Queen’s Students’ Union

St r at eg i c P l a n2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 5

Welcome

• Makeyouruniversitylifefun.• Helpyoutoachievepositivechangeontheissuesthataffectyou.• Provideyouwithsupport,servicesandfacilities.• Listentoyouandunderstandyourneeds.

Hello,

TheStudents’Unionisatacrucialstageinitshistory.Icanconfidentlysaythatwedomorenowforstudentsthaneverbefore.Wehavemadeadifferenceinthelivesofourmembersbyhelpingthemthroughchallenges,byofferingopportunitiesforpersonaldevelopmentandbyprovidingaplaceforthemtohavefunandtosocialise.ThroughourcloseworkingrelationshipwithUniversitymanagement,wehaveplayedapivotalroleincreatingabetterlearningenvironmentandstudentexperienceforall.WehavesuccessfullylobbiedlocalgovernmenttokeepthecapontuitionfeesandtostopanyfurthercutstotheHigherEducationbudget.Andwehavegainednationalrecognitionforoureffortsintheareasofequalityanddiversity,environmentalsustainability,andinternationalisation.However,wefeelthatwithinnovativethinkingandarealignmentofoperationalresponsibilities,wecanachieveevenmoreintheyearstocome.

Ourmissionistohelpyou,asstudents,makethemostofyourtimeatQueen’s,sothatyouwillhavearewardingexperienceasamemberoftheQueen’scommunityandgoontoexcelinyourchosencareerpath.

Ourvisionforthefutureisanoptimisticone–tobeoneofthepremierstudents’unionsintheUKandIreland–WewillachievethisbygainingSilverAccreditationwithintheStudents’UnionEvaluationInitiativebytheendof2015.AswehavecurrentlygotaBronzeAward,attainingsilveraccreditationpositiveproofthatweareonastrongtrajectorytoattainourultimategoalofbecomingaGoldStandardstudents’union.

InthisdocumentwehavesetoutoursevencoreStrategicThemeswhichoutlineourcommitmenttoyou.Asourgraduatesareenteringanincreasinglycompetitivejobmarket,apriorityforushastobeemployability.Wewilldoourutmosttoensurethatyougetthejobthatyouwantonceyougraduate.Inthis

timeofeconomicausterity,theStudents’Unionalsoplacesakeypriorityon‘puttingmoneyinyourpocket’.Wewilldothisbypromotingandofferingpart-timejobopportunitiesandbyprovidingexpertfinancialmanagementadvice.Aswellasthis,wewillcontinuetoprovidethebeststandardsofsupportandrepresentation.WewanttoensurethatyouhavefunwhenyouareatuniversityandthatyoufeelwhollypartofathrivingQueen’scommunity.

Pleasereadonandletusknowwhatyouthinkofourplans.

Jason O’NeillStudents’ Union President

our vision:To become one of the premier Students’ Unions in The UK and Ireland

our promise to students

We have listened to you and have identified seven key strategic priorities THAT will help us achieve our mission7Our vision

Our mission

To become one of The premier STudenTS’ unionS in The uK and ireland.

WehaveachievedbronzestandardintheStudents’UnionEvaluationInitiativeandweareworkingtowardssilver.

Weplantodothisviarealengagement–workingtogetherwithyou,theUniversity,andthelocalcommunity–toprovidelong-termbenefitandasecurefutureforourUnionandforyouasstudents.

Wewanttoprovideavibrantandwelcomingenvironmentthatencompassesstudentactivityateverylevel,stagingstudent-focusedentertainmentevents,providingforumswhereyoucandiscussimportantacademicandsocialissuesandseekadvice.Wewillensurethateverystudentmemberhasanopportunitytoplayanimportantroleinthegovernanceofyourorganisation.Wewillachievetheseaimsthroughourclearly-identifiedStrategicPriorities.

To help you maKe The moST of your Time aT Queen’S.

• Wewantyourlifeatuniversitytobefulfillingandtobefun;• We’llgiveyoufirst-classsupportandservices;• We’lllistenandrespondtoyourneeds;• Andwe’llhelpyoutoachieveyourfullpotential.

We want to be the hear tbeat of your student life, a hub for engagement of all kinds

Every student is impor tant to us,our student officers are here to give all ofyou a voice

We WIll be...

there when you need us

We want...

To empower you

The provision of an exceptional studentexperience is the no.1 priority for the university,identified in its corporate plan 2011-2016. We willbe partners in delivery of this aim.

Formanyofyou,thisisyourfirsttimelivingawayfromhome.ThisistruebothofstudentsfromNorthernIrelandandofourever-increasingnumberofinternationalstudents.Whereveryoucomefrom,wewillhelpyoumaketheadjustmenttoanindependentlifestyle.

Ifyouneedhelp,wewanttomakeitaseasyaspossibleforyoutofindit.TherewillbeimprovedofficersupportandadviceandcloserlinkswiththeUniversity’sStudentSupportServices.

TherewillbebettercommunicationthroughsocialmediaandenhancedStudents’Unionpublications.Theimprovementstoourwebsitethatyourequestedinarecentsurveywillbemade.

But,aboveall,therewillbemoreface-to-facecommunicationwithindividualstudentsandgroups.

Wewillplanarangeofeventstailoredandreactingtoyourneedsandtheissuesthatconcernyoumost.

Consultationwithover1,000ofyou,viafocusgroupsandanonlinesurvey,hasidentifiedthatyourkeyprioritiesinclude:

•Managingyourmoney-73.3%;•Qualityofeducation-57.4%;•Lackofjobopportunities-53.5%.

Wewillfocusontheseandotherissueshelpingyoutofeelsecure,helpingyoutoworktowardsacademicsuccessandenablingyoutolookforwardtoafulfillingfuture.

representation is at the heart of everything wedo. We can make a difference on your behalf,helping to bring about change and influencing theworld around us – in terms of the university, theStudents’ union and the wider community. Weare supported in this aspiration by what you havesaid about us in our surveys, with 77.5% of youbelieving that the union is campaigning on theright issues.

WewillcontinuetoprovideinformedstudentrepresentationinourengagementwithrelevantUniversityauthorities,atcommitteelevelorbylobbying,reflectingyourviewsandprovidingclearandtimelyreportingonoutcomes.

Democraticactivityservestwopurposes:itprovidesobjectivesforustoworktowardsanditpavesthewayforgreaterinvolvementbystudentsinthesocietyofthefuture.

WewillseektobuilduponthehealthyresponsetoUnionelectionsviagreaterengagementwithactivemembers,buttherewillalsobeincreasedfocusuponthosestudentswhoarenotcurrently

involved.TheUnionisforeveryone.

Ourelectionsareameansbywhichyoucanmakeyourvoiceheard.ThereisalsotheNationalStudentSurveyinwhichyoucanmakeyourviewsknowntotheUniversityauthoritiesonawiderangeofissues.ItisimportantfortheUniversitytoknowwhatyouthinkandhowyourviewsshouldberespondedto.

Wewillfosteranaccessibleandeffectivedemocraticculturewithinwhichstudentscanmakecollectivedecisionsandstrategicinterventions.

Wewanttoinspiregrassrootsactivism,promotingagrowthinstudentinvolvementinUnionactivities.

WewanttoencourageamorediverseandinclusiveStudents’UnionCouncilmembershipthatistrulyrepresentativeofthestudentpopulation.

Wewanttobeforyouandwithyou.

We want to help you to achieve your goals, both at university and throughout your life/career

We want...

To enable you to fulfil your

potential

a modern university is a powerhouse ofknowledge, creativity and innovation, but itmust also provide effective preparation for theworld of work. it is a journey from enrolment to employment.

EntrepreneurshipisnowembeddedwithinalldegreecoursesatQueen’s.WewillworkinpartnershipwiththeUniversityauthoritiesinordertoensurethatyouhaveeverypossibleadvantageasyoulooktothefuture.

Asourresearchhasshown,graduateemployabilityisasignificantissueforstudents.TheStudents’Unionwillhelpstudentsoncampustogainaccesstoavailableprofessionalsupportservicesandwewillencourageandmotivateourmemberstoengageinthebroaderlife-changingQueen’sexperience.

WewantyourStudents’UniontoinspireyouwithasenseofpurposefromthemomentthatyouarriveatQueen’s.

Weplantodeliveranew,highprofileEngagementandOpportunitiesZone,whichwillbeafocalpoint

wherethefocusisonYOU,promotinggraduateskillsandjobprospectsinawaythatisengagingtofirst-years,aswellasthoseclosertograduation.

EnterpriseSUwillcontinuetoworkwithourClubsandSocieties,manyofwhich–suchasQueen’sBusinessClubandSIFE–playavitalroleinhelpingstudentstoengageinactivitiesthatwilldeveloptheiremployabilityandenterpriseskills.WewilldevelopinternshipsandplacementsandwewillpromotejobsbothinsideandoutsideoftheUnion–encouragingpartnershipswithlocalbusinessesandthusprovidingstudentemploymentandvaluablecommercialexperience.

Inaddition,therewillbearegularreviewofourVolunteeringStrategytoensurethatitisalwaysappropriate.

Andwewillencouragetheinvolvementofformerstudents,someofthemformerUnionofficerswhohavegoneontoenjoysuccessfulcareers,tosharesomeoftheirextensiveknowledgeandexperience.

87%of respondents said that the Students’ Union had a

positive effecton their time at universityIn

our

onl

ine s

urve

y

We are aware that we have a dual role both within the University community and in our city surroundings

We WIll be...

There for our community,

inclusive of all

Good community relations are an important partof our responsibilities as a Students’ union. badcommunity relations damage the reputation ofuniversity and students alike. We will developfurther collaboration with the local community,both in terms of maintaining contact withresidents’ groups and through partnerships withemployers and businesses that can be of mutualbenefit.

Wearealsoawarethattheculturalmake-upoftheUniversityandtheUnionischanging.By2016,theUniversityanticipatesthatInternationalStudentswillcomprisetenpercentofthestudentpopulation.

ThisisaUniversityoftrulyglobalstanding,attractinghigh-achievingstudentsfromallovertheworldwithitsexcitingprogrammesofteachingandresearch.ItisaUniversityofambition,whichtheStudentsUnionseekstomatchwithitsownvisionandprovision.

AswellasengagingwithourstudentssothattheybecomemoreactivemembersandsupportersofourUnion,wewillalsoencouragethemtobecomeinvolvedwithnon-academicstudentlife,suchaspromotinguseofthenewworld-classsportsfacilitiesthatarenowopenatUpperMalone.

The Students’ Union is the social hub of the University but it is also a major venue for the wider Belfast community

We WIll be...

There for the craic

every penny that is spent in any of our shops,bars or entertainments venues goes straight backinto providing our advice and representationservices, running campaigns and improving thebuilding.

Intermsoflocation,fewuniversitiesenjoyaStudents’Unionthatissuchanimportantandprominentlandmark,setonahistoriccitythoroughfareandfacingtheiconicLanyonBuilding,withalloftherichQueen’sheritagethatitrepresents.

Overrecentyearsandwiththehelpofmajorrefurbishment,theUnionhasbecomeincreasinglyinclusive,aplacewherestudentsofallculturalbackgroundscanfeelathomeandwhichextendsawarmwelcometothecommunityoutside.

Aswellashousingbars,shopsandadviceservices,theUnionalsocontainsarelaxandstudyarea(‘TheSpace’),abank,coffeeshops,afoodcourt

andmeetingrooms.TheUnionservesasahubformorethan175ClubsandSocieties,involvedineverythingfromtrampoliningtodebate.

ItisourintentionduringtheperiodofthisStrategicPlantocarryoutadditionalrefurbishmentthatwillensurethatthebuildingisevenmorefitforpurpose,structuredtoprovidehigh-qualityfacilitiesthatappropriatelybalancecommercialimperativeswiththeexpressedandvariedneedsofthestudentpopulation.

Therewillbeareviewofallaspectsoftheoperation,includingopeninghours,staffinglevelsandenhancedqualityofserviceforeveryonewhoenjoysthefacilitiesthatweprovide.

Wewillensurethatourcoreentertainmentsprovisionisentirelystudentfocusedwhilstalsoappealingtofriends,visitorsandmembersofthewiderBelfastcommunity.

We want the Students’ Union to be sustainable in every way. It is a Union for today and for the future!

we are...

There for the long term

being sustainable also delivers financial benefits.We will develop new and innovative ideas abouthow to save energy, how to recycle and minimisewaste, and we will collaborate with universitywide initiatives in this area.

Beingsustainableisalsoaboutfinance.TheUniversityiscommittedtoa4percentgrowthinincome,yearonyear,fromsourcesotherthantheGovernmentblockgrant.

WewillseeksupportfromtheUniversityfordevelopmentprojects,butwewillalsoworktowardsincreasingtheproportionofourincomethatcomesfromnon-Universitysources.

ThecommercialsuccessoftheUnionisthekeytooursustainabilityandwemuststrikeabalancebetweenprojectingandpromotingtheUnion’s

outwardfaceandtoservingtheinwardneedsofourstudentpopulation.

Thekeytoourfuturesustainabilityistobeflexibleandimaginative.Wewillbeopento,andencouragingtowardsnewideasfromwherevertheycome.Innovativeapproacheswillcreatepositiveoutcomesforourmembersandcangeneratenewincome.Wewillimproveourfeedbackmechanismstoenablestudentmemberstomoreeasilybringustheirideasforimprovement.

Money (and how to look after it) is a specific area of concern for the vast majority of students – 73.3 per cent in our survey

We want to look after...

The money in your pocket

There are designated areas in the Students’ union– the Su advice centre and enterprise Su - withfull-time members of staff offering financial anddebt management advice and associated support.We will work to make sure that you are awareof these services and that you feel comfortableabout sharing your problems in a confidentialsetting.

TheStudentSupportFundexistsinordertoprovidediscretionaryassistanceforstudentswhogetintofinancialdifficultiesduringtheircourse.TheStudents’UnionisrepresentedontheStudentSupportFundCommittee,whichallocatesfinancialawardsandtheUnionwillcontinuetolobbytoensurethatthisfundiswellresourced.

WearedevelopingthisambitiousStrategicPlanwithconfidenceandwiththeobjectiveofprovidingasecureandsustainablestructureforthefuture.

Inouronlinesurvey,87percentofrespondentssaidthattheStudents’Unionhadapositiveeffectontheirtimeatuniversity.Overthenextthreeyears,weplantogetthatfigureascloseto100percentaspossible.

Every student is important to the Union.Our student officersare here to give us all a voice.

www.qubsu.org