What is the Academic Representation Network?
The Academic Representation Network is a body of over 400 student representatives (Reps), across all Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes and research groups. By collecting your thoughts and comments, and then raising these issues with relevant staff, Academic Reps are responsible for identifying and addressing issues affecting your education. They also work to proactively improve both your learning experience, and that of future students, by coming up with new ideas and sharing best practices from different parts of College, helping the Union’s agenda (all of these are explained in our Rep Network Pathways diagram).
With the introduction of new courses, changes in technology and teaching methods, and ever-increasing expectations of students, courses must adapt over time. Acting on students' feedback will ensure that Imperial’s courses are the best they can be, and of the high quality that we expect from a world-leading institution.
What do Reps do?
The Academic Reps have two main responsibilities: the first is to collect feedback from students, regarding topics within their remit, and to alert university staff of issues affecting students' academic experience within their cohort. Equally as important, the network of reps will work across departments and faculties to communicate best practice to each other.
Reps will attend a number of meetings with both College and Union staff throughout the year, communicating their findings with staff and play a key role in finding student-centric solutions to problems within their cohort and the wider Imperial community.
Volunteer role descriptions are available for for Year (UG), Year (PG) and Departmental (UG), Departmental (PG) Representatives.
For more details about the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, check out the Rep Handbooks below!
How is the Network Structured?
The Network has a similar structure to our Wellbeing Representation Network, consisting of one Year Representative per year group and a Departmental Representative. The Year Reps will be the point of contact for their cohort and work with the Department Reps to identify issues to be raised with College staff in their departments.
These Reps will also work with their respective Constituent Union Academic Affairs Officers, identifying issues that are affecting the whole faculty. All of these volunteer roles are led and support by your elected Officer Trustee, the Deputy President (Education).
You can find all your Reps by searching for your course or research group on our Representative A to Z. Alternatively check the sidebar on the 'Your Union' section of the website (once logged on), where your Reps’ names will be displayed.
Contact Details
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your elected student representative and our members of staff: