Introduction to the Student Movement SU Conference 2014 Amanda Stanford Learning and Development Consultant

This session will cover: What is a students’ union? What is the student movement? History of NUS Recent student wins Different parts of the NUS group NUS Policy journey National Conference National Executive Council NUS Connect website Sharing and connecting with colleagues

Group activity In small groups, discuss and record your thoughts on the following question: “What is a students’ union?” Be prepared to feedback in 5 minutes

What does your students’ union do?

Core purpose of a students’ union “Representation and promote the needs and aspirations of students in the educational community”

Think of your union as a minibus… Who are the passengers? Who maintains the bus? What represents the map? Who decides the direction? Who is driving?

Legal definition of a students’ union Section 20, Education Act 1994 states: “A body representing or promoting the general interests of students at a University or a College or a hall of a University” It does not need to be called a “students’ union”

Any questions?

Students’ driving change

Group activity In small groups, discuss the following question: “What is the student movement?” Be prepared to feedback in 5 minutes

What is the student movement? 7 million student voices 600 students’ unions Defending and extending the rights of students Largest democratic gathering of students in Europe

90 Years of NUS

Recent student wins… 1960-70’s 1990’s 2000’s 1980’s Legislation to stop unions to running mini buses fails Students not liable for council tax 1994 Education Act enshrines unions in law Universities stopped from charging admin fee on collection of top-up fees 1990’s Introduction of student grant system Student fees abolished and stops government from charging overseas students more Students get cheque cards and free banking 1960-70’s 1980’s Housing benefit for students No tuition fees and parent contributions Student pressure forces Barclays to withdraw from South Africa Students will only pay 20% of poll tax 2000’s Child tax credit for students Increase in EMA for FE Tenancy deposit scheme for HMO’s Abolition of tuition fees for Scotland Unions become educational charities

NUS Today: our vision Our Vision is of NUS as a pioneering, innovative and powerful campaigning organisation: the definitive national voice of students. We will fight barriers to education, empower students to shape both a quality learning experience and the world around them, supporting influential, democratic and well-resourced students’ unions

Mission To make this vision a reality, we will: Promote, defend and extend the rights of students Develop and champion strong students’ unions

We achieve amazing things… Securing on-going funding for ‘Care to Learn’ Protected 1000s of international students at London Met Changed the environmental habits of 100,000’s of students £100,000s scrapped as hidden course costs Millions in increases to access to bursaries Reversing the graduate overdraft fees at HSBC Tenancy deposit scheme created in Scotland Saved the EMA in Northern Ireland and Wales Won Third Sector and Times Higher Education Awards for campaigning, democracy / governance and NUS Digital 90+ years of changing students’ lives. http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/about/impactreports/ NUS has been through significant change, growth and development over the last 6-7 years. We have undertaken a substantial review and reform of our governance, progressed substantial collaboration work to bring together a coherent structure for NUS Group and have built a solid and sustainable financial footing that puts the organisation in an optimistic position for the future.   During that time, we have also seen many campaigning victories: from reversing the graduate overdraft fees at HSBC, to securing the on-going funding for ‘Care to Learn’, enabling student parents to remain in education. We have successfully intervened in a Judicial Review ensuring international students are able to remain studying at London Met and changed the environmental habits of 100,000’s of students. Not only that but we have also seen hundreds of thousands of pounds scrapped as hidden course costs, millions in increases to access to bursaries and a tenancy deposit scheme secured and created in Scotland and in both Northern Ireland and Wales we have saved the EMA and stopped tuition fee rises in Higher Education. We have also won two Third Sector Awards, one for our campaigning work and the other for our internal democracy and governance. This time also saw NUS Scotland win the SCVO Campaign of The Year for our ‘Budget for Bursaries’ campaign and NUS winning Sustainability Partner of the Year Award at the inaugural Stars of Sustainability Awards. NUS has been campaigning for more than nine decades and winning victories for our members as well as wider society. See our range of Impact Reports for some of our recent successes: http://www.nusconnect.org.uk/about/impactreports/

Any questions?

Group activity In small groups, can you name the following: The 3 different parts of the NUS Group The 3 autonomous NUS nations The sovereign body of NUS The 4 liberation campaigns of NUS The 3 section campaigns of NUS Discuss for a few minutes

NUS Group NUS UK NUS Services NUS Charity NUS - national campaigning body Nations: NUS Scotland NUS Wales NUS-USI NUS UK NUS Services NUS Charity NUS services - creates income for unions and NUS and delivers back office functions, e.g. HR, IT and finance for the NUS Group NUS Charity – builds stronger students’ unions

National Conference Sets the policy of NUS for the year ahead Elects the political leaders of NUS for the year ahead Elects the Trustee Board and Democratic Procedures Committee Holds the political leadership accountable for the work done over the past year

Who’s who: National Executive Council Further Education –deals with things affecting academic provision in the FE sector (Joe Vinson) Higher Education – deals with things affecting academic provision in the HE sector (Megan Dunn) Society & Citizenship – deals with the world in which students live (Piers Telemacque ) Union Development – deals with students’ unions (Raechel Mattey) Welfare – deals with student safety and wellbeing (Colum McGuire)

National Executive Council Resolves conflicts between different areas of the organisation over resource or policy Ensures Zones are fulfilling the mandates of National Conference Sets interim emergency policy that affects the entire organisation Consists of President (Chair), Vice Presidents and representatives of the 5 policy ‘Zones’, Officers and representatives from the Liberation campaigns and Sections, Presidents and representatives of the Nations and fifteen general councillors Most full-time officers are members of the NEC

Who’s who: Liberation and Section campaigns Black students’ officer: Malia Bouattia Disabled students’ officer: Maddy Kirkman Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans (LGBT) officers: Fran Cowley (Women’s Place) and Robbie Young (Open Place) Women’s Officer: Susuana Antubum International students section Mature and Part time students section Postgraduate students section

How does policy get made at NUS? In your small groups, on a piece of flipchart draw a calendar timeline starting from July and ending in June Post-it note ‘union activities’ and place them when you think that happens Post-it note ‘NUS democratic processes’ and place them on the timeline when you think they take place

The policy journey July August September October November December Students’ and Students’ Unions Start their year and work for their students Delegates attend Zone Conferences, discuss ideas and elect zone committee Read through policy recommendations and discuss Submit amendments or create new motions Delegates attend National Conference – delegates vote on zone report and any amendments and motions NUS democratic activities Zone Committee writes report and policy recommendations Zone Committee presents policy recommendations in CD5 Zone Committee updates report Democratic Procedures Committee combine text Zone report on their work and policy recommendations July August September October November December January February March April May June

Any questions?

Connect and share with colleagues from across the UK ACSU: for research and welfare staff Activities: This is aimed at sports, societies, volunteering and Rag officers and those with responsibility for supporting a range of student activities    Diversity: for students’ union diversity issues Education: aimed at education officers or those responsible for academic representation within unions  Effective campaigns network Environment and Ethics: for staff at Green Impact unions  

Connect and share with colleagues from across the UK Inspiring women: promotes and develops the work of women in students’ unions   MOMS: for managers of non-commercial services NUS Scotland network Presidents: primarily aimed at Presidents and lead officers in students' unions to enable them to network and share best practice Welfare: aimed at Welfare Officers and those with responsibility for student support, equal opportunities or wellbeing issues within unions.

Awards and recognition for unions NUS Awards Students’ Unions Quality Best Bar None Green Impact

The evolution of the NUS logo Show if time

This session will cover: What is a students’ union? What is the student movement? History of NUS Recent student wins Different parts of the NUS group NUS Policy journey National Conference National Executive Council NUS Connect website Sharing and connecting with colleagues

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your conference