NUS Annual Conference took place 1-3 April in Blackpool. We sent a delegation of 15 people to engage in the frequently heated debate for 3 days.
The 2 key debates at NUS conference were the NUS governance review proposals and the Education Funding policy.
Governance Review
Unfortunately the governance proposals failed narrowly to pass by the two thirds majority required. However, it did receive a simple majority and attempts to completely dismiss all parts of the review were heavily defeated. This means that the governance changes are now the policy of NUS requiring the executive to consult on them and to represent them at a later date. However, were it not for delegates from institutions such as ourselves, Edinburgh and Lancaster disregarding mandates issued to them by Students' Union Council, the result could have been very much different as the changes would probably have passed.
Whilst the governance review may have been rejected this time round, the cries for change to be made resonated throughout conference hall and so further proposals put to NUS conference in the future are highly likely.
Education funding
NUS adopted new education policy, similar to our own, which laid down a new set of guiding principles going into the 2009/10 review of HE funding. These include:
- the support for the expansion of HE to ensure social justice and economic prosperity
- a funding system to accordingly support this mass expansion
- increase in state funding to match OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) average
- businesses to pay more for the benefits from HE through structures contribution through the taxation system
A major campaign will now be planned for 2008-9:
- coalition built with students, lecturers, TUs, MPs and the media.
- Establish a war chest to fund the campaign
- Hold a national demonstration to coincide with parliamentary attempts to lift the cap
- Town hall rallies to apply pressure
- Strong HE and FE campaign, across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Welfare
- NUS to prioritise and increase its work on mature student and student parents and to work to encourage Union’s make it easier for these groups to engage in our Union structures
Strong and Active Unions
- NUS to get tougher and more active on the issue of climate change as it is perceived to have been too inactive over the last few years.
- NUS to push govt for a structured mechanism of accrediting and qualifying extra curricular skills
Election results
Congratulations to Mark Foster for getting elected to NUS Steering Committee! Mark won under the guise of being anal with detail and subsequently he would make excellent steering material. He also highlighted how he was the only qualified hockey umpire who was standing in the elections. Once again, essential skills for being on Steering Committee!
For any more details on NUS Conference check: http://resource.nusonline.co.uk/media/resource/Conference2008FINAL.pdf
Saturday 12 April 2008
Wednesday 9 April 2008
like it? lock it, keep it!
Burglars beware - This blog is targeted at you!
Stats from South Yorkshire Police state the following:
Data for period 01 Sept 2007 - 06 Feb 2008
Burglary - Dwelling where the occupant(s) are either Graduate,Undergraduate and Post Graduate Status = 205
Of these 205 residences there was a total theft of 113 Laptops, this figure will include the data where multiple laptops have been stolen from one property.
The shocking reality is that there has been a significant increase in attacks on HMO's (Houses of Multiple Occupancy) over recent times and it is subsequently essential that we raise awareness of this and challenge students to take the due care and attention to their possessions.
This campaign has been supported by Sheffield First Safer Communities Partnership, working in collaboration with Hallam Union, South Yorkshire Police, University security and ourselves.
The message is simple. If you like your stuff, you need to lock it to keep it.
Many of us think that we will never be burgled and it's the kind of thing which happens to others. However many of us probably know someone who has been burgled and so it isn't such a distant possibility.
Check out the weblink below for more information:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/news.php?contentID=2949
Come get a free mug from the stall in the Union foyer between 10 and 3 this week.
And remember ... Like it? Lock it, Keep it!
Stats from South Yorkshire Police state the following:
Data for period 01 Sept 2007 - 06 Feb 2008
Burglary - Dwelling where the occupant(s) are either Graduate,Undergraduate and Post Graduate Status = 205
Of these 205 residences there was a total theft of 113 Laptops, this figure will include the data where multiple laptops have been stolen from one property.
The shocking reality is that there has been a significant increase in attacks on HMO's (Houses of Multiple Occupancy) over recent times and it is subsequently essential that we raise awareness of this and challenge students to take the due care and attention to their possessions.
This campaign has been supported by Sheffield First Safer Communities Partnership, working in collaboration with Hallam Union, South Yorkshire Police, University security and ourselves.
The message is simple. If you like your stuff, you need to lock it to keep it.
Many of us think that we will never be burgled and it's the kind of thing which happens to others. However many of us probably know someone who has been burgled and so it isn't such a distant possibility.
Check out the weblink below for more information:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/news.php?contentID=2949
Come get a free mug from the stall in the Union foyer between 10 and 3 this week.
And remember ... Like it? Lock it, Keep it!
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