On Wednesday 27 November 2024, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mark E. Smith, and SUSU President, Lawrence Coomber, pictured below, signed the University and Students’ Union Relationship Agreement. This historic agreement—first signed at the formation of the Students’ Union in 1903—outlines the collaborative way the two parties will work together for the duration of the academic year.
The Relationship Agreement promotes a two-fold commitment to enriching the experience of students at the University of Southampton, a premise that both parties reflected on during the ceremony. Sharing his thoughts on the nature of the relationship, SUSU President Lawrence Coomber noted that “The Students’ Union is the perfect vehicle to deliver feedback from the student body”, and that “The University of Southampton absolutely does listen to (us)”.
Similarly, Professor Mark E. Smith, signing his sixth Relationship Agreement during his time as Vice-Chancellor, expressed that “Constructive communication is crucial for the agreement” and that “(The Students’ Union) bringing challenges to light in a positive way is really important to help (the University) understand what the student body is thinking”.
Looking forward, both parties anticipated unique challenges for the 2024-25 academic year, and were optimistic about facing them head-on. Lawrence will be taking a particular interest in improving how “the student population fits into the city’, while Mark is eager to “continue to understand how students want to receive and consume their education”, particularly pertaining to “AI, and how (students) use this software to supplement their studies”.
The event was attended by members of the Students’ Union Sabbatical Team and Leadership Team, as well as the University Executive Board and colleagues from the Student Experience Directorate, all of whom play a vital role in ensuring a positive experience for our student body.
You can learn about more SUSU activity on their website.