2024-25 Sabbatical Officers' Progress and Achievements!

Below are a set of both academic and general student life priorities the SU has identified through our feedback mechanisms, such as Elected Officers' manifestos, Speak Week, Pulse Surveys and School and Course Rep feedback. 

Your Sabbatical Officers aimed to challenge and support the university as their critical friend in ensuring that student life is continually enhanced and barriers to education are removed. 

• Speak Week 2023-24 and early work for 2024-25 helped our Sabbs focus on the specific needs of different student groups, initiated many conversations within the university and continues to shape officer priorities. 
• Following the resignation of our SU President in April, the SU Vice President has been working closely with the university to maintain momentum, push forward exising priorities and even raise new ones, such as academic issues that are not yet reflected. The SU CEO and Voice Team are committed to working closely with the new Sabb Team to continue driving this forward with the intention of delivering a stronger student experience.
• The university has already actioned some of the recommendations with others in progress. 

Below is a list of the recommendations that have been completed, highlighting the issues raised, the actions taken and then the outcome:

       1. Concerns raised: food pricing and variety, vending machine prices, cafe opening hours, student spaces, and booking facilities. 

Actions taken: Officers (SU former Pres and VP Education) and the SU CEO raised these issues at the Student Relationship committee meeting. 

Outcome: Key measures agreed, ongoing collaboration between the Students' Union and University. Regular meetings with the Director of Commercial, Sustainability, Estates and team. 

       2. Concerns Raised: high food prices on campus (meals costing £6-7), more vegan and halal options, hot meals at the Atrium only available from 12-2 pm = students in later classes have no access to hot food.  

Actions taken: Officer team has consistently raised concerns about food pricing with the university’s commercial team in monthly meetings.  

Outcome: from 28th April, hot meals and breakfast items will be reduced by 10%, and Starbucks & Costa drinks will see a 5% price reduction. 

       3. Concerns raised: bus timetables, route availability, and affordability, impacting students’ daily commute and accessibility to campus. 

Actions taken: SU Vice President and team have been meeting with the University’s commercial team monthly to address these issues.  

Outcome: timetable and capacity changes have been implemented, adding extra morning buses on routes 25 and 63, increasing capacity on route 52 to accommodate demand and offering subsidised bus passes available.  

       4. Concerns raised: no sensory room on campus and SU lacks accessibility resources like noise-cancelling headphones for neurodivergent students. 

Actions taken: a meeting was held with the Vice President, Student Services, Estates, Library Services and the student/s who submitted the motion. 

Outcome: a room in L Block has been assigned for a sensory space and funding has been secured for painting and furniture from Student Services. 

       5. Concerns raised: Digital Voice Platform: Ongoing discussions with UNITU, potential to invest for the 2025-26 academic year. 

Actions taken: SU President and voice team are currently conducting our first trial, administering a survey around food.  

Outcome: Exploration with the UNITU software has concluded. Whilst the software was appreciated, the associated resourcing in terms of costs does not reduce the staffing constraints significantly / impact to the extent desired on the ability for student feedback to be captured. 

       6. Concerns raised: academic service delivery, including issues with lecturers, assessments, visa extensions, mental health/wellbeing, access to facilities (24-hour library, water machines, vending machines), and overall student support. 

Actions taken: SU Vice President has raised these with academic departments, Vice Chancellor of Student Engagement, Associate Deans for Student Experience (ADSEs), and relevant service teams across the university.  

Outcome: some issues have seen immediate response and improvements; others are currently under review, with departments working during the summer period to develop solutions and enhance the student experience moving forward.  

       7. Concerns raised: Water Dispensers Visibility & Access: better placement and visibility of water dispensers on both campuses. 

Actions taken: SU Vice President met with the Head of Catering Services, Head of User Engagement and Campus Services Manager to discuss relocation and improved visibility.  

Outcome: mapping of new placements has been proposed; discussions are now focused on placing dispensers in higher footfall areas, making them easier to locate and use. Catering confirmed they are happy to collaborate with SU, and changes will be considered before September. 

Below is a list of the recommendations that are in progress, highlighting the issues raised, the actions taken and then the outcome:

       8. Concerns raised: Timetabling: classes running late, long gaps between lectures, disruptions to student routines, cafe opening times. 

Actions taken: Vice President raised concerns at committee meeting, followed with a catch-up session with Head of Registry services and feedback escalated to Registry Operations Manager, who is actively working on enhancing the timetabling process. 

Outcome: the University’s Executive Team and Registry Operations Manager are working to address ongoing timetabling issues. While immediate fixes aren't possible, progress includes planning a new system, easing scheduling constraints, and drafting a new policy.  

       9. Concerns Raised: 24-Hour Study & Library Access: Students raised concerns about weekend access only being to ground floors, no access to physical books or commuter kitchen during weekends. 

Actions taken: SU Vice President met with Head of User Engagement and Campus Services Manager; student concerns were relayed and discussed. 

Outcome: University confirmed that Click & Collect is available allowing students to reserve books even when full library access isn’t possible and reassured that space redesign plans are considering more flexible access for different student needs. 

       10. Concerns raised: improve student job opportunities on campus and ensure student voices are central to the initiative. 

Actions taken: SU Vice President has reached out to Deputy Director of Student Services regarding this, and they expressed interest in contributing to the project, emphasizing the importance of student involvement.  

Outcome: due to current financial climate job availability is limited, and immediate impact may be challenging. Student voice data is encouraged to help shape future decisions.  

       11. Concerns raised: long-term mechanisms to strengthen cross-campus student voice and develop a collaborative action plan across SU, academic schools, and Global Engagement. 

Actions taken: Following the Morocco visit, the SU Vice President and TNE team met and proposed forming a small cross-departmental group (SU, ADPs, GE, Partnership Managers) to reflect and respond collectively to TNE student feedback, meeting 2–3 times a year. 

Outcome: This collaborative approach would ensure shared ownership of issues raised and help embed student voice across the TNE structure, aligning with wider Cardiff Met priorities. 

       12. Concerns raised: lack of kitchenette facilities in CSM means students often have no access to a microwave, sink and water dispenser, thus meaning longer queues at the main commuter kitchen. 

Actions taken: SU Vice President stated student concerns to the Estates team, which led to the team identifying a potential location within CSM to install kitchenette facilities. 

Outcome: the space is under review, and ongoing discussions are arising with the school to confirm installation.  

       13. Concerns raised: Vending Machines, Access & Affordability: expensive vending prices, low stock availability, and lack of vending near halls (especially after 7pm). 

Actions taken: SU Vice President has raised these with Catering, User Engagement, and Campus Services, highlighting limited food options for students in halls, especially during evenings and weekends. Matter referred to accommodation team and vending provider. 

Outcome: team acknowledged safety concerns about students walking off campus after hours for food. Some buildings have policies restricting vending machines, which is a challenge. This summer we will focus on new placements and improving stock availability and pricing. 

       14. Concerns raised: TNE student voice and engagement across partner campuses (SIST – Morocco), and identifying areas for improvement in academic delivery, infrastructure, and representation. 

Actions taken: SU Vice President visited all three SIST campuses at Morocco with the Cardiff Met TNE Manager and two of the ADPS’s, held roundtables with student reps, and gathered extensive feedback. Common themes; delayed feedback, limited practical learning, digital resource awareness gaps, and lack of formal induction. Student interest in inter-campus collaboration and SU integration was high. 

Outcome: thematic report compiled capturing key issues and student voice insights. Due to time limitations, the report will be handed to SU CEO and the Voice Team to carry the work forward, ensuring continuity. 

       15. Concerns raised: Establish a long-term, standing SU campaign on Education to ensure continuity of academic issue resolution across officer terms. 

Actions taken: SU Vice President submitted motion proposing formal mechanisms to carry forward unresolved academic issues across years, including the introduction of a campaign informed by NSS, course rep, survey feedback, and formal review of progress via the SU Forum. Amendments to Chapter 1 of the Forum agenda have been proposed. 

Outcome: A standing campaign and agenda tracker will allow the SU to challenge long-term educational issues consistently, ensure accountability from Officers, and make visible progress across terms. Awaiting Forum approval and implementation. 

       16. Concerns raised: Parking: potential ban on parking permits for student housing proposed by Cardiff council. 

Actions taken: SU President consulted with Director of Commercial, Sustainability, Estates and Cardiff Council to provide student and university perspective on the proposed actions. Contacted SU’s in cities where similar measures have been taken, awaiting responses. 

Outcome: Ongoing consultation; another meeting was scheduled to continue the conversation. Due to the President’s resignation, this issue will be carried forward by the next team. 

       17. Concerns raised: Sport: the delivery of BUCS sport. 

Actions taken: SU President is currently reviewing the administration of BUCS, finances, and potential duplications or gaps in service offerings. The current two-part model for sports provision lacks visibility, so we are working to develop a more effective structure. 

Outcome: SU President, SU and Met Sport are set to collaborate on a student-athlete consultation to evaluate what is working for BUCS, and what they want to see for a wider sports provision. 

Below is a list of the recommendations that are incomplete, highlighting the issues raised, the actions taken and then the outcome:

       18. Concerns raised: lack of an SU Shop/Bar on Llandaff campus like Cyncoed, where students enjoy things like pool, foosball, and darts. Llandaff students cannot easily travel between campuses during breaks or leisure time. SU Shop would also benefit students living in Plas Gwyn and those commuting long distances by providing convenient access to groceries. The Vice President raised these concerns with Head of Commercial Services. 

Actions taken: SU CEO and Head of Commercial Services explored potential locations and opportunities for an SU Shop and Bar on Llandaff campus, discussing the benefits of hiring students for these roles and addressed the limited job opportunities on and around campus. The SU assured the university that this would not duplicate existing university outlets but rather enhance the student experience. 

Outcome: The university’s commercial team has rejected the proposal, citing a lack of available space and concerns about duplicating existing services, but SU will keep challenging the university for space.