Further Education Students' Unions Development Survey

Students’ unions in the FE sector receive, on average, a derisory block grant of just 0.02% of their college budget – or 2p for every £100 the college turns over.

Almost a quarter of SUs who participated in the NUS survey and have college staff support get only 2 hours per week, or less, of that staff member’s time. One-third of SUs do not have seats on college academic boards. 17% of students’ unions surveyed have no office space.

These are just some of the findings of the survey, the most in-depth investigation of SUs in the FE sector ever undertaken. The interim report was released in March 2005 and on 1st September at NUS’ Campaigns Launch, Ellie Russell Vice President Further Education launched the final report of the survey. The results of the survey will be used to underpin the work of this years FE Campaign Loud and Clear: The Student Voice and FE and NUS hopes it will be a valuable lobbying tool for Students’ Union officers in their development work for their individual unions. Read the report in full here:

FE Development Survey Report