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Rhyan Codrington, Student Connector

Josey Wilkin (Project Support Officer) & Jason Parry (Student Centre Manager)

The Student Centre was designed as part of a range of initiatives to enhance the student experience at Sussex – officially opening its doors to students at the beginning of this term (Autumn 2022). The Student Centre aims to create a welcoming and inclusive space for our diverse student body. It provides necessary resources and infrastructure to the University, such as flexible study workspaces and confidential meeting spaces for advice and support. As the ‘go-to’ place for students, it is important that student feedback is at the forefront of all the decision-making in how the space is improved to benefit all students at Sussex. 

The Connector Programme sees students and staff work together as equal partners, learning, innovating and co-creating together to improve the student experience at Sussex. Student Connectors initiate and actively make changes to the University whilst developing leadership, teamwork and communication skills – and getting paid at the same time.  In this Office for Students funded programme, areas of work are identified across the University which would benefit from a co-creative approach between students and staff, from embedding technology in learning to co-designing new modules to increasing student engagement with schools and services.

Meet Jason Perry (Student Centre Manager), Josey Wilkin (Project Support Officer) and Rhyan Codrington (Student Connector, BSc Geography). In this interview, we explore the impact of the Student Centre Project on the wider student body and the benefits co-creation when implementing change at Sussex.

Connector Programme: How did you find out about the Connector Programme, and what were your
perceptions of the programme before joining?

Rhyan: I found out about the Connector Programme through an email looking to recruit students for
new Connector projects starting in the Summer. I was able to apply by clicking on the link in the
email, which took me to CareerHub. I would say my perception of the Connector Programme was
that they were trying to involve students in more of the decision-making about the University. They
were trying to incorporate Sussex students, their perception of the university, ideas and feedback.
Plus, to provide students with jobs and try to make a difference in our community.

Connector Programme: What is your role on the Student Centre Project and what co-creative initiatives have you worked on so far?

Rhyan: As a Student Connector, I have been focusing on trying to build a strong connection between students and the Student Centre. We gather feedback from students so that we understand what they like and don’t like about the Student Centre. We are also trying to get students involved in other ways, like creating a new Student Centre Committee so that we can help students implement changes throughout the Centre directly. As well as the committee, we are trying to create an inclusive space for all students by incorporating different events to celebrate our diverse student body. For example, we plan events that celebrate Black History Month, Mental Health Awareness, and LGBTQ+ Pride.

Josey: One key initiative we worked on co-creatively with the Student Connectors is the interactive wall. At the moment, it is mainly posters, but we plan to develop this space to make it truly interactive and reflective of our diverse student body. For example, we want to incorporate a diversity calendar to celebrate different world and religious events that are important to the wider student community.

Jason: We’ve also been working on embedding Student Connectors within the Welcome Desk team. We have Connectors on the frontline working alongside experienced staff which gives the students a unique opportunity to both understand student inquiries and get direct feedback about the Student Centre. In the long term, we are looking to establish a student-led committee for the centre to ensure the student voice is incorporated in everything we do.

Connector Programme: How is co-creation working on your project? What did you learn from working collaboratively with staff and students?

Rhyan: It’s a great team dynamic. I feel the Staff Connectors make sure that we all feel safe and comfortable to voice our ideas and opinions. They consider all our suggestions and help us get the best out of our roles – they are not ‘running the show’ but make sure we, as Student Connectors, are involved as much as possible.

Jason: We have gained deeper insight into the challenges of being a student which is what the Student Centre Project is all about. We’ve been able to really empathise and relate to students and when working in a student-facing role, that’s invaluable.

Connector Programme: What do you think the wider student community at Sussex gains from the Student Centre project?

Rhyan: You get your ideas and your opinions heard – you could be as raw or as blunt as possible, and we are going to be hearing those opinions and making changes that reflect your wants and needs. We are trying to create a student-focused space, and the project reflects that.

Jason: It’s about bringing student support services together in one place – almost like we’re coming to the students. They can actually speak to someone and then be referred on to a specialist. The building itself being 24/7 is amazing as it’s another place on campus that is always open to students.

Josey: This is a new space for students to use as they see fit. It should be a home away from home. The overarching vision of the Student Centre is that the centre should be a welcoming and comforting place for them to be in.

Connector Programme: Are there any tips/advice you would give students and staff considering joining the connector programme?

Rhyan: My advice for students would be to just go for it! Look at where you are in your journey at university and see whether you have some spare time to get involved in making a real difference at Sussex. Also, if you are looking to improve yourself and develop your skillset outside of your course, this is an opportunity to do that. Go for something different because at university, you may feel like you know what you want to do, but through learning new skills, you can gain a better understanding of what you enjoy and might want to turn into a future career.

Jason: I would say that working Student Connectors isn’t a just quick way of getting resource into your area of work. You have to invest time into your project, embed co-creation throughout and actively listen to students. What you will get in return is fresh perspective, new dynamic and a real chance to embed student voice in whatever you are trying to improve.

Josey: Co-creation means you are working alongside the students – so be prepared to put the work in. Be clear about what you want, but also be open to the various directions your project could go in depending on the students’ input.

If you have a question about the Connector Programme or would like to get involved, email the team at studentconnectors@sussex.ac.uk

Learn more via our Connector Programme website or via the Connectors on Student Hub

Follow @studentconnectors_  to see our Connectors at work!

Author: Sandra Ogholaja-Ogboru, Graduate Connector

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