The Student Voice - Taking Your Student Experience to the Next Level with the University of Huddersfield

Harnessing the Student Voice: How the University of Huddersfield Transformed Communication

When institutions actively listen to students, it leads to great outcomes for both students and the university. One of the most innovative institutions in the UK, the University of Huddersfield, has excelled in this area. Their success story serves as a valuable blueprint for institutions looking to enhance student engagement through effective communication.

The Challenge: Outdated Communication Channels

The University of Huddersfield recognized the need to refresh its outdated communication system. According to Lydia Blundell, Head of Engagement at the Students' Union, the existing system was not only outdated but also “unwieldy” and “difficult to manage.”

In a recent webinar, she explained that the institution operated in “silos,” making it challenging for both students and staff to access essential information. With these concerns in mind, the university embarked on a project with an entirely student-first approach.

“It was critical that the students’ union and the voice of the students was embedded from day one of this project.”
– Lydia Blundell, Head of Engagement, Students' Union

The Solution: A Student-First Approach

To ensure student needs were prioritized, the university leveraged the students’ union to create:

• Focus Groups & Steering Committees – These groups gathered insights on which platforms students actively engaged with.

• User-Friendly Platform Development – By understanding student preferences, the university built an intuitive system that worked for all stakeholders.

• Continuous Student Feedback – Students remained involved throughout the development of the new platform, myHud, ensuring it met their needs.

The Result: A Highly Successful Communication Platform

Thanks to its student-centric approach, the University of Huddersfield successfully launched myHud, a platform that has significantly improved information access and engagement across the institution.

Read more about The University of Huddersfield's myday solution here.