School of Business and Management

As School Rep, I’ve been working hard with the course reps to collect as much feedback as possible to relay back to the school administration. Together with the SU, we ran two successful Rep Fairs in the library where we collected over 80 pieces of constructive feedback that we are working to tackle. Some of the key issues we’ve taken up with the school have included: 

• Lecture engagement: Many students feel some lecturers come across as disengaged and rely heavily on reading directly from slides. We’ve raised this with the Dean of the Faculty of Business and the ViceDean for Education & Student Experience, asking them to voice this with module leaders about improving delivery, increasing interaction, and providing clearer guidance for teaching staff so we can see tangible changes over the coming term. 

• Deadline stacking: We're coordinating with Lucy, the Dean of Student Experience, and the admin team to better stagger assignment deadlines so students don’t experience burnout. In addition, Academic skills will run extra workshops to give students practical guidance and support on how to approach and manage their coursework. 

• Insufficient networking: Students feel there are fewer graduate-scheme opportunities and networking events compared with placement options. We’re working with the Careers team and Academic Skills to increase employer outreach, organise more targeted networking sessions and careers fairs, create bespoke graduate-scheme workshops (including applications and assessment-centre prep), and expand internship and placement listings to improve access to graduate routes. 

• Recorded lectures: Students have also raised concerns about lectures not being recorded and uploaded to Moodle. This policy was introduced to try to boost in-person attendance, but we’re continuing discussions with teaching staff and the administration to review it. We’re exploring potential compromises, such as recording key sessions, providing summaries or short recordings, or piloting a limited-recording approach, and will update students once a clear plan is agreed.  

Key Initiatives in the Business School 

Societies 

Get involved by exploring societies like the Business Society or the Entrepreneurship Society, where you can learn practical CRM skills to grow your business idea, attend four live virtual sessions held after lectures, receive mentoring from HubSpot employees, pitch your idea for expert feedback, and get free access to the HubSpot CRM platform, all while joining a community of young entrepreneurs and becoming part of a global alumni network 

Business and Law School Merger 

The Business and Law schools are set to merge next year, and we'll be running a series of networking events to bring the two communities together, highlight complementary career paths, and ease the transition before the merger. These events will help students get to know shared resources and build useful contacts early on. As your rep, I’ll be working with other reps to organise the events and encourage students to get involved and network. Keep an eye out for updates with dates and sign-up details, and please get in touch if you’d like to help plan or suggest ideas, your input will make a real difference. 

Marketing Mentoring Scheme 

Last year we ran the Marketing Mentoring Scheme with great success, pairing undergraduate and postgraduate marketing students with experienced industry mentors, many alumni and senior professionals. Mentors offered insight into industry trends, career guidance, and practical job-market advice, helping students understand employer expectations, expand professional networks, and often secure internships or roles. We’re proud to continue the scheme this year to keep providing real-world insight and career-ready skills alongside academic study. 

Changemaker Initiative 

The Changemaker Initiative gives students the chance to lead positive change within the Business School, improving the learning experience for future cohorts. Participants have proposed and delivered practical improvements across student support, teaching practices, and campus facilities, resulting in measurable benefits. Beyond improving the school, students gain transferable skills in leadership, problem-solving, and change management that are highly valuable in the workplace. 

Career Tales Scheme 

The Career Tales Scheme helps students shape and share their personal and professional stories through interactive storytelling workshops, storyboarding exercises, and AI-supported career mapping. Students learn to present their strengths, experiences, and goals clearly,  a real advantage in interviews, networking, and applications. The programme is especially effective for students from underrepresented backgrounds, giving them the confidence and tools to stand out in the job market. 

Teaching Responsible AI Use 

As artificial intelligence transforms the business landscape, we are ensuring that our students graduate with the ability to use AI ethically, effectively, and responsibly. Across multiple modules, we integrate responsible AI education, teaching students how to critically evaluate AI-generated content, understand bias in algorithms, and use AI tools to enhance their work without compromising integrity. This forward-thinking approach ensures that our graduates are not just tech-savvy but also ethically aware and prepared for the future of business. 

Through these initiatives, the Business School is fostering industry-ready, socially responsible graduates who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make a meaningful impact in their careers and beyond. 

How you can get involved 

There are many ways to get involved in the Business School and the two best ways include becoming a Business Ambassador or Course Representative. As an ambassador, you will work to promote the business school to visitors, host events for students and many more things. As a Course Rep, you’ll be working closely with me to speak to your classmates and understand how their experience at Royal Holloway can be improved. These roles give you a chance to leave a lasting impact on the university and make everyday life better for everyone. If you feel this is the role for you, SU elections are also coming up where you’ll be able nominate to become next year’s School Rep and work with all the incredible students and staff in the business school. 

This term the business school will be hosting a handful of events and workshops for students looking to network and gain skills to join. To stay up to date with what is taking place, make sure you follow the business school on the channels you most use such as Instagram or LinkedIn and you’ll be able to see what’s on more often. 

If you would like to contact me, the best way to reach me is via email at sbm.schoolrep@royalholloway.su. You can also contact me on the official SBM School Rep Instagram page @sbmschool.rhsu. If you see me on campus, you’re always free to come up and say hi as well!