis and when progressing between levels/parts of a programme and make arrangements for the payment of academic-related fees owed to the University on time or as agreed with the University.

Provide accurate and up to date personal information and contact details, including an emergency contact.

Access their University student email account and Moodle at least twice weekly, recognising these are the platforms that will be used to communicate urgent and important information.

Familiarise themselves with and follow University Regulations.

Comply with all relevant policies, including:

• IT Acceptable Use Policy
• Non-Academic Misconduct Policy
• a Student Code of Conduct
• Engagement Policy
• As well as all student-facing policies from in Academic Quality Handbook Chapter 12 Student Policies (Pages 146–148) 

For UWTSD students: respect and abide by the constitution and policies of the Students’ Union.

Support you to make the most of your education and your time at University.

The Students’ Union will deliver this through Student Voice, Student Advice, and Student Opportunities (and Employability) whilst acting in a bilingual manner.

Student Voice

• Represent, empower and support all Higher Education students within the UWTSD Group, to ensure that they receive fair treatment and are aware of their rights and responsibilities.
• Engage with student representative bodies throughout the UWTSD Group.
• Represent the interests of students at a local and national level and campaigning on issues relevant and important to students at the University.
• Ensure a consistent process for the election, training and support for all student representatives, (including part-time, distance learning and postgraduate students) across all courses and on all campuses.
• Represent the views of students to the University and other relevant stakeholders.

Student Advice

• Assist students with appropriate signposting and referral for academic and welfare issues.
• Provide informed and timely advice and guidance in relation to their academic experience and/or University processes to students as required.
• Work in partnership with the University to ensure that students are able to access information, support and guidance across all elements of student life.

Student Opportunities and Employability

• Promote and enable student participation in all Students’ Union activities, ensuring that all Students’ Union projects, events and services are accessible and inclusive for all (e.g. parents with children, carers, disabled students).
• Enable students to run a range of sports clubs, societies and other activities to enhance personal development and employability, meet other students and develop hobbies and interests.
• Offer multiple opportunities for students to gain valuable experience through Students’ Union activities including volunteering and Skills Week.

Bilingualism

• Reflect the importance and status of the Welsh language in its communication and create opportunities to support those students who wish to work and socialise through Welsh whilst at the University. Supporting the University’s Welsh Language Strategy where possible, from advertising events to engaging in the Welsh Language Committee.

They follow the principles (Chapter 05 Student Representation Engagement and Support (Pages 40–44), outlined in the Academic Quality Handbook in relation to student representation, student engagement and student support. They will:

• Value student engagement and the student voice;
• Have a comparable set of systems and procedures in place which reflect the requirements of the specific delivery location;
• Meet the principles of student engagement, representation and support as outlined in this chapter;
• Meet the expectations of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education.

That includes:

• Where possible student representatives are democratically elected by their peers or recruited on a voluntary basis;
• All student representatives have access to appropriate training and support.
• Elected student representatives be considered a representative voice for the student body.
• Students have the opportunity to contribute at all levels of decision making and are a full member of any committees they attend.
• Student representatives are provided with time to meet with students on their course privately.
• Student-Staff committees, as a matter of course, review student feedback including but not limited to module feedback forms, survey responses and programme reviews.
• Feedback from academic representatives should be raised and responded at appropriate levels throughout the Partner’s academic structure. Effort is made to illustrate to students the impact of their ideas and feedback (closing the feedback loop).