Blog Contents:

1. National Course Rep Database Launched;
2. Course Rep Resource Hub Updated;
3. NUS & AMSU Student Rep Group: Reviewing the Effectiveness of your Student Rep System;
4. NUS National Course Reps Conference;
5. NSS: Using Your Results Events;
6. HE Zone Conference (28-29 October).

1. National Course Rep Database Launched

I am delighted to announce that in addition to other Course Rep innovations we have put together (outlined in this blog), we have now launched a National Course Reps database, which students/course reps/school reps and Sabbatical Officers are able to sign themselves up to.

Please circulate the link to the National Database to your Course/School/Academic Reps as you collect their contact details.

Benefits of signing up to the network -

• Receive free email alerts with resources, videos and information to support you on your role;
• Debate with other course reps on local and national issues;
• Enter competitions, and share your successes with other reps;
• Get alerts to free events and campaign resources;
• Join the discussion in our forums and our Facebook group.   

For more information, please drop us an email.

2. Course Rep Resource Hub Updated

In addition to launching the National Course Rep database, we have also refreshed and updated the Course Rep Resource Hub.

New information on the hub includes:

• Using the NSS with Course Reps;
• Benchmarking student representation;
• Revising your rep system;
• Resources for your reps. 

Course Reps are still encouraged to join our Course Reps Network Facebook group, here.

A Course Rep Training welcome video with remarks from me has also been uploaded. 

3. NUS & AMSU Student Reps Group - Reviewing the effectiveness of your student reps system

Reviewing the effectiveness of your student reps system is essential to ensuring real improvement in your representation structures and enhancing the student learning experience.

NUS and the Association for Managers in Students' Unions (AMSU) Student Reps Group have developed a benchmarking tool for students' unions to evaluate representation systems, track improvements over time and compare its effectiveness between faculties or schools as well as with other students' unions.

We are keen to consult unions about the benchmarking tool which can be found via www.officeronline.co.uk/coursereps:

• have we covered the right areas?
• are the level descriptors appropriate for each level?
• is there anything else that we should cover?

Deadline for responses: Friday 30 October, please send your comments to student.engagement@nus.org.uk

4. NUS National Course Reps Conference

A provisional date for the second ever, NUS National Course Reps Conference has been provisionally set for Wednesday 9 December. Please keep this date free in your diaries.

5. NSS: Using Your Results Events

The National Student Survey continues to be an incredibly effective tool to create positive change within institutions. However the key to making change, or running campaigns is to be able to use and interpret the results. To that end, I’ve launched four events across the UK where officers and reps are invited to be supported to help use and make the most of your NSS results.

• 5 October – Edinburgh University (Scotland)
• 12 October – Queen’s, Belfast (NI)
• 15 October – LSE (London, South & East)19 October – Leeds Metropolitan (North & Midlands)

There is also a Feedback Event coming up in NUS Wales soon, so watch this space! If you would like to attend any of these NSS events, please drop an email to nss@nus.org.uk

6. HE Zone Conference (28 - 29 October, Manchester)

The HE Zone Conference is open to everyone with an interest in HE! (Presidents, VP Educations, Academic Affairs Officers, Education & Welfare Officers, Course/Academic Reps…. SU staff are also welcome).

We have an incredible line-up of speakers including (some subject to final confirmation);

• Rt Hon David Willetts MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities & Skills), Conservative Party
• Professor Paul Wellings (Chair, 1994 Group & Vice-Chancellor, Lancaster University)
• Sally Hunt (General Secretary, UCU)
• Anthony MacLaren (Chief Executive, Quality Assurance Agency)
• Professor Ruth Farwell (Chair, GuildHE & Vice-Chancellor, Bucks New Uni)

There will also be a great selection of workshops and plenaries, looking at the key issues facing higher education across the UK.

More details are available here.

• Booking Form (HE Zone)
• Full Zone Conference PDF Guide

In unity,

Aaron

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