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The Student Voice and Representation Agreement
Last updated: 2025
The Student Voice and Representation Agreement (SVRA) outlines the fundamental expectations which should be featured across all student representation and engagement activity.
The Agreement is developed in partnership by the Dundee University Students’ Association (DUSA) and the University of Dundee (University) and acts as a guide for both students and staff. It continues to develop an environment where students’ understanding of their journey is combined with staff expertise to enhance the university experience year on year.
The University and DUSA are committed to working in partnership with our students to enhance the quality of every aspect of their learning experience.
We want all students to contribute by providing constructive feedback which helps to create solutions. We encourage students and staff to work together on projects and actions which lead to the improvement of the quality of the learning journey and to regularly communicate their achievements.
The Agreement focuses on four key principles that underpin student representation:
Our approach to ensuring effective engagement and representation focuses on enhancing the Student Learning Experience (SLE).
The SLE model, developed by Student Partnerships in Quality Scotland (sparqs), includes seven key categories relevant to both undergraduate and postgraduate journeys:
Our student representatives receive training to focus on these themes and collaborate with university staff to enhance learning at the University of Dundee.
We encourage partnership building through the use of technology, digital communication platforms, and traditional on-campus activities that foster an open and honest relationship supporting a productive dialogue.
The University and DUSA primarily work with appointed student representatives through School representation systems and the Students’ Representative Council (SRC). However, all students and staff are encouraged to step forward and get involved in enhancing the learner journey.
Partnership between students, staff, DUSA, and the University ensures continuous improvement in the student learning experience and the support available for all students and staff.
The Student Partnership Agreement (SPA) outlines mutually agreed priorities and actions for delivering measurable and tangible improvements to the student experience.
Each partner contributes their own skills and knowledge, which are equally valued. By working together, we provide the best possible experience for students. More details on our approach to partnership working can be found here.
Student engagement is vital to shaping their university journey. The University and DUSA’s commitment to engagement is one of the reasons Dundee provides one of the best student experiences in the sector.
Aligned with the National Student Engagement Framework, our key aims include:
Representation and Feedback
The partnership between students and staff is supported through a well-established representation and feedback system.
The model agreed between DUSA and the University specifies that each
School will normally have three groups of student leaders who will work together to gather student feedback and work with staff to enhance the student learning experience. More information about the agreed structures can be found in Guide 1.
The collective aims of this system are to:
School Executive Groups should ensure that there is a designated School committee (normally their Learning and Teaching Committee or Quality and Academic Standards Committee) with responsibility for monitoring the effectiveness of feedback mechanisms.
This should include consideration of:
→ Whether feedback is being captured at a programme, modular or individual level, consideration should be given to the most appropriate and engaging methods: taking into consideration the programme level, timing, location and format of the feedback tools.
→ Mechanisms used (e.g. questionnaires and/or face-to-face methods) and the detailed content
→ Protocols for analysis, responses and reporting back the outcomes of feedback activity to the student body
Feedback regarding taught provision should be analysed routinely and reported via the annual review process. Schools should maintain the following information in relation to student feedback:
→ Annual analyses and summaries associated with annual monitoring
→ ‘Raw’ input information from students
The Agreement is approved by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) on behalf of DUSA, and Learning & Teaching Committee (LTC) on behalf of the University on a three yearly basis. Responsibility for the agreements development is owned by the Joint Representation Working Group (JRWG) which is made up of the following members:
DUSA
University
Vice President of Representation
Quality & Academic Standards Development Manager
Vice President of Academia
Director of Quality & Academic Standards
Representation and Business Support Manager
DUSA
Vice President of Representation
Vice President of Academia
Representation and Business Support Manager
University
Quality & Academic Standards Development Manager
Director of Quality & Academic Standards
The JRWG is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the Student Voice and Representation Agreement (SVRA) and ensuring that staff and students are aware of what it contains, how it relates to both parties, capturing amendments/ improvements and ensuring that the representation system is operating according to this agreement.
Substantive developments will be made during the three yearly review process; however, if students or staff wish to provide feedback, or suggest amendments, please contact any of the JRWG members.
A series of practical guides support staff and students in applying the Agreement. These are reviewed regularly and include:
University of Dundee
Dundee University Students’ Association (DUSA)