NUS Wales Impact Report 2012

ABOUT NUS WALES 3

FOREWORD 4

FURTHERING THE LEARNER VOICE 5

FUNDING OUR STUDENTS’ UNIONS 6

EDUCATION FOR EMPLOYABILITY 6

WISE REPRESENTATION 6

POLICY BOOT CAMPS 7

HIDDEN MARKS FUNDING 7

STUDENT SEX WORKERS PROJECT 7

REGENERATION 8

OUR STUDENTS’ UNIONS 11

OUR LEADERSHIP 13

OUR STAFF 14

NUS Wales Impact Report 2012 NUS Wales, 2nd floor, Cambrian Buildings, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, CF10 5FL

t. 02920435390 e. [email protected] www.nus.org.uk/wales

@nuswales www.facebook.com/nuscymru

CONTENTS

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The National Union of Students (NUS) Wales is aconfederation of students’ unions representing morethan half a million students in the nation. We are anintegral, but autonomous, part of the National Unionof Students UK – meaning we work together torepresent students across the entire country, whilesetting our own policy and direction.

ABOUT NUS WALES VISIONNUS Wales is a pioneering, innovative andpowerful campaigning organisation: the nationalvoice of students. We will fight barriers toeducation; empower students to shape both aquality learning experience and the world aroundthem; as well as supporting influential, democraticand well-resourced students' unions.

VALUES AND BELIEFS The core values of NUS Wales are democracy,equality and collectivism. We believe that studentorganisations should be student-led and thateducation is a benefit to the individual and tosociety.

MISSIONNUS Wales exists to promote, defend andextend the rights of students and develop andchampion strong students’ unions.

NewportStudents’Union

CardiffStudents’Union

SwanseaMetropolitanStudents’Union

GlyndwrStudents’Guild

GlamorganStudents’Union

Aberystwyth Students’Union

SwanseaStudents’Union

Trinity Saint DavidStudents’Union

RWCMDStudents’Union

BangorStudents’Union

Merthyr Tydfil College

BridgendCollege

St. David’sCatholicCollege

PembrokeshireCollege

GowerCollegeSwansea

Coleg Sir Gar

ColegMorgannwg

ColegCeredigion

Cardiff &Vale College

Neath PortTalbot College

Yale College

YstradMynachCollege

GrwpLlandrilloMenai

DeesideCollege

Coleg Powys

Coleg Gwent

Deputy President

LiberationOfficers

Block ofSeven

President

We are our members.

They set our agenda.

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We are the National Union of Students Wales. The

past year has been about securing the students’

voice as education continues to change. From

ensuring students’ unions have essential funding,

to making ourselves fit for purpose, NUS Wales is

working for students.

Universities and colleges are merging and the waythey are funded is changing. Throughout this process,NUS Wales is working with the Welsh Government tomake sure students are partners in their education.

The students’ unions that form our membership andset our agenda work to support their students, as wellas hold their universities to account.

No one could have foreseen the failure of a piece ofWelsh educational heritage: the University of Wales.When it fell into disarray, NUS Wales showed trueleadership. We took the focus off the infighting andback onto the students.

Last year, NUS Wales decided it was time to change.We needed to look inwards and truly become theorganisation that works and wins for all of our

member students’ unions. That’s exactly what we’vedone. By regenerating our democratic structures andevents, NUS Wales can now better serve students.

The collective wins we have made for students in thepast year make me immensely proud. But this yearwe have an opportunity to shape education in Walesfor generations to come. There is a need for radicalchange and innovation. Our vision for education inWales will be a cornerstone of our work this year.

We are a confederation of students’ unions, which areall led by students. We know students. We are students.But you don’t have to be a student to realise our value.Join us again in our 39th year of ensuring that educationin Wales is shaped by and works for students.

In unity,

Stephanie Lloyd

NUS Wales President

FOREWORD

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Bridgend College Students’ Union, the NUS Wales Further Education Students’ Union of 2012.

NUS Wales isn’t just for university students. In fact,

more than half of our member institutions are further

education colleges. That’s why we’re working

tirelessly to help these students grow their voice.

In 2012, our annual conference had more delegatesfrom colleges than from universities. It’s no surprisethat the conference passed a policy to prioritise furthereducation. But before this was formalised, NUS Waleswas racking up all sorts of wins for learners in furthereducation. Here are just a few highlights:

• Bridgend College created a funded full-timesabbatical officer to lead its growing students’union. This doubles the number of sabbaticalofficers in Wales’ colleges.

• More than 400 class representatives at collegeswere trained – double that from the previous year.They have a national handbook to help them carryout their responsibilities, and a certificate to showtheir competency.

• A student governor from every college in Waleshas been trained, providing them with the skills andconfidence to participate in meetings and representtheir fellow students. They, too, have a nationalhandbook to help them in their role, and a certificateto show their competency.

• College staff that support student representativesbenefitted from NUS Wales training at our annual

conference. In tandem with our FE events aimed atstudents, we also ran bespoke and targeted trainingfor the staff that accompanied them to the event.The result: better prepared staff and more collegestudents at conference than ever before.

• Every college in Wales will be supported todevelop strong student representation structuresby the end of 2013. All colleges in Wales wouldhave benefited from specialised support through theFE student representation project. In addition, eventssuch as the constitutional review day wherestudents’ unions and councils can learn how toimprove their democratic structures.

• NUS Wales welcomed a new member: YaleCollege. That means we represent 16 out of 17further education colleges in Wales.

• The first FE student leader and union developmenttraining course was held in Wales. FE Leadershipbrought together more than 50 student leaders fromcolleges throughout Wales. The event focused ondeveloping strong and active students' unions,effective campaigning and provided networkingopportunities for officers.

Many of these accomplishments are directly linked to athree-year project funded by the Welsh Government.This project is now entering its third year.

FURTHERING THE LEARNER VOICE

A unique national deal for students now ensures

that every university in Wales is expected to have a

well-funded students’ union.

NUS Wales worked with the funding council (HEFCW)to outline clear principles and funding guidelines forall universities and their students’ unions. This mean

all students in Wales stand to benefit from the impactof a students’ union. Our members providefundamental academic and welfare support that keepstudents in education. They also offer a wide range ofsports and activities, from volunteering to large-scaletournaments.

FUNDING OUR STUDENTS’ UNIONS

Many students study with the ambition to get a job

when their course ends. In the current economic

climate, they need every bit of help to reach this goal.

That’s why NUS Wales teamed up with the fundingcouncil (HEFCW), the voice of business (CBI Wales),and the voice of universities (HEW). Together, wecreated a framework to help graduates leave highereducation with the skills they need to find a job.

Three big steps will help students and graduates inWales:• Provide more quality work experience and

placement opportunities.

• Increase the number of employer-approvedcourses.

• Embed employability skills within the curriculum ofall higher education courses.

EDUCATION FOR EMPLOYABILITY

The Wales Initiative for Student Engagement wised

up this year. Colleges that provide higher education

courses joined universities in their commitment to

treat students as partners.

WISE believes that students are experts in thelearning process, and their feedback is valued. As thevoice of students in Wales, we’re putting this beliefinto practice. That’s why we have a new NUS Walesstaff member who helps build strong structures forstudent representation whilst training learners tomaximise the effect of their voice.

NUS Wales launched the first WISE courserepresentatives conference at Swansea University inJune 2012. More than 30 students, staff and officersfrom around the nation attended. Similar events arecurrently in planning for the coming year.

Our partners – the funding council (HEFCW), theQuality Assurance Agency (QAA), Higher EducationWales (HEW), Higher Education Academy (HEA) andColegauCymru – relaunched our joint commitment toWISE in 2012.

WISE REPRESENTATION


Universities and colleges, in partnership with students’

unions, are developing comprehensive policy on

tackling violence against women who are students.

This Welsh Government funded project continues towork towards protecting students who are victims of

violence whilst studying. The project sets out to putprocedure in place to help and support thesestudents but also to work towards ways of preventingviolence against them.

HIDDEN MARKS FUNDING

The first ever Wales-wide research into students that

enter the sex industry is underway.

Through a generous grant of more than £500,000from the Big Lottery Fund, NUS Wales is working withSwansea University to find out how many students

work in this industry, why they do it, and how theyneed to be supported. The research also will developthe first website to provide e-health advice andguidance to students in sex work.

STUDENT SEX WORKERS PROJECT

With a devolved Welsh Government, our members

need unique advice on the policy that impacts them.

The Policy Boot Camp series are free and open to ourmember students’ unions. Each camp focuses on aparticular policy topic, presented in a pragmatic

nature and of tangible use to unions. Fee plans andstudents’ union funding have piloted this new series,which is now a permanent fixture. Watch forannouncements on upcoming bootcamps.

POLICY BOOT CAMPS



Breathing new life into NUS Wales. In 2011, our members sent us a clear message:

NUS Wales is broken; let’s fix it. That’s exactly what

we’re doing.

After NUS Wales Conference 2011, we reviewed ourdemocratic structures and events. The idea was tocreate more time to effectively work on policydevelopment; become more membership focused;and be more responsive to the opportunities createdby Wales’ devolved government.

A year later, our 26 students’ unions said yes tochange. Here’s what it looks like:

• NUS Wales Conference is still the sovereign

body of the organisation. Motions passed at theannual conference directly feed into the officialwork plan for NUS Wales – or Scheme of Work.Four members of NUS Wales National ExecutiveCommittee (WNEC) will be elected. Theconference also will invite union staff to attend asobservers.

• A Scheme of Work cohesively brings together

NUS Wales’ annual priorities. This live documentwill spell out the focus of each year, taking intoaccount the policies adopted at conferences,officer manifestos, and organisational resources.

• Y Talwrn replaces The Big Welsh One. Y Talwrn isa new addition to the NUS Wales programme ofevents. Student activists, officers and union staffwithin NUS Wales are invited to participate. Theevent incorporates Wales-specific training tocompliment the UK-wide officer developmentprogramme, as well as networking betweenunions, partner organisations and the nation’seducation sector. The newly elected WNEC willpresent a draft of the Scheme of Work formembers to comment upon, debate and inform.

• Regional further education events hosted in the

autumn. Because of Y Talwrn's timing in thesummer, further education students and staff will

have other opportunities to gain skills and feed intothe Scheme of Work. These events will be similarto the FE Leadership event run by NUS UK.

• Changing Winter Council to the NUS Wales Zone

Conference. This event will enable policy to bedeveloped, the Scheme of Work amended, andthree positions on the NUS Wales NationalExecutive Committee elected.

REGENERATION

Student leaders at the Senedd


Further EducationWorkshopsStudent activist,representatives, officers andcollege staff

• train on Wales’ specificfurther education issues

• debate and shape theScheme of Work

Wales NationalExecutive Committee • takes office on 1 July

• develops a draft Schemeof Work with help of staff

Y Talwrnstudent activists, officers andunion staff

• train on Wales’ specifichigher education issues

• debate and shape theScheme of WorkNUS Wales

Conference• policy is set by voting

delegates from memberstudents’ unions

• new leadership is elected

NUS WalesLiberationConferences• specific policy is set at

each independentconference

• new leadership for eachcampaign is elected

SCHEME OF WORK

NUS Wales ZoneConference• more informal conference

for training and workshops

• develop policy

• scrutinise the Scheme ofWork

NUS Wales Conference 2012 at Gregynog Hall

NUS Wales ZoneConference14 November 2012

NUS WalesConference13-14 March 2013

NUS WalesLiberationConferences29 April – 3 May 2013


Higher Education

Aberystwyth University

Students’ Union

President: Ben [email protected]

Bangor University

Students’ Union

President: Antony [email protected]

Cardiff University

Students’ Union

President: Harry [email protected]

University of Glamorgan

Students’ Union

President: Ashley [email protected]

Glyndwr University

Students’ Guild

President: Adam [email protected]

University of Wales, Newport

Students’ Union

President: Pablo [email protected]

Royal Welsh College of Music and

Drama Students’ Union

President: Luke [email protected]

Swansea University Students’

Union

President: Tom [email protected]

Swansea Metropolitan University

Students’ Union

President: John St. Clare [email protected]

University of Wales, Trinity Saint

David Students’ Union

President: Mattias [email protected]

Further Education

Bridgend College

President: Hailey [email protected]

Cardiff and Vale College

Coleg Ceredigion

Coleg Gwent

President: Adam [email protected]

Coleg Morgannwg

Coleg Powys

Coleg Sir Gar

Deeside College

Gower College Swansea

Grwp Llandrillo Menai

Merthyr Tydfil College

Neath Port Talbot College

Pembrokeshire College

Saint David’s Catholic College

Yale College

Ystrad Mynach College

NUS Wales is a confederation of students’ unions. Every union is independent, but together they unite to

form a greater collective voice that works for them. Here are the students’ unions we proudly call our

members:

OUR STUDENTS’ UNIONS


PresidentStephanie Lloyd

Swansea Metropolitan [email protected]

Deputy PresidentRaechel Mattey

Swansea [email protected]

Women’s OfficerRhiannon Hedge


Black Students’ OfficerAbdul-Azim Ahmed

Bangor [email protected]

LGBT OfficerIan Morgan


Students With Disabilities OfficerStephen Marshall


Welsh Language OfficerAdam Jones

Aberystwyth [email protected]

Block of Seven, Women’s placeCharlotte Britton


Block of Seven, Further Education Women’s placeCarleigh Connolly

Coleg [email protected]

Block of Seven, Women’s placeJessica Leigh

Aberystwyth [email protected]

Block of Seven, Open placeJohn McGann

Glyndwr [email protected]

Block of Seven, Open placeZahid Raja


Block of Seven, Open placeJohn St Clare Williams

Swansea Metropolitan [email protected]

Block of Seven, Further Education placeHailey Townsend

Bridgend [email protected]

The Wales National Executive Committee is the team of student officers elected by our member unions to set

the agenda for NUS Wales.

OUR LEADERSHIP


DirectorHannah Pudnerprovidesmanagementsupport to thestaff team,supports theWales National

Executive Committee, liaises with avariety of stakeholders, ensurescompliance with governance andmanages the finances. [email protected]

Head of MembershipDevelopment (maternity cover)

Emily Cannonis the first pointof contact forall highereducationunions inWales. She

delivers training, election support,guidance on governance anddemocratic issues, and helpsunions to plan [email protected]

Further Education Projects Officer

Stuart Jones isthe first point ofcontact for allfurthereducationunions. Hedelivers training

and develops democraticstructures within colleges as partof a three-year Welsh Governmentfunded [email protected]

Campaigns andCommunications Officer

Joni Alexanderis the first pointof contact formedia. Shecoordinatescommunications,works with the

student leadership to plan andimplement campaigns for change,and delivers training in [email protected]

Representation and Policy Officer

Kieron Reesprovidestraining andsupport todevelopstudentrepresentation

structures and best practice inhigher education. He also works todevelop NUS Wales tertiaryeducation policy. [email protected]

Welsh TranslatorGeoff Jonestranslates alldocuments andpublicationsfrom NUSWales into theWelsh

language. He also providestranslation at [email protected]

Project OfficerRachel Brown isdelivering aprojecthighlighting theissuessurroundingalcohol among

students and promoting the aims ofDrinkaware. She also is leading onthe Hidden Marks project,developing policy to tackle violenceagainst women who are students. [email protected]

AdministratorHilary Akermanprovidessupport to allthe staff andstudentleadership. Shemanages the

travel bookings, facilitatesexpenses and ensures the officeresources are in full supply. [email protected]

NUS Wales staff support the student leadership to turn their policy into action. The staff members are based

in Cardiff Bay.

OUR STAFF


NUS Wales Impact Report 2012

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