Students’ Champion Tracy Wins National Award

An East Riding College worker is celebrating after winning a national award for championing the opinions of learners.

Enrichment officer Tracy Underwood was named learner voice practitioner of the year the Learner Voice Awards, organised by the national Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) in partnership with the National Union of Students.

The award recognises Tracy’s efforts to ensure learners are able to give their views on their course and the facilities at East Riding College so they can contribute to its continuous improvement.

Her work includes a variety of focus groups, a student association, assisting student governors, volunteering, charity fundraising and working with student reps.

Tracy, 40, of Beverley, said: “I was shocked when my name was read out at the awards but I’m really pleased that the work we do at East Riding College is considered among the best in the country.

“Our students do a fantastic job of giving their feedback and take a constructive and mature approach to making a difference at College.”

David Daulby, the College’s director of learner services, said: “Tracy thoroughly deserves this award for the excellent work she does to ensure our students’ voices are heard.

“Her ceaseless efforts to enable learners to give their opinions on a wide variety of subjects have led to real benefits to students and to the College itself.

“This award is excellent news for Tracy, for East Riding College and, most importantly, for our learners.”

The aim of the awards, which were presented in a ceremony at the London Art House, is to recognise the role of thousands of learners and trainees who are actively engaged in contributing to the continuous improvement of their organisation and to reward those practitioners and managers who visibly and actively value the learner voice at every level. Awards and highly commended certificates were given to 22 winners in 10 categories.

Presenting the awards, chair of the LSIS board and council, Dame Ruth Silver DBE, remarked on the outstanding work demonstrated by all awards entrants.

She said:

“I am delighted with the standard of nominations we had for this year’s awards. It has been inspiring to learn about the tremendous achievements being made by the sector in supporting and promoting learners.

“Each award recipient demonstrates the very best of the excellent and innovative work that is being undertaken up and down the country.”