1. Developing Strong and Effective College Student Associations
Will Stringer, Development Consultant

2. Welcome

3. NUS Scotland An autonomous part of the National Union of Students UK.
A membership organisation, representing students’ associations in colleges and universities.
Currently funded with sparqs to deliver the College SA Development Project by the SFC until 2021.

4. Project Activity Tailored support for college and college SAs
Deliver officer, strategic and operational planning support & training
National training events for SA and College staff
Digital resources
Conduct self-evaluations
Board member training for officers and other board members
Review governance and constitutions
Election support / RO

6. Getting to know the framework

7. Drivers of the framework
The Griggs review recommended “Student Associations should be strengthened and become appropriately funded, autonomous and sustainable.”
Post-16 Education act legislated new roles for College Students’ Associations/Representatives including there being two student members on incorporated college boards.

8. Development of the Framework
Working group established to create best practice guidance on creating strong SAs
The Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council, and NUS Scotland led on the development of the Framework with the support of sparqs
Four Strategic Dialogue Events were held in May 2014 with over 150 delegates from the sector
Feedback on the final draft was sought from 70 stakeholders at Validation Events in January 2015.

10. Shaping life and work of the college
This theme is about; how well your SA is able to influence change in the college; your SA's relationships with staff and how well they represent the student voice.
Activities include:
Class Rep Systems
Participation on College committees
Student Partnership Agreement

11. Governance and Democracy
This theme is about; how well your SA represents the interests of your students; your ability to make autonomous decisions and the structures for the SA to be held to account. 
Activities Include:
Well utilised constitution
Strong Student Council Structures
Established advisory Groups

12. Aware and Active Students
This theme is about; how visible your SA is; how well your members understand what you do and how easy it is for them to play an active role in this work.
Activities include:
Regular student events/clubs/societies
Engagement in elections
Dedicated communications strategy

13. Sustainable Resources
This theme is about; whether the level of SA resource is suitable to carry out its purpose and if officers and staff have access to the skills and training they need to deliver their roles.
Activities include:
Robust financial procedures
Staff and officer training and PDPs
Handover procedures

14. Impact and Value
This theme is about; whether your SAs priorities are based on your students needs and how well the SA is able to demonstrate the positive change they make.
Activities include:
Operational/Strategic plans
“You Said, We Did” processes
End of Year Reports

15. Activity: what does success look like?

16. What has been achieved so far?
Developed skilled officers; 95% of all Colleges represented at our annual lead and change event and attendance and engagement with national policy substantively increased
9 SAs completed strategic planning process, making more sustainable SAs
Increased the number of dedicated SA staff in Colleges, developing impactful SAs
Majority of SAs have completed self evaluation, focusing development

17. Student Associations, Development
and Colleges

19. Students’ Associations and power
Citizen power
Citizen control
Citizens fully in charge of planning, policy and management
Delegated power
Citizens in dominant or veto-wielding positions over certain matters
A Ladder of Citizen Participation by Sherry R Arnstein (1969)
Partnership
Shared planning through jointly-owned structures
Tokenism
Placation
Inviting some citizens to participate in structures, but often limited in number and advisory in role
Consultation
Asking for views, but decisions are still made by those in authority
Informing
A one-way flow of communication about what is happening or has been decided
Therapy
Citizens are educated to cure them of their incorrect views
Citizens are engineered to support
or rubber-stamp existing decisions
Manipulation

20. Activity Activity (5 minutes)
From your knowledge, where is your student association on the ladder of citizen participation?
What activities would you need to put in place to develop it?

21. Future of Project

22. Future of project
Working with Colleges, SAs and SFC to develop sustainable SAs
Continue to digitise resources for use beyond 2021
Build networks for SA staff

23. Will Stringer; Will.stringer@nus-Scotland.org.uk
Contact
Will Stringer;

24. Thanks!