Beyond the Tick Box: Why Registrars Must Forge Genuine Partnerships with Students’ Unions
- ritchiet6
- Aug 13
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 14
In higher education, we often speak proudly about embedding the student voice at the heart of what we do. We run surveys, form panels, invite feedback and tick the box. But here's the challenge: are we truly listening, or are we just hearing? Are we building genuine, strong, co-created partnerships with Students’ Unions and their elected officers or are we performing student engagement without truly valuing the insights it brings?
As a former Academic Registrar, I know how easy it can be to get lost in compliance, metrics, and policy. But I also know this: no other industry would ignore the insights of its primary stakeholder the very people it exists to serve. Imagine a business disregarding its customers’ experiences or involving them only when convenient. It wouldn’t last long.
The student voice isn’t just a regulatory requirement it’s a powerful tool for enhancement, transformation, and accountability. It should challenge us, push us to do better, and help us see the impact of our decisions from a perspective we do not inhabit ourselves.
When we treat our relationship with the SU and student officers as transactional or symbolic, we miss the real value. But when that relationship thrives when it is based on mutual respect, shared purpose, and active listening something remarkable happens. We build policies that work better, services that respond quicker, and a culture that truly reflects the community it serves.
So how can we move beyond the tick box?
Create regular, informal spaces for dialogue with student officers not just scheduled meetings with set agendas.
Share power, not just information. Involve students early in decision-making, not just at the consultation stage.
Invest in SU development not just financially, but with time, coaching, and collaborative work.
Respond visibly to student feedback, showing not only that we’ve listened but that we’ve acted.
Treat students as partners, not just consultees.
If this resonates with you and you’re committed to making the student voice more than a mechanism Coole Insight is here to help. We bring experience from both sides of the table: as university professionals and as student leaders. We understand the nuance, the challenge, and the opportunity of building a student voice that works for both students and institutions.
Let us help you move beyond the tick box to a place where the student voice shapes, sharpens, and strengthens everything you do.
Ready to make this shift?
At Coole Insight, we've sat on both sides of these conversations – as university leaders and student advocates. We know what genuine partnership looks like and how to build it. Let's discuss how we can help transform your student voice from mechanism to partnership:
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