Support "A Right to a Voice"

Added on 13/05/2009

In December NIACE launched a new campaign called "A Right to a Voice" that aims to overturn the decision, in 2007, to withdraw the right for asylum seekers to access ESOL (English as a Second Language) courses in the first six months in the country.

Waiting for such a long time has costly consequence on both individuals and society as it aggravates feelings of isolation, affecting mental health, well-being and inhibiting community cohesion. It also creates additional difficulty in understanding medical advice or communicating with public bodies.

The campaign now has a website which has lots more information about the issue and how you can campaign against it: A Right to Learn website.

Free overnight events for FE officers

Added on 19/03/2009

NUS and BECTA are excited to invite you to attend one of four joint residential events being held across England in April (one in each of: London, Midlands, South and North).

Sessions will look at your college and learner voice; building strong learner involvement; measuring learner voice; using technology to support learner voice in your college and discussion of your learners' experience of technology in teaching.

The event is open to any students in the Further Education sector, however places are limited to a maximum of 35 per event so register early to avoid missing out. All accommodation and meals are covered by the organisers and your travel costs will be reimbursed. Additionally, those who attend the full event will be paid £50 for their time and contribution.

For more information please see the event's flyer here: http://resource.nusonline.co.uk/media/resource/NetworkingandPolicyFlyer2009.doc

To register, follow this link: http://www.regonline.co.uk/Checkin.asp?EventId=716592.

For those already registered to attend here is the final agenda and joining instructions (these will also be emailed to you):

• Final Agenda for all events
• Joining Instructions: London
• Joining Instructions: Nottingham
• Joining Instructions: Bristol
• Joining Instructions: Leeds

What is the Learner Views Survey?

Added on 23/04/2009

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has launched the “Learner Views Survey” as part of the Framework for Excellence. The Framework underpins a simplified performance assessment system that will help drive up performance right across the further education (FE) sector.

Colleges across England are participating in the survey to hear their learners’ views on issues such as the information received at the start of the course, the respect staff show to learners and students’ overall satisfaction with their course. This information will then be given to your college where it can also be used to help shape the student experience for the better.

The Learner Views Survey offers students an opportunity to impact on the future of the learning experience at their college by ensuring that the student experience and learner voice is considered a key performance criterion. This is not simply limited to individual FECs, but something that will be recognised across the whole FE sector.

NUS believe that the Learner Views Survey has the potential to provide colleges with quantitative data based on the learner voice. This data would be valuable, not only to enable comparisons with FE institutions locally and nationally, but if shared with local students’ unions, the results will provide unions with evidence which could support learners views expressed through student council, executive, learner voice committees and through representation on college committees and boards. Furthermore, if college principals decide to share results with their student union, the data could be used to support campaigns, action plans for the union and the college and to support student governors’ submissions to College Corporation.

The live survey period has now closed and results will be sent to your college by mid-May. However, now is the time for your students’ union, student governors, course reps and class reps to start talking to your college about how they plan to use the results of the survey and to explore how student involvement in interpreting and using the results could help improve the student experience and the survey results themselves.

More information on the Learner Views Survey and suggestions on how to increase learner engagement with the survey can be found here:

• What is the Learner Views Survey?
• Getting your students involved in the LVS.
• NUS Learner Responsiveness Project.

One step closer to votes at 16?

Added on 23/04/2009

In a consultation, carried out by the Youth Citizenship Commission (YCC), 66 per cent of respondents backed lowering the voting age, with the majority backing the vote at 16.

The consultation Old enough to make a mark? Should the voting age be lowered to 16? received submissions from members of the public, charities, local government, MPs and youth organisations.

The YCC noted that those who supported the lowering of the voting age generally provided more detailed comments and arguments than those who opposed the lowering age.

NUS believes 16 year olds should have the right to vote and is an active member of the Votes at 16 Coalition.

Vice President Further Education Beth Walker said this showed votes at 16 is closer to becoming a reality.

"It is now time for the Commission to play its part in this history by recommending that the right to vote be granted to all 16 and 17 year olds in its final report this June."

• View the summary of responses
• NUS submission
• Votes at 16 Coalition

Youth for Fairtrade

Added on 20/03/2009

The Fairtrade Foundation and People & Planet bring you Youth for Fairtrade – a one-off conference on Friday 27 March all about why Fairtrade matters and how to take action.

The day, held at City Temple in London, will be jam-packed with activities, workshops, practical campaigning actions and tuition, lazer graffiti, live filming, stencilling, talks and of course lots of Fairtrade chocolate!

Workshops at the event include, Local to global poverty: How your life relates to trade justice, Who makes the rules? Learn why trade rules are unfair and what you can do about it and Turn your school or college Fairtrade: practical campaign planning.

The conference is free to attend and includes lunch, but we need you to register your place before March 23.