The National Council for the Training of Journalists is setting up a new student council.

The body wants to provide students with a greater say about courses at universities, colleges and private centres across the UK.

The NCTJ said this was the latest move in a bid to become more transparent, offer greater contact with customers and encourage debate about the future of journalism training and education.

Chief executive Joanne Butcher said: “Chief executives, editors, journalists and training and education providers already have a voice at many levels within the NCTJ and play an active role in formulating policy and designing our qualifications.

“However, we recognise that students are also key stakeholders.

“Many of them now have to pay thousands of pounds to fund their own training so it’s only right that we provide a forum for them to let us know exactly what they think about the way we do things and how we could improve the quality of journalism training.”

Invitations have already gone out to all 41 NCTJ-accredited centres, asking them to elect a representative to attend the meeting.

In addition to training matters, the meeting will also provide students with the chance to discuss career development and journalism issues with a panel of senior editors.

The NCTJ is proposing that the student council should elect a representative to feedback their views directly to the NCTJ’s board of directors.

The first meeting of the council will be held at the Manchester Evening News on February 15. For more information e-mail [email protected].