The past week has been a great week for those members of the NEC who took the opportunity to examine the strategic direction of NUS, the role of the NEC/SMT and give a new sense of purpose to our core values when we went away for NEC Induction in Chester. Oh, and the dodgy karaoke was a hit!

The core values, which we agreed as a collective, can be seen here on officeronline.

Aside from that it was a good way for the NEC to get to know eachother on a more personal level - as one NEC member said “we’re knowing what eachother are really like and not just our impression of them from attack leaflets or rumours”.

NEC members were given their responsibilities for the forthcoming year (I shall be convening the FE Zone and on the HE Zone too). The FE zone shall be made up of me, Wes Streeting (Ex Officio), Ama Uzowuru, Ciaran Norris, Scott Cuthbertson, Katie Morgan, Katie Curtis, and James Alexander. I’m very much looking forward to working with them on the FE agenda this year.

We also had a number of external visitors who gave presentations: Endsleigh, the TUC and Amnesty International. All three organisations discussed their strategic objectives, how they’ve embarked on organisational cultural change, whilst retaining a focus on delivering on their key core principals of providing a service/raising awareness/ campaigning. It was interesting to see the similarities NUS shared with all three and gave us food for thought on how NUS can introduce change and progression into our own culture.

Yesterday I spent the day at Rise: London United Against Racism, in Finsbury Park, a day celebrating anti-racism. In between visits to UJS, the TUC and UCU stalls, I enjoyed the free music put on by The Mayor of London. I was drenched by the end of it (however the free poncho from TFL did help) but came home feeling energised and excited that when we, some 100,000 people come together; we influence change and make a difference in society.

I’m aware the website is not updated yet with the new NEC members contact details so below is how to get in contact with me:

e-mail: beth.walker@nus.org.uk

Post: NUS, Centro 3, Mandela Street, London NW1 0DU

Telephone at NUS HQ: 0871 221 8221

Mobile: 07743864514

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