Your experiences matter. Speaking up is one of the most powerful ways students influence change at the University, and My Student Voice Platform exists to make sure your voices are heard, understood, and acted on.

Real change starts when you, the students, share what is not working, how it affects you, and what you believe could make things better. At the same time, how feedback is communicated can shape whether the focus stays on the issue itself or shifts onto the way it is said. Using the platform thoughtfully helps ensure the issue remains front and centre.

My Student Voice Platform is part of the wider University environment. That means posts sit within the same expectations that apply across campus, including student conduct and, where relevant, professional body requirements. This is not about limiting student voice. It is about making sure feedback can be taken seriously and lead to change.

Posts on My Student Voice Platform are usually anonymous. Comments, however, are not anonymous. This helps keep the space safe, respectful, and focused on meaningful discussion. It should not stop you from being honest. Constructive feedback is about experiences, impact, and solutions, not individuals, and we want to support you with the tools to communicate your message in a way that strengthens its impact.

Our Students’ Union Insights Team moderates the platform. Moderation is not about controlling what students say. It is about protecting space so issues can be discussed fairly, safely, and in a way that keeps attention on what needs to change.

The University also has a role to play. Each board on My Student Voice Platform has dedicated staff members from relevant services and schools. There is an expectation that student feedback receives a clear, articulate, and transparent response. This shared responsibility helps ensure that when students speak up constructively, their feedback is met with meaningful engagement rather than silence or bias.

If your concern is about a specific member of staff, My Student Voice Platform is not the right place to raise this. Staff have employment rights, including the right to privacy. In these situations, the Students’ Union can support you to explore the most effective next step and access confidential advice.

Keeping the focus on the issue

Speaking up can feel daunting, especially when something has had a real impact on you. PAUSE is not about policing your tone or telling you how to feel. It is a short check-in to help make sure your message lands in the way you intend and that the focus stays on the issue you are raising, not the way it is communicated.

Taking a moment to PAUSE can strengthen your post, support productive discussion, and increase the chances of your feedback leading to meaningful change.

Before posting, it can help to take a moment to PAUSE:

Professional
Does your post reflect how you want your voice to be heard and taken seriously?

Appropriate
Is this the right place to raise the issue, or would another route help achieve change more effectively?

Upset
Could your wording unintentionally upset or intimidate someone, drawing attention away from the issue you are trying to raise?

Solution
Does your post include ideas for how things could improve? It is really important for the University to understand how students think things could change for the better.

Evaluate
Take a final look. Does your post clearly communicate the issue and support a productive conversation?

Turning experience into impact

Your experiences and feelings are valid. STARS is not about diluting what you want to say or making your feedback less honest. It is a simple way to structure your post so your experience is clear, the impact is understood, and the conversation stays focused on change.

Using STARS helps turn individual experiences into insight that can be acted on, making it easier for your feedback to contribute to wider improvements.

Constructive feedback is most effective when it follows STARS:

Summarise the issue
Explain what is happening, using your experience to bring clarity to the issue.

Talk about the impact

Share how the issue affects you or other students and why it matters.

Avoid pinpointing individuals
Keeping the focus on systems and experiences helps ensure the issue, not the person, stays at the centre.

Remain professional and stay on topic
This helps your feedback be taken seriously and keeps the conversation focused on change.

Suggest a solution
Your ideas matter. Sharing what you think could improve the situation plays a key role in shaping meaningful outcomes.

Worrying about giving feedback?

Professional and constructive feedback should always be received in the spirit it is given. Students should not be treated differently or disadvantaged for raising genuine concerns respectfully.

If you ever feel you have been treated unfairly as a result of speaking up constructively, that is not okay. The Students’ Union will support you to explore next steps, including making a formal complaint to the University where appropriate.

The power of using your voice

Using your voice is not just about being heard. It is about shaping the change you want to see. When students speak up thoughtfully, and the University responds transparently, the focus stays where it belongs on the issues that matter and the improvements that are needed.

Whether you are starting a conversation or contributing as a commenter, we all have a role to play and a shared responsibility in shaping a space that is respectful, focused, and driven by student impact.

The Students’ Union is here for students, with students. We are here to give you the tools, confidence, and support to advocate for yourself and for each other. Whether you are raising an issue for the first time or contributing to ongoing conversations, you do not have to do it alone.

Your voice matters, and when it is supported and heard, it can lead to real change.