Academic Student Representatives (ASRs) are current students who play an important role in shaping teaching and learning at UniSA by representing student views, gathering feedback, and suggesting improvements. Below are just a few of many success stories where ASRs have made a postive impact on the study lives of other students in their program.
I have been an ASR for two years. I volunteered to become an ASR because I wanted to make a positive impact and bridge the gap between students and faculty members. The role is not only great for improving professional and leadership skills, but it also provides networking opportunities, as ASRs can volunteer for several events on campus and work closely with other students and faculty members.
Since becoming an ASR, I have been part of several improvements within my program. We initially received feedback from a few students regarding their concerns on certain issues. My fellow ASRs and I consulted with more students to determine if these issues were experienced by other students as well. We then contacted the Program Director to set up a meeting, where we discussed the concerns and highlighted the need for improvement, as well as strategies for implementing the changes.
One of the most significant initiatives was introducing actors for role-play during mock interviews. We received feedback from students that they faced issues recording their mock interviews, as they had to find someone willing to act as a client. We proposed introducing actors to do role-play, giving students a realistic experience of interviewing a "client." This significantly enhanced the course experience and learning for students, as they no longer need to find a friend or family member for the assessment, making it more professional. It also requires them to prepare thoroughly, as they only have one chance to record their interview with the actors. Feedback from students has been positive, with many appreciating the realistic practice with a "client."
In addition, we’ve also discussed changing assignment deadlines to help students manage their assignments alongside placement preparation, and we’ve created additional learning resources for international students, which are crucial for those who find it challenging to understand certain courses due to language barriers or cultural differences.
We are now working on developing a page on LearnOnline to spread information about volunteering opportunities for students studying social work and social sciences. This aims to raise awareness among students who wish to gain field experience, especially international students who may not have worked in an Australian setting. This initiative is expected to lead to better placement outcomes and enrich students' academic journeys by providing practical exposure to real-world scenarios.
I've been an ASR for five months. I enjoy connecting with students and resolving issues between people, so when the ASR role came up, I thought, "I'm already doing this. I should make it official and see if I can push it further!"
Before I joined the ASR program, I was looking for a way to connect with other students in class, so I worked with the subject teachers and other students to create a class study group. Many people joined the group, including teachers, and it became a hive of activity. The group remained active even after the subject ended! My fellow ASR and I were inspired to scale this concept up. Through much planning and collaboration with the Program Director, we developed a program-wide student forum (on Discord) to help students connect and share knowledge with others in the program. The forum now hosts over 100 student members, as well as some staff.
We've seen student activity on the forum increasing steadily over time, which also promotes discussion in class. Students talk about industry trends, post helpful resources, seek help on technical issues and share creative work, among other topics. We've had new students asking how buses work in Adelaide, as well as senior students offering valuable feedback on shared work. Teachers have even floated the idea of making contribution to the forum as an assessment component for some subjects, to reflect the industry practice of seeking feedback from peers.
I'll be starting my first placement later this year with Rising Sun Pictures, so that is very exciting!
I'm especially proud of the legacy we're creating for future students. Since the student forum is an official ASR initiative, upcoming ASRs can take up the mantle and keep the forum alive as a resource for students long into the future.