It’s actually quite exciting, and gives me a real sense of pleasure to be able to start to put pen to paper (or rather fingers to a keyboard) to write my first blog as a new member of the NUS National Executive Committee. I do not underestimate the magnitude of the year ahead in the role of Vice President (Higher Education), both in terms of co-convening the priority campaign on education funding but also in delivering an ambitious and extensive programme of work in the Higher Education Zone this year.

Although this is actually my first official week at NUS, I have been keen to get involved with all areas of NUS work prior to the official start date, which is why I thought it appropriate to write two blogs to detail some of the work I have been doing between Annual Conference and now (the start of July 2008).

The hype around Annual Conference this year was intense, and unlike anything I had ever experienced in NUS before. Whether you supported the reforms on offer or not, the stakes were high. To be honest, the behaviour (on both sides) reflected that. Having experienced NUS as a student officer for two years, it is obvious to me that NUS needed radical change, and the proposals presented to delegates in Blackpool were in my view the right ones.

Proposals which would have brought:

• More effective decision making
• Better representation for part-time, mature and international students
• Better staff support for the liberation campaigns
• Expertise and oversight to help with financial planning and scrutiny
• And a more accessible national union.

However as we all know, the proposals fell agonisingly short (just 25 votes) of the two-thirds majority it required to be ratified. Subsequent proposals suggesting that the whole reform process should be thrown out, were overwhelmingly rejected, and this did at least give the NEC a clear indication that the proposals which were narrowly defeated are the right foundation to return to, and we will consult with the membership once again to find the areas which need changing and improving. I hope this fresh approach where the entire NEC are keen to listen to the membership has come across, and I’d continue to welcome and comments or thoughts that you have. I’m not going to mention NUS reform any more in this blog, but undoubtedly it will continue to be a major feature of what NUS does this year, and will remain so until the right reform (supported by the membership) is delivered. I also want to make it clear that my priority though, is work in the Higher Education Zone, and this will be at the forefront of what I do.

Governance aside, I am pleased to say that the rest of Conference was hugely successful, and I supported the vast majority of policy that was passed. In particular, there was considerable support for the principles and campaigning tactics which will provide the basis for the education funding campaign coming up in 08/09. I believe that we have the right policy for a campaign which is bold and winnable. Despite some erroneous press coverage immediately following conference, we should make it clear that the policy passed by Conference continues to support the principal that higher education should be free. However acknowledging that none of the major parties (Labour, Conservatives and now seemingly the Liberal Democrats) will even entertain that idea in the short term at least, we need to make sure we are putting forward a credible argument, which allows NUS to play a central role in the negotiations and not left outside whilst vice-chancellors lift the cap without NUS being able to make the strong case in opposition. But, our policy goes further than simply saying ‘stop the marketisation of education’ and halt any attempt to lift the cap. The current system is regressive and simply lays the foundation for a full-blown market to eventually take the stage, a market which will provide winners and losers, a market which will spell disaster for UK higher education. Our policy ensures that NUS will be advocating a different system, one which actually acknowledges that students need to make a contribution for their higher education, but based on how much they earn afterwards. Put simply, those who earn more, would pay more. The reaction to this change in policy has been fantastic. Not because some think NUS have rolled over and died, but because it actually puts us in a better position to negotiate ahead of the 2009 commission. President of Universities UK, Professor Rick Trainor recently described our change in stance as “putting NUS is a formidable position” and I am determined that NUS can shape the terms of the debate, rather than being sidelined.

My own election was, for the most part, an enjoyable experience. I had spent a great deal of time in the run up to Conference considering the content of my manifesto, and my ideas for the election very carefully. It’s a shame that with no proper hustings and limited to a five minute election speech, this can’t be fully articulated, but I was genuinely thrilled with the outcome of the results - winning comfortably in the first round with nearly twice the number of votes of both of the other candidates combined.

Here is my election speech.

Finally Conference 2008 will remain with me just as much for my own win as for the departure of Gemma Tumelty and Stephen Brown. Both Gemma and Stephen have been an amazing source of support for me as a student officer over the last two years both on a personal and a professional level, but have also been exceptionally talented officers delivering incredible results at a particularly difficult time in NUS’ history. The concept of factions is often a controversial one, but for me it is quite simple - their existence makes NUS a better place. For nearly all officers having a support network, and a trusted group of friends and officers who I can turn to, when times are tough is often invaluable. Whether you call them a faction, a group, or even a clique, having that support network is important and I am proud to say that the Organised Independents has provided this invaluable support for me, around a great group of officers who share a common set of values and beliefs.

Gemma and Stephen have now moved onto pastures new but NUS has lost two amazing officers whose contributions will continue to leave an indelible mark on the organisation.

Following Conference

Here is a briefer overview of some of the work that I have done at both my own students’ union, the University of Leicester (ULSU), and also within NUS.

Friday 4 April
Keynote presentation on ‘The student view on assessment and feedback’ at the University of Leicester, also with Brenda Smith (HE Academy)

Monday 7 April
Staff meeting (ULSU) including giving a presentation on an upcoming consultancy to look at our effectiveness as an organisation.

Friday 11 April
NUS Services Board (Macclesfield)

Saturday 12 April
LGBT Compositing (University of Manchester SU)

Wednesday 16 April
Education funding campaign planning meeting (NUS HQ) Led by Wes and I, the campaign planning team has already begun a lot of work to ensure that the priority campaign for 08/09 is an effective and winnable one, ensuring that all bases are covered in terms of the campaign tactics, message, funding model, press coverage, union engagement, student engagement, etc.

Thursday 17 April
Meeting with the Student Loans Company (Glasgow)

Monday 21 April
Meeting with the vice chancellor (University of Leicester) and then a fees debate (panel including Bill Rammell MP and Wes Streeting) at Leeds University Union

Wednesday 23 April
NEC Meeting (ULU) Worth mentioning that this was a very productive meeting where members of the NEC (both outgoing and incoming) were encouraged to give their thoughts on the best way forward for reform. There was incredible support for a lengthy period of consultation which should start immediately, and continue throughout the summer and into the first term.

Friday 25 – Sunday 27 April
NUS LGBT Conference (Nottingham) An excellent and productive conference, which saw the successful elections for Daf Adley (Open Place) and Lucy Brookes (Womens Place). Also a sad farewell to Scott and Claire.

Monday 28 – Tuesday 29 April
Mature Students’ Conference (Coventry) My first real experience of the Mature Students’ Campaign was an excellent one. A healthy number of delegates, but a campaign that needs continued growth and support. I enjoyed some fantastic discussion about the role of mature students in students’ unions, their expectations of the student experience, trends in further education and higher education, and open dialogue about how NUS can and should be doing more to support mature students. This is definitely a campaign I plan to spend a good deal of time engaging with this year, particularly given the under-representation and support it has had, historically, in NUS and the wider sector.

I’ll give details of what I’ve been up to in May and June in my next blog; ‘From Blackpool to Camden via Leicester’ (part 2).

I’d like to finish my first blog by reaffirming my genuine commitment to being open-minded and keen to listen this year. If you are a sabbatical officer or a student that is interested in finding out more about the work in the Higher Education Zone this year or, better still, wanting me to do something new or feed in your thoughts, I am really keen to hear from you. Please feel free to drop me an email.

In unity,

Aaron

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