Back in October, we spoke with your VP Student Voice, Kristina Patel, to talk about the Ideas Board. We’ve met up again to ask what progress has been made on your ideas and any updates to the process

BCUSU: What's been the biggest impact of the Ideas Board so far?

Kristina: “Since September, we’ve seen a really encouraging level of engagement with the Ideas Board, with students submitting ideas across academic life, wellbeing, campus facilities, representation, and the wider student experience. We’ve also seen thousands of votes cast across all ideas, which shows that students are not only sharing ideas but actively supporting the changes they want to see.

“Unfortunately, no ideas have been brought to meetings with BCU as none have passed the threshold. However one of the biggest improvements has been creating clearer processes behind the scenes so ideas can be reviewed, discussed, and directed to the right people more effectively. We’re continuing to strengthen communication between students, BCUSU, and the University to make sure student voice leads to meaningful conversations and action.”

What’s been the biggest challenge so far?

“One of the biggest challenges is making sure ideas reach enough students to gain support through votes. Sometimes students have great ideas, but they don’t always get the visibility needed to move forward.

“That’s why voting is so important. Even if students don’t personally want to submit an idea, they can still have a huge impact by supporting ideas they care about. Every vote helps demonstrate that an issue matters to the wider student community. I also explored new ways to help students promote their ideas more effectively, including the Ideas Fair, where students showcased and discussed their ideas with at in person stalls. This helped students to gain support and resulted in 2382 votes in 5 hours!”

What’s been your favourite or most impactful idea so far?

“One of the most impactful parts of the Ideas Board has been seeing ideas that genuinely reflect students’ day-to-day experiences and needs. The ideas that stand out most to me are often the ones focused on improving accessibility, communication, academic support, and creating a stronger sense of community on campus.

"It’s really rewarding to see students recognising issues, proposing solutions, and supporting each other’s ideas. That collaboration is exactly what student voice should be about.”

What ideas would you like to see more of?

“I’d love to see even more ideas connected to academic experience, wellbeing, inclusivity, sustainability, and building community across campuses.

"Sometimes students assume their idea is ‘too small’ to share, but often those everyday frustrations or suggestions are exactly what can improve student life the most. I want to see the ideas that might be small or big but still bring big changes in university, improving overall student experience. I’d encourage students to share anything they feel could make a positive difference, no matter how big or small it seems.”

What ideas would you like to see more of?

"Once a student submits an idea, it’s:

• Reviewed by the Executive Committee in our weekly meeting, ensuring it meets the platform guidelines.
• The idea is Approved/Rejected
• The student is sent an email with next steps (with a mandatory 1:1 meeting with me - this includes guidance on how to promote their idea, encourage voting, campaign, and build awareness around their idea.
• If an idea reaches the required support threshold, it can then be escalated to conversations with relevant University departments or SU Teams.

“We want students to feel supported throughout the process and understand that submitting an idea is not just about posting online, it’s about starting meaningful conversations and creating opportunities to drive change!”

Want to get involved with our Ideas Board?