University of Leicester Students' Union

What You Gain From Being an SSC Representative

As well as contributing to the quality and effectiveness of Leicester's academic provision, as a course representative you will personally benefit in ways that will prove invaluable for the year and beyond.

---> The Students' Union Education Unit offers training sessions for all Course Representatives at the start of each year. The aim of the training is to give Course Representatives an understanding of their role and tips on how to be a good Course Representative. Details of the training are on the front page of this handbook.

You will gain a variety of skills that can be added to your CV which will assist you when applying for jobs including:

Communication - Being a good representative is about communicating with staff and students. You will find that your experiences of meetings and dealing with your constituents will improve your oral and written language skills.
Meeting Skills - As well as the informal contact you will have with staff and students, SSC meetings and Course Representatives Councils should give you experience of formal meeting structures with a Chair, Secretary, agendas and minutes.
Negotiation Skills and Conflict Management - Your skills in these important areas will develop naturally through involvement in the SSC system, as you help to resolve areas of disagreement between students and staff, as well as getting specific training from the Students' Union at the SSC Training Event.
Time Management - Just as when you play a sport or are involved in a society, it is an important skill to be able to fit your SSC commitments around your degree work. You will get used to setting objectives and priorities to ensure that you make the best use of your time.
Public Speaking and Confidence - It is possible that you will develop public speaking skills and become more confident in general if you decide to make lecture announcements up-dating students on the issues discussed at their SSC.
Knowledge - By attending Course Representatives Council, reading Students' Union Publications and talking to staff and the Union's academic officers you will gain knowledge of the issues that are currently important in Higher Education.
Opportunities for Involvement - Your experience as an SSC Representative will stand you in good stead if you wish to get involved in any of the wide range of representative posts which exist within the Union, from a committee member right up to a Sabbatical Officer:
Enjoyment! -Being a representative should be enjoyable and rewarding. You will get to meet a number of people and will feel you have achieved something useful and worthwhile by the end of the year.