Accountability in higher education is no longer an abstract principle. Instead it is the terrain on which trust between students, providers and the public is built.
When things go wrong, students need somewhere to turn that is fair, independent and credible. That is why the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for higher education (OIA) matters. It is also why the OIA is recruiting two new Board Trustees/Directors with a student perspective.
Each year thousands of students from nearly 900 providers across England and Wales bring their cases to the OIA. We review complaints ranging from academic appeals to allegations of discrimination or misconduct. Our role is not only to resolve individual disputes, but also to share lessons across the sector so that providers can improve. It’s both a safety net and a driver of change.
Get on board
The OIA’s independence is safeguarded by its board. The board does not intervene in individual cases but instead provides oversight including setting the strategy, monitoring performance, approving budgets, and holding the executive to account.
Governance like this might sound distant from the day-to-day concerns of students. But in order to ensure the system is fair, transparent and trusted, it needs to be imbued with the lived experience of students navigating the complexities of higher education today.
That perspective makes a real difference in practice. Sophie Williams, who has served as a Director/Trustee (student perspective) on the OIA Board, reflects:
“I have gained an enormous amount from my time at the OIA. I was able to give ongoing insight into the experiences, concerns, and needs of students across the country from my own experience, and from my interactions with sector colleagues. I felt that input was always welcomed and taken on board. I personally learnt a huge amount from the Executive and Board members and was able to use this to improve the governance processes at my own organisation. This is a fabulous opportunity to ensure that students and their needs really are at the heart of the OIA’s decision-making, which I believe they are. I am honoured to have served my time on the Board.
Another of the OIA’s Director/Trustee (student perspective) is Adesewa Adebisi. She said:
“Being part of the OIA Board has shown me how important it is that student perspectives are genuinely integrated into decision-making at the highest level. It’s not about speaking for every individual case, but about ensuring that the realities of being a student today are reflected when setting strategy and shaping the OIA’s organisational direction. I’ve seen first-hand how much value is placed on students’ voices, not as a token gesture, but as a vital part of building trust and fairness in higher education. The role has challenged me to think more strategically, to engage with complex issues across the sector, and to contribute to decisions that directly impact the student experience. It’s been both a privilege and a unique learning opportunity, and it has reinforced for me why student perspectives are essential in spaces where decisions about higher education are being made.
The words of both Sophie and Adesewa underline why the OIA is recruiting two new Directors/Trustees with a student perspective. This is not about campaigning on campus, it is about sitting alongside sector leaders, subject matter experts and “lay” trustees to ensure that the experience of being a student today is not just heard but understood at the very top of the organisation charged with ensuring accountability for students.
What’s involved
The commitment is manageable with around six to eight days a year, spread between meetings, an annual away day and occasional committee work. Trustees serve an initial three-year term, renewable once. And in recognising the demands on students’ time, eligible appointees can be paid up to £340 per day for their contribution. That recognition is important – it is about signalling that student insight is not just welcome but valued.
And this is not a symbolic role. Many SU officers who already serve as trustees will be familiar with the expectations. Trustees are expected to read papers carefully, ask difficult questions and help steer the OIA through a higher education environment that is more complex than ever.
It is also an extraordinary opportunity. Few students get the chance to see how governance works at a national level, or to influence the systems that ensure fairness in higher education. The skills developed, including strategic thinking, financial oversight, governance and leadership, will last long beyond.
And the timing matters. Complaints are increasing, and with them, the stakes for students and providers alike. Trust in the system depends on independent bodies like the OIA being not only robust but also credible in the eyes of students. Having trustees who understand first-hand the challenges of studying today is crucial to that credibility.
Students have long argued for a seat at the table. Here is a chance to take one.
For students who want to shape the future of fairness in higher education, this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Applications are open until Monday 13 October 2025. Details of the role and how to apply are available here, including our recruitment pack and a link to apply, alongside the option to speak to the Chief Executive and/or Head of the Leadership Office and Governance for an exploratory chat.
