Apologies for the extended interruption to the usual blogging routine. My last blog ended with the beginning of February and my panel debate at the Guardian Higher Education summit. Here’s what happened during the rest of February according to my Outlook diary and my hazy memory…

NUS North Ed/Welf Event, Newcastle – Monday 5th/ Tuesday 6th February

A great opportunity to catch up with education and welfare officers from across the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions to discuss what’s happening on their campuses as well as other policy issues and the priority campaign.

In and around Westminster – Wednesday 7th

My day started with a meeting at the DfES of the Bologna Steering Group – bringing together officials and sector representatives to prepare for the Bologna Ministerial Summit in London in June (this will be a continuing theme in my blog).

I then spoke at the excellent South East Weighting Lobby of Parliament organised by South East Area NUS (SEANUS), campaigning to student support to be weighted according to the cost of living in the South East – just as government does for London. Well done to Nick Smith and the team for a well executed lobby. I also managed to lobby a couple of MPs from outside the South East who were receptive to the idea.

Afterwards it was onto the Universities UK Winter Reception – also in the Commons. It was an opportunity to network with and lobby others within the sector.

Office day at home! – Thursday 8th

A combination of bad weather and the need to catch up on e-mail meant a welcome day at home.

Office day in NUS HQ – Friday 9th / Monday 12th

Self-explanatory really!

National Council, Leeds – Tuesday 13th

Another thrilling instalment of NUS National Council. Though there was a media storm brewing on the horizon…

Is Admission Possible? The media storm of Wednesday 14th

One of my more difficult days in office began at 4am when I woke up ready to deal with the day ahead: UCAS reported a rise in UK admissions (see my blog here ) and UUK and DfES were seizing on this as evidence that top-up fees are working. As well as a number of radio and TV interviews the main challenge was ensuring our line was right on the BBC Breakfast news as this would set the tone for the day. It did – I got our points across and the media did not report it in quite so favourable terms to UUK and the government as they might have done. Having been up so early that morning (having only been to bed after pouring over the stats at 1am) I went home shattered, but not as battered as I’d expected.

Office day – Thursday 15th

Annual Leave – Labour Party Youth and Student Conference, Glasgow – 16th-18th

A really good event this year which brings together young people from all parts of the Labour movement (trade unions, young Labour groups and Labour Students).

The most difficult day of the year – Monday 19th

A manic Monday for sure! Started off with a bilateral meeting with FE and HE Minister Bill Rammell MP, then a meeting of the NUS Senior Management Team, a speech to the Centre for Recording Achievement on Personal Development Planning and degree classification reform and finally giving oral evidence with Gemma to the House of Commons Education & Skills Select Committee on the Student Experience. Not the most pleasant of experiences, but it only reaffirmed my analysis of what’s wrong with NUS and the pressing need to sort it out.

Meeting with Peter Williams, Chief Exec, QAA, Gloucester – Tuesday 20th

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the NUS Anti-Racism Conference as I was at a meeting with Chief Executive of the QAA, Peter Williams, to talk about the project I have commissioned on student representation, looking at expanding the principles behind the SPARQS project on Scotland to the rest of the UK. A highly productive meeting.

Further Education Lobby of Parliament – Wednesday 21st

Wednesday was spent at one of the most important lobbies of the year, given that the Further Education and Training Bill was making its way through Parliament. An excellent event with a good attendance. I also joined Ellie to meet with Stephen Williams MP, Lib Dem FE spokesperson, to lobby him for support on Clause 19 of the Bill (degree awarding powers for FE colleges). His response was far from encouraging.

NEC Delegation Meeting – Thursday 22nd

Aside from a day in the office, a comical meeting that involved NEC members calling in from across the country to get policy submitted to Annual Conference.

Meeting with Pam Tatlow, Chief Exec CMU and meeting with DfES that got us £30,000! – Friday 23rd

I was relieved that a week that started on a sour note ended on a high. I had lunch with Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of CMU to catch up on various bits and bobs within the sector (she’s a good friend to NUS) and then dashed off to meet with officials at the DfES to seek funding for the Europe-wide conference we are hosting on in May on ‘Fighting Discrimination within Higher Education’ under the banner of ESIB – the National Unions of Students in Europe. We managed to secure £30,000 in funding from DfES which was a bonus!

Delivery Partnership Steering Group – Tuesday 27th

Having been ill the previous day, I managed to get to this important meeting on Tuesday of the Delivery Partnership Steering Group looking at HE admissions reform. Bill Rammell was attending the meeting so it was particularly important to be there. Despite disagreements with government on other issues, admissions is one area where the government is acting as a real champion for change and reform. This was evident at the meeting.

So a month of various issues and ups and downs. I hope to update you on March shortly!

Feel free to contact me about any aspect of my blog.

Wes

wes.streeting@nus.org.uk

07738 477 353

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