Oaklands Student Union host 2018 Student Voice event!

The Oaklands Student Union (OSU) hosted the annual Student Voice Day at Oaklands College’s Welwyn Garden City campus, with the aim to encourage Student Union members and representatives to feedback their ideas and improve the overall college experience.

The event opened with a talk from Student Union Officer Rhianna Hornsey, followed by a welcome speech from Oaklands College principal Zoe Hancock and Director of Student Experience Sean Scully.

Student Voice Day is a chance for OSU members and student representatives, which make up the student voice from both Welwyn and St Albans campuses, to get together and feedback change and ideas to help improve their college experience.

Students engaged in team building activities and games, whilst developing their social and team-working skills by embarking on a range of sessions throughout the day spread across the main hall and student lounge facilities.

In attendance were the Presidents and Vice Presidents for this academic year, Jaye Gherani and Vithu Ravi who represent the St Albans campus alongside Marcel Barry and Lewis Mascoll who represent the Welwyn campus.

OSU member and current Oaklands College student Andrew Prentice, who is studying a Level 2 Diploma in Travel and Tourism and our Welwyn Garden City campus, shared his experience with the OSU and the positive impact events like Student Voice Day have had for his personal confidence and social skills.

Andrew said: “The Student Union gives students like myself an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions on their college experience, whilst meeting new friends in a fun environment.” Adding: “When I first started college, I did not fully understand the college environment and found socialising a struggle.”

Despite this, Andrew has emerged as a shining example of the benefits that come with being a member of the OSU. He has since gone on to attend regular social group sessions which are run across both campuses during term-time, which he cites as the positive turning point of his student experience so far.

If you would like to learn more about the OSU and how you can apply, read more about it here.