Kate O'Riordan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students), Professor Kate O'Riordan, wrote to all taught students earlier today. You can read the full message below:

Hello,

Happy New Year (according to the Gregorian Calendar). I hope you managed to have something of a break over the holiday period, and I wish you all the very best for the spring term.

During the vacation the Office for Students announced our Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) result. I’m very pleased to let you all know that we have been awarded the second highest award – a Silver – in the 2023 TEF!

A Silver rating means that, according to the Office for Students, the student experience and student outcomes at Sussex are typically very high quality.

This award is a reflection of the work of our teaching and professional services staff, and their efforts to deliver high quality support, every day, for students. The award also reflects student contributions and achievement and includes a student submission from your Students’ Union. Our staff include over 30 Senior Advance HE Higher Education Teaching Fellows who share their expertise, aiming to benefit students and their learning experiences. Fellows are recognised for their expertise in teaching and learning. 

Many of your tutors are also world-renowned researchers with 89% of their research being rated as world-leading or internationally excellent, and this expertise informs your curriculum and educational environment. Undergraduate students are also directly involved in this research via the Junior Research Associate Programme (JRA). Finally, our Centres of Excellence are another highlight which provide the environment and resources for students and staff to improve conditions for our planet and its people.

These are just a few examples of how teaching excellence is being delivered at Sussex. All of our staff and students contribute to our rich academic and teaching heritage, which includes five Nobel Prize Winners, 12 Fellows of the British Academy and a winner of the Crafoord Prize.

Our TEF award will be reassessed in 2027, and we will build on our Silver award, with an ambition to achieve Gold. For you as a student now, this means we will continue to work to improve the student experience, the teaching and learning environment, and provide you with as many opportunities as possible for you to get the best outcomes from your studies. Over the weeks and months ahead, I will keep you informed of news about this, and the many opportunities you have at Sussex – designed to provide opportunities for flourishing in your lives and careers. 

Please read on for your regular update, including:

• Information and support for your assessments
• Support for students affected by the Japanese earthquake
• Your mental wellbeing in 2024
• Could you be a paid Digital Media Creator?
• Save the date for Refreshers Fair
• There’s still time to tell us what you love about Sussex – you could win £200!
• Sussex snapshot.

Information and support for your assessments

For many of you, assessments have begun and will run until Saturday 20 January 2024. Remind yourself of the various support available to you on the Student Hub, as well as important information about academic integrity and exceptional circumstances.

Support for students affected by the Japanese earthquake

I know that this will be a difficult time for students affected by the recent earthquake in Japan. Last week, Student support and wellbeing colleagues reached out to all students with family and loved ones in Japan, and I want to remind all students of our support services offering advice, information and practical support.

Your mental wellbeing in 2024

Just like physical health, there are things you can do to help support your mental health and wellbeing. With the new year upon us, now is the perfect time to discover what activities help your mental wellbeing and how to access support from the University.

Take the first step by visiting the mental wellbeing pages on the Student Hub.

Could you be a paid Digital Media Creator?

Do you love creating digital content? Do you live on social media? Do you want to get paid for creating content? If yes, then apply to become a Digital Media Creator!

Our Digital Media Creators are current Sussex students who are paid to create engaging content and share community and research stories on central University channels, working with the Social Media and Student Communications teams.

Find out more about being a Digital Media Creator, including how to apply, on the Student Hub.

Save the date for Refreshers Fair

The Refreshers Fair is taking place on campus on Tuesday 30 January. It’s run by your Students’ Union and is the perfect way to kick start the new term.

Come along and visit the different stalls and find out more about societies, volunteering and other ways to have the best student experience at Sussex. We’ll share more information soon.

There’s still time to tell us what you love about Sussex – you could win £200!

Have you left a review about Sussex on whatuni.com yet? There’s still time! By leaving a review you’ll automatically enter into a weekly prize draw to win £200.

We have had some wonderful anecdotes from students sharing what they love most about studying at Sussex. See what some of your fellow students had to say in an article on the Student Hub, and also in a recent Instagram video.

With best wishes,
  
Kate

Professor Kate O’Riordan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students)