We are delighted to report on the results of the National Student Survey for 2023. We are proud that for Question 25 “The students’ union (association or guild) effectively represents students’ academic interests.” Our satisfaction rate has increased from 46% to an impressive 67%, marking a significant increase in student satisfaction with the role we play. 

We know from research that when students respond to this question, they are reflecting upon the entire range of services, activities, and campaigns provided by the Students' Union. This achievement reflects the dedication of many individuals who have contributed to this progress. 

A huge portion of credit goes to our dedicated volunteers, including Course Reps and Society leaders, whose unwavering commitment has been instrumental in engaging the wider student community within their respective roles. We also commend the invaluable contributions of student staff working across our outlets, who have enriched the student experience. 

Our fulltime staff team has worked diligently to foster greater student participation in our projects. From offering advice on academic matters and housing to facilitating new connections through our "Give It a Go" programme and nurturing employability skills through our Skills Development Program, we know that the students taking part in our activities are more likely to feel a sense of belonging, a greater sense of community and go on to be more likely to achieve a 1st or a 2:1.  

Our outgoing officer team's efforts are also noteworthy, as they have successfully engaged more students through captivating campaigns such as Culture Fest and Postgraduate Week throughout a challenging year for students.  

Furthermore, we are thrilled to share that our medical school Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), which takes part in the NSS on its own, achieved an outstanding 75% satisfaction rate for the same question. We support students at BSMS by providing Students' Union services such as academic support, advice, society support, and representation withing the University. Their high level of satisfaction indicates the quality of support we continue to provide. 

We would also like to extend our warm congratulations to the University for achieving higher satisfaction scores across the board compared to last year. Our close partnership with the University and our students has been instrumental in enhancing the academic experience, and it's remarkable to see these efforts yielding positive outcomes for students across the University. 

While we celebrate our achievements, we recognise that our journey continues. The survey results further highlight our commitment to improve our standards in the upcoming academic year. Whether that is by supporting the creation of a more diverse range of societies, spending more time on campuses talking to students about their issues or creating new activity programmes for students to take part in, we will continue to develop our services to make student life better. 

We will also work closely with the university to keep improving the academic experience, ensuring lecture capture is rolled out to as many students as possible, assessed work is marked and returned with feedback in a timely manner or that timetables are organised in a way that supports the increasingly busy schedules of students.  

With unwavering determination, we will continue to represent and engage students as we work towards surpassing our achievements in the upcoming year. A warm thank you from all the officers and the entire of the SU team for this positive feedback. We look forward to working with you again in September! 

Best wishes, 

Ilia Mirsky Katz 

President 

Brighton Students' Union