The National Forum, in partnership with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), is now seeking applications from students across a number of higher education institutions (both USI affiliated and non-affiliated institutions) who may be interested in joining our national Student Associate Assembly for the coming academic year 2021-22.
The Student Associate Assembly, established in 2020, supports teaching and learning enhancement at institutional and national level by ensuring student views and opinions, informed by their lived student experience, shape higher education teaching and learning activities and developments.
The role of student associate is a part-time paid position, involving up to 25 hours per semester (to a maximum of 50 hours per academic year), and offering an exciting opportunity for personal and professional development. Full details of the role, application details and a list of the higher education institutions from which student associates are currently sought can be accessed here.
The 2021/22 Student Associate Assembly will contribute to National Forum projects including Next Steps for Teaching and Learning: Moving Forward Together, a strategic sectoral partnership project, and VIT&L Week, a series of local and national events taking place in November to consider how we value teaching and learning and what the future of education will look like for the students of tomorrow. In addition, student associates will play an active role on review panels for funded initiatives. A key activity for the Assembly this year will be to consult with students on the development of the post-2021 strategy of the National Forum.
In addition to being central to the ethos of the National Forum, the core role of student partnership and engagement in decision-making is reinforced by national policies such as the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making. Since the establishment of the National Forum in 2013, students have played an active part in all of our work, serving on the Board of Directors, the Executive, funding review panels, recruitment panels and advisory/steering groups, as well as collaborating on important national projects and events.
In 2021, at least one student associate will be recruited from each of the 24 higher education institution with a vacancy. All currently registered students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, across all modes of study are welcome to apply. The student associate recruitment process will be mindful of the diversity of learners within the student population.
The deadline for applications for is 12 noon on Thursday, 17 June.
