Your 2025/26 SU Education Officer, Ellie Dinsdale, reflects on their time in the role.
The time has come for a new team of Officers to arrive and change Durham for the better. Whilst that means I have officially left the best job in the world (sigh), it means you lovely lot have a pair of fresh ears waiting to listen to feedback and advocate for all things ‘student’, and I cannot wait to see what Mia, Callum and Alex get up to during their time in office.
The role of Education Officer has been more than a title; it has been a promise. A promise to take every opportunity to turn student concerns into action and ensure that our rampant campus community benefits from being a part of ‘The Durham Difference’.
It’s been a scary time in the world of Higher Education, with AI uncertainty, cuts to student services, new legal definitions and guidance and the potency of the phrase ‘Mickey Mouse Degrees’, it certainly hasn’t been a secure time to be in Education. But, with the scares comes advocacy, leadership and campaigning at an all-time high. These challenges create change; with students every day providing feedback, learning their rights and advocating for the education we all deserve. It has been incredible to watch, learn and work with the Officer team, staff team and our student leaders to navigate these uncertainties every day, mitigating the impact of the current climate and introducing new initiatives and policies to help Durham continue to be the incredible place it is.
This year has been truly remarkable, with engagement with both Students’ Union and collaboration with the University at an all-time high. Collaborating across campus with all areas of the University has allowed us to make big, impactful changes for our cohort, and I hope as a community you can see how your voice delivers change. From creating paid opportunities for students, consultation and expressing expectations of our education, we as a team (yes, that includes you reading this!) have been able to deliver real-time change and value to Durham.
Here are some things we, together, have helped deliver:
- Undergraduate Single Honours Framework
We created 12 paid opportunities to take part in two Student Advisory Boards where feedback fed directly into the creation of the new University Framework. Truly, this has been a project where students were at the forefront of their own education, and it’s clear from the over 60 (!!!) applications that this is something students want and the university needs.
- Library Collaboration
Fuelled by student feedback, I worked with the Library to tackle prominent strains affecting our community- wellbeing during Epiphany term. My first ‘officer win’ of the year was initiating the extension of the 24/7 Bill Bryson hours during exam season to ensure students, regardless of where their exams fall in the timetable, have access to the 24/7 library service. No student should be penalised for a timetable they didn’t design, and it was a delight to work with the Library team who recognised this too.
The other initiative we were able to bring to fruition was the return of ever-so-loved Breakfast Club. Through collaboration between Durham Students Union and the University Library and Collections team, we were able to provide a free breakfast service during exam season, to ensure that students had the opportunity to look after their wellbeing at a heightened time of need, for no extra cost. This return also saw an increase in student job opportunities, with extra shifts running at a time when money is often slim. I’m very proud to have been part of providing this service for students and to have collaborated with the Library and Collections team on something so important and impactful to our community.
- AI
As Education Officer, I have had the immense pleasure of being at the forefront of AI conversations across multiple areas of the university. From reviewing the institutional AI policy framework to working directly with DCAD on what are both valuable and sustainable ‘AI secure’ assessment types, it has been extremely valuable to aid the university in navigating this period of uncertainty and ensure that students' voices and concerns are fed directly into this.
- Value
My time in role has been centred around the value of our education. I’m so proud of my Education Exec for the work they have put in to ensure that students are reassured that coming to Durham and pursuing a degree was the correct choice. Alaina, Javis, Christina, and Jack all worked so hard to put on events within their faculties to share the excitement that comes with studying their subject and even created opportunities to network across the faculty. ‘More Than A Degree’, ‘International Day of Women in Science Guest Speaker Event’ and ‘Drinks and Diplomacy’ set a precedent for what education events should be, and I’m grateful to have watched students benefit from the work they put in. I couldn’t have asked for a better and more dedicated Education Exec.
- Power of Education
On the topic of educational value, my proudest achievement during my role has to be the ‘Power of Education’ conference I organised and hosted in June. With over 50 students registering for tickets and dedicating a full day to attend, it was clear that Durham has a desire to celebrate the importance of learning. What was so inspiring to me was the upwards of 25 staff members across the university who also dedicated time to be a part of the event; whether that be to speak on panels, network with students, or attend themselves, the impact was prominent. It was an absolute honour to create an opportunity and space where people, of all specialisms and levels, felt safe to come learn, ask questions and be inspired. The power of education is truly magical, and I could not have asked for a better reception from every single person involved. I must also recognise the dedicated SU staff and Officer team too, as without them seeing the value in the event and dedicating time to help it come to fruition, it wouldn’t have happened.
I leave this role full of gratitude and pride. To have been your lead student representative for all things academic has been an absolute privilege. Thank you to every single person who has applied for positions, attended events, provided feedback, and overall engaged with our events this year. As student representatives, we couldn’t do our work without students as our agents of influence. Thank you for your trust.
And if you are reading this and wondering if a representative role could be for you - I couldn’t recommend it enough. There are plenty of opportunities with all different levels of workload and the work is truly rewarding. That being said, you don’t need a role to be an advocate; the Students’ Union will always actively listen and engage with student voice, and I hope this year demonstrates exactly what can happen when expectations and needs are vocalised.
I truly cannot express how honoured I am to have been elected for this role and to have shared this time with such a remarkable cohort of Durham students. As an Education Studies - Psychology graduate, it has been a privilege to spend my final year advocating for and celebrating all things Durham.
My final year in Durham I will truly never forget.
Stay academically curious,
Ellie