OUSA president Francisco Hernandez and Mr Cull signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday, strengthening the relationship between the two organisations.
The agreement included areas on which the two parties would focus in 2013-14, ranging from increasing student voter turnout in local body elections, to reducing alcohol-related harm.
Mr Cull said councils had perhaps been guilty of not engaging with Dunedin's student population in the past, and the agreement was about making sure student voices were heard.
''The council has been putting some effort in over this term in enhancing and improving the relationship between the Dunedin City Council ... and the student body ... and I see this as a continuation of this work,'' he said.
The council needed to recognise that students represented about a fifth of Dunedin's population, he said.
Both Mr Cull and Mr Hernandez felt it was important that a greater number of students voted in local body elections, which was one of the areas of focus in the agreement.
Mr Hernandez said some councillors, in the past, felt they could ignore students, because few voted, and he wanted that to change.
He felt the agreement would give students more of a say over what happened in the city.
''Dunedin is the premier student city of New Zealand and we're keen to work with the council to make it even better.''
The issues students were most concerned about were improving recycling and rubbish collection services, the quality of flats and public transport.
The OUSA started work on the agreement - which was part of one of Mr Hernandez's campaign promises - late last year.
Under the agreement, the OUSA president and Dunedin mayor would attempt to meet every two weeks to share information.
