Blog: Space Matters

One of the challenges facing our campus community is space. We’re a growing but relatively small institution. And so, the demand for high-quality spaces across campus for students to use is high. In response to this, Royal Holloway’s new Library and Student Services Building has just opened. It was named by our students, staff and alumni as the Emily Wilding Davison Building in honour of the famous suffragette and Royal Holloway alumna.

So why does it matter?

The Emily Wilding Davison building aims to provide more study space to our ever-growing number of students at Royal Holloway, as well as operating as a first port-of-call for all your day-to-day needs. It incorporates the Student Services Centre for all your non-academic student enquiries, the careers service, an exhibition space, a Santander branch for banking, and the Union Shop where you can get your hands on some grub or even browse our clothing range!

I’m confident that the new library will be a great resource for Royal Holloway students. However, I’m also confident that it won’t be perfect (every new resource has its teething problems!). That’s why we are dedicating our first Education Council of the year as an open forum to discuss responses to the Emily Wilding Davison Building, and other spaces around campus for that matter.

We want to hear your voice on the issues affecting your education. We’ll have a chance to discuss your concerns, interact with staff who can take it forward, and indulge in some refreshments!

When and where is it?

Education Council, a gathering for students to come together to discuss issues affecting their educational experience, will be happening on Tuesday 7 November 2017 from 6pm - 7pm in the SU Main Hall. Space affects students in different ways, so I’d love to see as many of you there as possible to ensure the feedback we’re hearing accurately represents our student population. To help this happen, we’ll be electing the following council representatives on this date to act a future port-of-call for issues that affect our different student cohorts:

• First Year Open Place Rep

  • The First Year Open Place Rep is a first-year student at Royal Holloway elected to gather, collate and convey to the Education Council the thoughts, opinions and feedback of first-year students on their academic provision and experience.

• Second Year Open Place Rep

  • The Second Year Open Place Rep is a second-year Royal Holloway Student elected to gather, collate and convey to the Education Council the thoughts, opinions and feedback of second-year students on their academic provision and experience.

• Finalist Open Place Rep

  • The Finalist Open Place Rep is a final year student at Royal Holloway elected to gather, collate and convey to the Education Council the thoughts, opinions and feedback of final-year students on their academic provision and experience.

• Postgraduate Taught Rep

  • The Postgraduate Research Rep is a Postgraduate Taught student at Royal Holloway elected by their peers to gather, collate and convey to the Education Council the thoughts, opinions and feedback of Postgraduate Taught students on their academic provision and experience.

• Postgraduate Research Rep

  • The Postgraduate Research Rep is a Postgraduate Research student at Royal Holloway elected to gather, collate and convey to the Education Council the thoughts, opinions and feedback of Postgraduate Research students on their academic provision and experience.

Interested in running? Simply come along to the education council meeting with a one minute speech with reasons why you’d like to run for the role and why you think you’re suitable. If you have any questions you can drop me an email on vpeducation@su.rhul.ac.uk

I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Clem Jones
Vice-President, Education