07 May 2021 
Scott Murdoch, ICT Support Officer
RAs work or volunteer in student accommodation to provide a social and support network for their community. Known by different titles in different institutions, they play an essential role in developing a living and learning community, helping fellow students to settle and thrive in university campus life.
“Residence life has been more critical than ever this year, as the need for students to feel part of a strong and safe community has never been greater,” said Jan Capper, chief executive of CUBO. “These young RAs and others like them across the country have stepped up to help students connect with each other, whether they are at home or in halls, at a time when they have been unable to meet up as usual through parties, sports and societies. In some cases their work is literally life-saving. We congratulate every one of them on their incredible achievement.”
Six of the winning students are employed by universities, and two by private accommodation providers. They were nominated by their institution and selected by an international judging panel from the higher education sector for their exceptional contribution to residence life.
2021 CUBO Residence Assistants of the Year
CUBO RA Awards for Universities:
CUBO RA Awards for Private Accommodation Providers:
The students were recognised during a virtual ceremony on 4 May during CUBO’s 2021 Residence Life Conference, attended by 147 delegates. The two-day event was sponsored by Unite Students and UPP and hosted by James Greenwood, Student Experience Manager at University of the Arts, London and Chair of the CUBO Residence Life Group.
The conference also saw Tom Martin, Head of Residency Living at Sodexo, presented with the CUBO/Acuho-i Residence Life New Professional Award.
The RA Awards winners took part in a panel discussion at the conference, sharing their experiences in supporting students throughout the pandemic, including through one-to-one video chats, virtual book groups, online fitness classes and signposting to counselling and other services.
New Professional Award winner Tom Martin hosted a session on tackling antisocial behaviour in residences, sharing Sodexo’s response to Covid-19, including initiatives and campaigns that have helped to reduce student breaches.
Summing up the RA Awards, Greenwood said:
“This year has been a tough one for all of us working in residential life, but we’ve been lucky to have some outstanding RAs who have supported our programmes providing a true peer to peer support service. I’m incredibly proud of the winners who have totally gone above and beyond and I can’t wait to see where their careers take them – and that’s exactly why we do this job! It’s all about the students.”
