UK Student Life

[mark]

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT JURY: APPLICATIONS WELCOME

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) invites applications from international students to take part in a student jury on Friday 30th November, 2007 in central London.

This is one of five student juries being run around the country during November and December 2007 as part of the DIUS Student Listening Programme, an initiative designed to amplify the student voice in government.

We want to hear what you have to say about the student experience and how to make it better.

This is an opportunity to:

- share your views, concerns and ideas on any aspect of student life
- put your questions directly to expert speakers and policy makers
- have your say on the issues you would like to see addressed by the National Student Forum.

All jurors will be offered £75 for their time.

What is a student jury?

A student jury is a group of 15 – 20 current students who meet over the course of a single day to discuss issues which matter to them, hear evidence from expert speakers, and vote on what they think should be the top priorities for the future.

No special qualifications or background knowledge are required to become a juror. Juries are made up of “ordinary” students, from a range of backgrounds, institutions and subject areas.

Juries will sit between 10.30am and 4pm, and will discuss issues as a group and in smaller clusters. Refreshments will be provided, and any reasonable travel, childcare or access expenses will be reimbursed.

Who is eligible to take part?

We are interested in applications from all international higher education students in the London area, regardless of age, subject area, type of institution or level of study.

The student juries have been designed to give those who do not normally have opportunities to engage in detailed political debate the chance to make their voices heard. For that reason, we would ask serving sabbatical officers and student governors not to put themselves forward.

We regret that we are unable to offer reimbursement of the cost of overnight stays, and so participants must live sufficiently close to central London to be able to travel to and from home on the day of the jury itself.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in applying, please download the application form: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/files/docs/jury_application.doc
and return it by e-mail to nsf@shm-ltd.co.uk by Friday 23rd November. The form should only take a few minutes to complete.

An independent company (SHM Limited) will receive applications and select participants. Jurors will be selected on the basis of ensuring a good mix of backgrounds, institutions, ages, and areas of study, but within these criteria, will be chosen at random.