Welcome to UPSU

Academic Representation Officer

Academic Representation Officer - Marija Solic

Who is an Academic Representation Officer?

Hi, I’m your go-to advocate for a better academic journey at Portsmouth! Whatever academic issue you might be experiencing, feel free to reach out to me 😊

Who is Marija?

• My name is pronounced MARIA

• I came from Croatia 4 years ago to study Psychology

• I believe in progressive education, meaning - I step on a few toes from time to time. But I genuinely believe that progress lies in stepping outside of our comfort zone

• Currently the greatest tragedy of my life: lack of mountains to climb 😅

• I love reading, travelling, and dancing. Oh, and seagulls - even hough they're a bit controversial here lol

• My unhealthy addictions: k-dramas, psychological and crime thrillers

March Update

Had a formal conversation with other sabbatical officers about academic QA and curriculum as they are part of the QA panel and can work further on it.
On the inclusive curriculum, the first stage is complete, now entering the second stage.
Had a catch-up with the Rep Specialist for the Skills Café project and helped them create a survey form related to careers and employability.
Spoke with Abby from EDI regarding the zero tolerance policy.
Speaking to the EDI team about the ambassadors they want us to create.
Recently completed Level 5 of personal development training.
Had a conversation with the university about former encampment students.
Participated in Advanced HE x WONKHE roundtables on planning for an uncertain future.
Multiple catch-ups with people internally and externally.
Promo shoots for social media UPSU.
Figuring out the next academic year timeline and curriculum building, which will go to student consultations.
Working on mental health as an annual priority and creating a handbook as part of it.
Attended Board of Governors meetings.
Reverse mentorship as part of Board of Governors initiatives.
IFC subcommittee of the Board of Governors.
Training session with HR about CEO recruitment.
Academic Council participation.
Budget meeting.
Provided feedback with ADSs about the new course rep scheme and its future.
EDI Steering Group discussion on the future EDI training calendar and allocating additional funds for student groups' EDI initiatives.
Participated in Student Leaders Conference and Global Week.
Feedback on PDR 360.
EDI Development Day planned for April with an external company.
Meeting with the Vice Chancellor.
Attended Board of Governors meeting at the London campus.
UMT Development Day participation.
Completed training on marking with confidence.
Training session about START for course reps on Friday.
Meeting about AI chatbot development.

marija.solic@upsu.net

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Marija’s project updates

• Uncapped Resits: After a lot of hard work, we successfully passed uncapped resits at both the University Executive Student Experience Committee (UESEC) and the Academic Council. This has given students a second chance without the fear of having their marks capped, helping to reduce stress and allow everyone to perform to their full potential. :)

• Course Rep System Restructuring: I led the effort to restructure the course rep system, making it easier for student feedback to be heard and acted on. Starting upcomig academic year, student reps will be better supported, and the whole process more streamlined, ensuring your concerns and suggestions are truly listened to.

• Enhanced Transparency: To keep everyone in the loop, I coded a new Officer’s update page, making it easier to follow what’s happening in the Union. I also created a new Board of Trustees webpage, so now you can see exactly who’s leading the Union and how decisions are made—total transparency!

• Student Voice Training at London Campus: I delivered training for new lecturers at our London Campus, helping them understand the importance of listening to students and incorporating feedback into their teaching. This has ensured that student voice is just as strong in London as it is in Portsmouth.

• Addressing the Awarding Gap: I focused a lot on tackling the awarding gap, ensuring that students from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to succeed. We’ve introduced better support for students who were considering withdrawing, keeping more people engaged and motivated to complete their studies.

• Uncovering Hidden Learning Costs: I also worked on identifying hidden learning costs in each academic course, making sure students know exactly what expenses to expect, so they can budget more effectively and aren’t hit with surprise costs.

• Monthly Q&A Drop-ins: I’ve started and held monthly Q&A sessions where students could drop in, ask questions, and share feedback. These sessions helped me stay in touch with what’s important to you, and it’s been great to have those direct conversations.

• Meeting Stephen Morgan MP: Together with other Elected Officers, I met with Stephen Morgan, and we took a tour of Westminster, discussing key student issues like the Maintenance Grant. It was a fantastic opportunity to advocate for better financial support for students, and I’m hopeful this will bring about real change.

• Cost of Living Support: I developed a Cost of Living Support Booklet, which will hopefully be helpful for students struggling with financial pressures. It’s full of practical tips, resources, and ways to make ends meet during tough times. I also developed a Student Cookbook, with lots of budget friendly recipes! P.S. I also graphically desined both ;)

• Some Other Projects: I've also been working on curriculum diversification which turned into an Incusivity Standards project; having a permanent Calm Space in either the Library or the Union bilding; Mini Modules, which is also a student-partnership project; and unpicking problems that withdrawing students experience in the focus group with Student Engagement Officers (SEOs).

Page created: Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:36:34 GMT
Page updated: Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:34:15 GMT

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The University of Portsmouth Students’ Union has a vision of creating a positive impact with every Portsmouth student during their time at University.