Rise of the course reps

Added on 14/07/2008

What is a course rep? Who looks after course reps? Are course reps important? NUS, believing that answer three is 'a big yes', has created a new hub containing advice, best practice downloads and case studies for our member students’ unions to answer the other two, and more, questions.

Aaron Porter, NUS Vice President (Higher Education) says: "NUS believes it’s important that student representation is developed to ensure it meets the needs of its students. Students’ unions have a crucial role in working with their institutions to develop effective rep systems, and supporting their course reps."

This is an ever expanding area of the site – and one that will get increasingly better when nus.org.uk, our new website, launches in August. From then, course reps will also have their own forums and ability to share best practice between themselves. The content on officeronline, for you as students' union officers, will remain here until January when nus.org.uk's extranet is created - bringing together all our sites into one.

If you’d like to add to this section, or have any questions, please email Aaron. This a member benefit and so you will need to be logged in to access it. Not yet a member? Sign up now.

Enter the course rep hub

NUS’ President appears before government committee on skills

Added on 08/07/2008

NUS National President Wes Streeting appeared before the House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee today (Wednesday 9 July) to discuss, among other things, the importance of higher education for the workforce.

You can see the meeting on the Parliament TV website,until mid-August (the recording is online for 28 days). Wes' comments were also picked up in the guardian.

Wes’ appearance comes the day after NUS responded to the Department for Innovations, Universities and Skills’ (DIUS) 'Higher Education at Work, High Skills: High Value consultation which you can download below.

The consultation, with employers, learners and higher education providers, looked at what the government should be doing to equip the workforce with the skills it needs. We would like to thank all the students’ unions who contributed to the response.

The NUS response emphasised

1. The importance of information, advice and guidance to help learners choose the right progression routes and career paths.
2. The importance of involving employers in the design of higher education, whilst at the same time
3. maintaining quality and standards throughout the sector.
4. The desperate need to revolutionise how skills are recognised and recorded.
5. Our disappointment with the government's decision to cut funding for ELQs (Equivalent or lower qualifications).
6. The important role that students' unions have to play in the skills agenda.

Downloads

Our final response.

The original DIUS consultation document

Helping estranged students

Added on 09/06/2008

Estrangement is a term that almost all students have probably come across – via their student loan application forms – but one that few probably understand or will ever have to face. For those students whose relationship with their parents has broken down it can be a difficult and daunting process.

NUS published a report into the experiences of estranged students in higher education. The report details about exactly where the problems lie for estranged students, and recommends solutions for government departments and local authorities.

The study has already received a positive reception – with the Pink News highlighting it last month.

Nia Griffiths MP has laid down an early day motion (EDM) asking the government to take forward the recommendations of our report. We want as many MPs as possible to back this EDM, so please email, visit or write to your member of parliament asking them to sign this EDM. The more signatories we get, the more attention it will get in Parliament.

Writing couldn’t be easier – we’ve created a model letter and you can find your MP with the widget below. We've also created a lobbying guide so you can get other students involved and help further the message.

The Way Forward for HE

Added on 28/05/2008

We’ve had some great successes over the past year but what does the future hold for NUS and higher education? We’ve put together a document outlining the future aims of NUS in the coming year. You can view it here.

Higher Level Skills Consultation

Added on 13/05/2008

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has launched a consultation on the UK Government's future strategy for skills and employer engagement. NUS are preparing to respond to the consultation and we are very keen to include as many case studies and examples of how students' unions engage with their institution's work around employability and skills - e.g. through the careers service. We are also keen to include your comments and thoughts about the questions asked in the consultation document.

Please send all comments and case studies to: mark.leach@nus.org.uk

For more information, download our short briefing: here

To read the DIUS consultation in full, you can download it: here