Pearson Launches UK Student Advisory Board
Eight students from seven British universities comprise the inaugural UK board.
London (PRWEB) September 15, 2009
Pearson, the global leader in educational publishing and technology, will this weekend hold the first meeting of its new UK Pearson Student Advisory Board, an initiative that will provide student feedback on Pearson's businesses and build stronger relationships with their universities.
Eight students from seven British universities comprise the inaugural UK board, for the 2009-2010 academic year, and they will convene on 19-20 September at Pearson headquarters in London for a series of opening workshops. The new board will create a structured and ongoing link between Pearson's UK Higher Education business and the student community.
The Pearson Student Advisory Board (PSAB) in the UK builds on the success of a similar initiative in the United States, which enters its third year this autumn.
"We have always been in close touch with the university teaching community as they are both authors and adopters of what we publish," said Subroto Mozumdar, president, Higher & Professional Education, at Pearson Education in the UK "The Student Advisory Board will ensure an ongoing dialogue with our student customers so they can influence our business."
Each of the eight students comprising the new board will be paired with a Pearson Education mentor, who include editorial and marketing colleagues from across the business. The students will also have the opportunity to meet and influence senior Pearson executives, with the aim of helping to shape Pearson's products and services in the UK market. One project already planned includes an extensive survey into student lifestyle and spending habits.
Board members, who were chosen through a rigorous selection process that involved their universities, are engaged in far more than work experience: they have the real opportunity to shape the learning and teaching experience of future students and educators.
"It's a fantastic opportunity to learn about business and a chance to influence the movers and shakers in a big company," says new PSAB member Leila de Lara, 24, a second-year student in Social Work at the University of Portsmouth.
Adds Susan Price, acting vice chancellor at the University of East London: "We are delighted to be involved in this innovative scheme, which really aims to understand and incorporate the student voice in educational publishing."
The UK website for the new Pearson Student Advisory Board is www. pearsoned. co. uk/PSAB/ (http://www. pearsoned. co. uk/PSAB/)
The eight members of the new PSAB are:
Alicia Burnett, 19, a second-year English Literature student at the University of Warwick.
Web Chinduta, 30, a second-year Accounting and Finance student at the University of East London.
Charukie Dharmartne, 19, a second-year English Literature student at the University of Manchester.
Alistair Gilfillan, 21, a fourth-year Politics and English student at the University of Strathclyde.
Daniel Knox, 20, a second-year Computing student at the University of Kent.
Leila de Lara, 24, a second-year Social Work student at the University of Portsmouth.
Thomas Lewsley, 20, a third-year Politics student at the University of Warwick.
Morenike Shodunke, 20, a third-year Law student at Brunel University.
About Pearson
Pearson (NYSE: PSO), the global leader in education and education technology, reaches and engages today's digital natives with effective and personalized learning, as well as dedicated professional development for their teachers. This commitment is demonstrated in the company's investment in innovative print and digital education materials for preK through professional learning, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. The company's respected brands include Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, Addison Wesley, Benjamin Cummings, the Stanford Achievement Test series, the Wechsler family of assessments, SuccessNet, MyLabs, PowerSchool, SuccessMaker and many others. Pearson's comprehensive offerings help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of every student at every level of education. Pearson's commitment to education for all is supported by the global charitable giving initiatives of the Pearson Foundation. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, go to www. pearson. com.
For more information about the UK Pearson Student Advisory Board, please contact:
Caroline Wheeler
Caroline. wheeler (at) pearson (dot) com (+44) (0)1279 623316
###
