Greenwich SU's website
Our conversation initiated a deep dive into the heart of student engagement—the online platform. Greenwich SU's website has an incredibly intuitive design, seamless navigation, and engaging interface. Shakira's efforts in crafting an online space that resonates with students were evident, fostering a connection between the SU and its diverse student community.
Reflecting on past year's highlights:
Our conversation started with an outline of the various accomplishments that defined Greenwich SU's past academic year. From the excitement of graduation ceremonies to the cultural vibrancy of the Global Greenwich program, it became clear that the SU's commitment extended beyond mere events; it was a dedication to fostering an inclusive community. Celebrations of cultural occasions like Ramadan and Eid highlighted their understanding and respect for diverse cultural experiences, while activities around global events like the World Cup showcased their agility in engaging students through relevant themes.
Moreover, our conversation highlighted the pivotal role played by the activities team in supporting clubs and societies, bridging gaps, and enriching student experiences. The impactful research conducted on the cost of living crisis demonstrated tangible outcomes, such as initiatives promoting well-paid employment opportunities and direct financial benefits, demonstrating a commitment to addressing pressing student concerns.
We did a really great piece of research on the cost of living. We wrote this incredible report, and that went directly to the vice chancellor. This resulted in lots of money directly back into students' pockets, so things like community breakfast, food vouchers, travel vouchers.
Triumphant elections and ongoing engagement
Greenwich SU's success narrative continued with a celebration of their remarkable surge in election turnout. The carefully organised elections and the level of professionalism exhibited during the process underscored their year-round dedication to engaging students actively in union affairs, resonating with MSL's vision of championing student voices.
Insights into feedback mechanisms
Our dialogue continued into a fascinating exploration of the feedback mechanisms employed by Greenwich SU. Kate and Shakira explained the diverse channels employed, spanning emails, social media platforms, and structured surveys. Notably, the university's keen interest in comprehensive data sets, particularly concerning compliance-related metrics like the National Student Survey (NSS) and the Teaching Excellence Framework (Tef), displayed a commitment to using data to inform decisions and pursue continuous improvement.
Strategies for student engagement:
Exploring strategies, Shakira highlighted a multifaceted approach that encompassed leveraging social media, the importance of targeted emails, orchestrating in-person interactions, and capitalising on influencer marketing. The challenges of cutting through communication clutter and the importance of maintaining consistent messaging across diverse platforms emerged as key considerations in their engagement strategies.
University's interest in reports and stats:
The university's proactive interest in reports and statistics, particularly concerning elections, compliance, and assessments, indicated their desire to align with student sentiments. Their direct involvement in addressing student concerns, demonstrated by the presentation of the comprehensive cost of living report to the vice-chancellor, showed a truly collaborative approach toward addressing critical student issues.
The university really like the kind of rich data sets that we provide them about student feedback where we can.
Future plans and initiatives:
Shakira delved into the roadmap for the future, shedding light on the Engaging Opportunities team's plans to leverage MSL's suite of tools for better supporting clubs and societies. The emphasis on sustainability initiatives and improving website accessibility stood out, underlining their commitment to inclusivity, and ensuring seamless access to union information for all students.
The success stories of the past year, coupled with plans for the future, showcases the key role MSL's platform will continue to play in delivering a positive impact on the student experience at Greenwich SU. The ongoing commitment to feedback, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement further strengthens Greenwich SU’s position as a dynamic and student-focused institution. This, together with MSL’s commitment to enable our clients to enhance and enrich the experience of any and every student makes for a winning digital partnership for the benefit of Greenwich SU’s student members and their wider stakeholders.