Welcome to your monthly update from the Students’ Union on all things student voice and representation

March 2026

🗳️ Elections update

This year's Student Union and School Representative main elections ended last month with elected students ready to stand up for your needs at University!

With current student needs and wishes in mind, candidates wrote action plans to present their values and key areas of focus they hope to work on.

Students’ Union Representative (Governance) candidates frequently focused on:

• Accessibility and Inclusion: Increasing accessibility on campus and academically, providing opportunities for connection within and between marginalised groups.

• Schedules and Timetabling: Reliable and early release of timetables, better communication of changes, more accessible and convenient room allocation.

• Finances and Cost of Living: bursary and voucher initiatives, affordable food across campus, affordable social opportunities.

Students running for the role of Students’ Union Rep focused on:  

• Isolation and Improving Belonging around Campus: Fight student loneliness, support student communities and events.

• Finances and Cost of Living: Establishing bursaries, cash-back systems, affordable events and food around campus.

• Feedback opportunities: Holding frequent student feedback sessions to increase conversation with students and amplify their voices.

School Representatives focused their action plans on their specific target population of students, catering to their course needs and features. However, most of them mention:

• Student wellbeing and preventing burnout.

• Placements and appropriate support and supervision.

• Communication with the schools and faculties, representing the students wishes.

• Providing feedback around academic quality and teaching.

You can find out who the our Elected Representatives are here and we’ll be introducing you to our new Representatives in the May - along with the things they’re going to work on. 

We’re also in the middle of a By-Election right now where we’re looking to fill three School Rep roles.

👂 Use your voice — we’re listening

A big shoutout to everyone who’s already jumped onto the Student Voice Platform. If you haven’t yet don’t stress, you can sign up anytime and give the University your feedback.

This month, there were 93 new posts. You’ve raised:

• 54 Issues

• 14 Ideas

• 13 Questions

• 12 Praises

There’s a Students’ Union board on the platform too, so you can share feedback directly with us!

🎙️ In Conversation with International Students

This month, we explored experiences at the University of Lancashire as an international student. Your insights highlighted five key areas shaping the international student journey: academic experience, belonging, finances, work and mental health.

When speaking about support services and inclusion around campus, one student told us about feeling seen and represented due to the diverse staff team:

“When I reached out for support with the advice team, I first felt really intimidated, but when I saw another person from my ethnicity, I felt seen. There was someone who looked like me, so I felt as though they could understand me and consider my background well.”

Additionally, another student reflected on feeling welcomed and included around campus by staff and peers:

“As an international student, I feel like every time I go to the student centre, there is someone to greet me and to have a little chat with. It makes me feel a lot better all day, especially when I’m feeling a bit homesick.”

We also heard:

“My lecturers are so supportive. They are always there to assist me. That really helped me, because they kept checking up on me and whether I had understood everything correctly or needed more explanation. I felt the support of everyone in the classroom”