The University of Manchester Library Student Team (UMLST), founded in 2013 alongside the opening of a new learning space on campus, has grown into an exemplary demonstration of the power of student-staff collaboration and a beacon of student support and advocacy. Over the past decade, UMLST has made a profound impact on individual students, the institution, and the wider community. They provide essential study support, ensure every student feels welcomed and included and challenge and enhance Library and wider-University pedagogies, practices and services.
At the heart of UMLST’s success is its unique model: current students working collaboratively and over extended periods of time with full-time University staff. This collaboration not only enhances the Library’s services and its ability to effectively support students but also transforms the University’s learning approaches, pedagogy and inclusive practices. UMLST members create dynamic learning resources, lead workshops and infuse their lived experiences into My Learning Essentials, the University’s central skills support service. They design inclusive materials and sessions that empower students to understand their learning journeys, enhance their digital skills and find their place within the University.
The team’s impact extends beyond the Library. They lead on initiatives that give students a powerful voice and represent the diversity of student communities found at Manchester, whether addressing peers in local outreach sessions or leading workshops at national conferences. UMLST members participate in consultations and contribute to shaping University-wide policies and practices, and their influence is felt across the whole institution, driving positive change and fostering a culture of inclusivity.
Professor Adam Danquah, Associate Dean for Inclusive Education and Engagement in FBMH at The University of Manchester, describes them as “a team of empowered, mutually supportive students and the most powerful demonstration of student voice I have witnessed.” UMLST stands as a testament to the incredible impact students can have when they are supported, heard and empowered to lead and to the potential of student-staff partnership to effect positive and lasting change.
