NUS IMPACT REPORT 2011

STUDENTS LIVES BETTER, VOICES BOLDER, FUTURES BRIGHTER

CONTENTS
ABOUT NUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 EDUCATION FUNDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 MAKING EDUCATION BETTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 PARTICIPATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 TRANSFORMING STUDENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 BUILDING STRONG STUDENTS UNIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 SECURING A FAIRER SOCIETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ORGANISATIONAL HEALTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

ABOUT NUS
The National Union of Students (NUS) is a confederation of students unions representing over seven million students in the UK. It is the definitive student campaigning organisation. MISSION: NUS exists to: promote, defend and extend the rights of students and develop and champion strong students unions. VISION: Our vision is of NUS as a pioneering, innovative and powerful campaigning organisation: the national voice of students. We will fight barriers to education, empower students to shape both a quality learning experience and the world around them, supporting influential, democratic and wellresourced students' unions. VALUES AND BELIEFS: The core values of NUS are democracy, equality and collectivism. We believe that student organisations should be student-led and that education is a benefit to the individual and to society.

NUS HAS RISEN TO THE CHALLENGES POSED BY A PARTICULARLY DRAMATIC YEAR FOR THE STUDENT MOVEMENT

Liam Burns President, NUS 2

FOREWORD
Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped NUS this year. Whether you are a student activist, a students union officer, or a member of staff at a students union, college or third sector organisation, together we have made a great many improvements to the lives of students and members of the wider public. Of course, this year was dominated by the education funding debate and our response to it. We all knew it was going to be a crucial year for the students union movement, but none of us could have predicted that we would organise the biggest national education demonstration in decades, or that we would mobilise regionally on an unprecedented scale to take our message to the general public and government alike. There could have been very few people in the country who were unaware of our concerns. Despite our anger at the Governments decision to raise fees, we must remember that our hard work and commitment forced a

NONE OF US COULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT WE WOULD ORGANISE THE BIGGEST NATIONAL EDUCATION DEMONSTRATION IN DECADES
number of important concessions. For example, the repayment threshold was raised, with a commitment to link it to average earnings in the future, and two thirds of part-time students will now receive loans. Without NUS influence, the future would have been a lot bleaker for students. On top of our valuable contribution to the education funding debate, NUS has continued to make great strides in other areas. From the huge wins on tuition fees for students in

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to the publication of Key Information Sets to allow new students to make informed choices; from the improved officer development programme to our campaign on international student immigration, NUS has ensured that the student voice remains at the forefront of the debate. With your help, NUS has risen to the challenges posed by a particularly dramatic year for the student movement. I look forward to continuing this invaluable work with you throughout this, our 90th year. Liam Burns, President NUS

EDUCATION FUNDING
THE BROWNE REVIEW AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION WHITE PAPER
NUS vigorously opposed Lord Brownes key proposals. Through our tireless campaigning on these issues, we won some important concessions from the Government in its White Paper. IMPACT: NUS national and regional campaigns helped to substantially change Lord Brownes proposals. Although the funding system is still far from perfect, the changes that we helped bring about this year will affect thousands of students in the future. IMPACT: The threshold for loan repayments will now rise in line with earnings. IMPACT: We ensured that two thirds of part-time students are now supported with tuition fee loans. IMPACT: London weighting has been maintained, despite not being 4

championing the role of students unions. Students unions have effectively been shut down in countries such as Australia and New Zealand, and in some Scandinavian countries. NUS effective lobbying for this text to be included in the White Paper safeguards the future of students unions in this country. IMPACT: As a result of NUS lobbying, the Higher Education White Paper indicated there would be strengthened governance for the Office for Fair Access, and additional powers and resources for both OFFA and the Office of the Independent Adjudicator. Further reviews of these areas will now be conducted.

THROUGH OUR TIRELESS CAMPAIGNING, WE WON SOME IMPORTANT CONCESSIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN ITS WHITE PAPER
included in the initial proposals. NUS provided support for the local campaign of Kings College Students Union. This received a great amount of local press coverage and ensured that students in London will continue to receive London weighting on their loans. IMPACT: The Governments White Paper included a statement

VOTE FOR STUDENTS PLEDGE

NUS Vote For Students campaign put tuition fees at the heart of the last general election. Over 1300 parliamentary candidates signed our pledge to vote against higher fees should they be elected, meaning that 93 per cent of constituencies had a Vote For Students candidate. IMPACT: Students have been able to use this pledge to hold MPs to account throughout the debate on tuition fees. Photographs of MPs signing the pledge appeared in worldwide news coverage.

DEMO 2010
NUS, along with UCU, supported students unions in organising the biggest student demonstration in a generation. Over 52,000 students, lecturers and supporters turned out on the streets of London to protest against a rise in tuition fees. In support of this demonstration, NUS held over 40 briefings and created invaluable resources for students union staff and officers that helped them build local campaign capacity. In just three months, the demonstration website received over 9.5 million hits, and we generated over three quarters of a million pounds worth of press coverage. IMPACT: 94 per cent of the general public were made aware of the issues faced by students through our campaign.

proposals was flawed, and empowered students to talk to their MPs about it. A replacement for EMA was announced, which reduced the previous 550 million EMA fund to a 75 million discretionary fund. This was clearly not acceptable, and NUS and the Save EMA coalition went into action once again. We have managed to push the fund up to 180 million, and we wont stop there. IMPACT: The benefits of the EMA scheme are now widely understood, with the campaign gaining significant support from outside of the student movement. The 180 million bursary scheme is a marked improvement on the initial proposals, and we will continue to lobby ministers to reinstate EMA.

SAVE EMA CAMPAIGN (UK)

As part of the Save EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) coalition, NUS and seven major unions organised local and national campaigning and lobbying activities. We proved that the research upon which the Government had based its

OVER 1300 PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES SIGNED OUR PLEDGE TO VOTE AGAINST HIGHER FEES
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OVER 52,000 STUDENTS, LECTURERS AND SUPPORTERS TURNED OUT TO PROTEST AGAINST A RISE IN TUITION FEES

WINNING ON TUITION FEES IN THE NATIONS

RECLAIM YOUR VOICE IN SCOTLAND
NUS worked with students unions and associations in Scotland to organise a 4000-strong demonstration in Edinburgh and to ensure that 85 per cent of MSPs signed up to the campaign. IMPACT: Students in Scotland will not have to pay tuition fees and all students that are eligible will still receive EMA. The Scottish government has also committed to a 7000 minimum income for the poorest students, legislation on fairer access, and improvements for part-time students. We listened to the National Union of Students in Scotland (NUS Scotland) and their support for the scheme and we listened to young people and their parents. Keith Brown, Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning

BUDGETS FOR BURSARIES

STUDENTS IN SCOTLAND WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY TUITION FEES AND STUDENTS WILL STILL RECEIVE EMA

The Budget for Bursaries campaign received enormous support. 32,000 e-mails were sent to politicians in two-and-a-half weeks. This resulted in the Scottish Government agreeing to put an extra 15 million towards college bursaries over the next two years, and an extra 8 million towards creating new college places. 7

NUS SCOTLAND WON CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR AT THE 2011 SCOTTISH CHARITY AWARDS
This campaign was awarded Campaign of the Year at the 2011 Scottish Charity Awards. IMPACT: NUS Scotland has increased access to education while putting money in students pockets.

regardless of where they study in the UK. In addition, the Assembly Learning Grant (ALG the maintenance grant for Welsh students) will continue.

IN NORTHERN IRELAND, FEES WILL ONLY RISE IN LINE WITH INFLATION

IMPACT: Due to NUS lobbying the EMA for Welsh students has been saved and NUS Wales won support of 80 per cent of Assembly Members to protect funding levels for EMA, ALG and Financial Contingency Fund throughout the next Assembly term.

FUNDING IN WALES
NUS Wales placed pressure on every single Plaid Cymru, Welsh Labour and Welsh Liberal Democrat MP regarding education funding through a series of letter writing, direct lobbying and utilising local and national media. IMPACT: Students from Wales will not face an increase in tuition fees,

STUDENTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND WILL NOT SUFFER THE BLOW

NUS-USI have secured no increase in tuition fees for students from Northern Ireland that choose to study in Northern Ireland. Fees will only rise in line with inflation and the Higher Education Minister also stated that university budgets would be protected. IMPACT: Students from Northern Ireland that choose to study in Northern Ireland will only see an increase in fees along with inflation.

STUDENTS IN WALES WILL NOT FACE AN INCREASE IN TUITION FEES, AND THE ALG WILL CONTINUE
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RECLAIM YOUR VOICE: 85 PER CENT OF MSPs SIGNED UP TO THE CAMPAIGN

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MAKING EDUCATION BETTER

FEEDBACK AND ASSESSMENT
This year, NUS launched a Feedback and Assessment Toolkit (FACT), supported by a Feedback and Assessment Charter. There have been over 820 downloads of FACT materials. The Feedback and Assessment Charter has changed the way that a number of institutions provide feedback to students. IMPACT: A number of students unions have used our toolkit to campaign for and receive feedback on exams, where previously their students had received none. Also, the increase in satisfaction in the 2011 National Student Survey shows that students are receiving more prompt feedback in general, and more detailed comments on their work. 10

a global university, personal tutors, and feedback and assessment. These charters give universities a clear message about students expectations, and are currently being used to improve the student experience across the country. IMPACT: The charters help students unions to hold their institutions to account, and to work with them in order to maintain standards for students.

INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE

NUS has helped in the development of Key Information Sets to improve information for prospective students. This will enable students to make more informed decisions, improving retention. NUS also pushed for better advice for prospective postgraduates: a recommendation which was accepted by the Smith Review and is now being investigated by HEFCE. IMPACT: NUS has ensured that students and prospective students now have access to information on the performance of each institution enabling them to make more informed choices around their university and course. In addition, individual students' unions will be able to make recommendations to their institutions about some of the questions that students are asked. This will provide them with a better evidence base for their local campaigns.

QAA INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW

NUS has argued for, and won, a number of improvements to the Institutional Review system in England and Northern Ireland. Now, students will be given more information about how an institution performs. For example, an assessment of the first year experience will be provided, and students will be more involved in the review process. IMPACT: Students have been put at the heart of quality assurance, allowing them to shape their own learning experience.

NUS CHARTERS
NUS has developed a series of charters on issues such as postgraduates that teach, becoming

THE NATIONAL STUDENT SURVEY 2011 SHOWS THAT STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING MORE PROMPT FEEDBACK, AND MORE DETAILED COMMENTS ON THEIR WORK

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PARTICIPATION
ENGAGEMONTH
In February, NUS Engagemonth helped students unions to encourage their members to have more input into their university experience. A programme of events was delivered to students union officers and staff, and nearly 700 briefings were downloaded. IMPACT: Two students' unions have recently received awards for their activities: Birmingham City Students' Union, for engaging in FE partner colleges and the creation of a shared virtual students' union; and University of Sussex Students' Union, for their work with student parents and the creation of a student parent association. facilitating workshops at internal teaching and learning conferences and evaluating current student representation systems. IMPACT: This toolkit helped to create a field of expertise in the student movement. Representation structures have been improved and the student voice has been enhanced. For example, Canterbury Christ Church Students Union used the toolkit in partnership with their institution to create new ways to engage with their placement students. This is a really useful tool as it has helped us to overhaul our system of representation, resolve the ownership issues between the students union and the institution, and secure more resources Advice and Representation Manager EngageMonth really helped to put student engagement on the map, and sparked discussions about how unions can be more innovative with their engagement activities particularly with hard to reach groups. Usman Ali, NUS Vice President, Higher Education

INTERNATIONALISING STUDENTS UNIONS

The Internationalising Students Unions project has involved over 40 students unions in 2010 11. Participating students unions have received support in order to evaluate their existing work with international students, share best practice with other students unions, and to take action to improve international students engagement. IMPACT: International students are better represented by students unions. For example: Northumbria Students Union has created a new representation structure, to ensure that international students voices are heard in the union York University Students Union decided to increase the representative role of its International Students Association Newcastle Union Society ran a visa information campaign prior to the election period in the union

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT TOOLKIT

Working with the Higher Education Academy (HEA), NUS designed a toolkit for students unions and institutions to improve students academic engagement. The toolkit was used by 65 per cent of unions in a number of ways, such as

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REGIONAL COURSE REPS TRAINING EVENTS

Last year, NUS held a national training event for 170 course representatives. We also ran three regional events and hosted another for the Quality Assurance Agency. IMPACT: These events have provided course representatives with the skills and tools necessary to effectively represent their students.

LGBT ACTIVIST DAYS

Nearly 500 students received training on how to campaign effectively. IMPACT: These training sessions provide students with the skills they need to create change.

SUMMER EXAM ERRORS

In summer 2011, errors were found in GCSE, AS and A-level exams, affecting approximately 100,000 students. NUS successfully lobbied Ofqual to persuade them to investigate the errors and conduct an inquiry. We also encouraged exam boards to provide support for those students affected.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED

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TRANSFORMING STUDENTS
OFFICER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
NUS delivered a series of 11 residential training courses, as well as the Understanding and Supporting Liberation conference. The training specifically for students' officers to inspire, develop and strengthen their performance, is not provided by any other organisation. Feedback showed the highest satisfaction rating of any training events produced by NUS. Over 87 per cent of those who attended our HE summer training courses were satisfied; as were over 94 per cent of those who attended our Train the Trainer, and 90 per cent of those who attended our FE leadership and sabbatical residential training. 476 officers from 112 different unions attended our HE summer training courses and 109 officers from 36 different unions attended our FE training courses. 14

FEEDBACK SHOWED THE HIGHEST SATISFACTION RATING OF ANY TRAINING EVENTS PRODUCED BY NUS
IMPACT: Through this unique training programme we have created a student movement that is driven by strong student leaders. Although I was nervous about coming to this I had a great time and feel empowered to go back and create change in my union Attendee, Active Political Leadership, 2011 Didn't realise I was interested in politics until here. Light a candle? You lit a furnace! Attendee, Active Political Leadership, 2011

I found this a really great event that has left me really enthused about going back to my SU and making change happen! Attendee, FE Leadership (Introductory), 2011

BE A CHAMPION
Our Olympic project, Be a Champion, ensures that students and students unions are able to make the most of the once-in-alifetime opportunity presented by the London 2012 Games. As well as securing an additional 300,000 for the student movement, the project will involve 20,000 students in Olympicsinspired activity, with a student ambassador in at least 100 students unions across the UK. Nine regional training sessions have already been held for staff and officers. IMPACT: Students unions have a unique opportunity to engage with diverse groups of students, creating awareness of their work and adding to their pool of volunteers.

ENHANCING AND IMPROVING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

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BUILDING STRONG STUDENTS UNIONS

GOOD GOVERNANCE PROJECT
NUS supported the improvement of governance in students unions by producing the Good Governance Toolkit and online hub, with a number of partner organisations. The online hub was launched in January 2011 and provides unions with information, a self-assessment code of practice and a report generator, which will help students unions during charity registration. Since then the hub has had over 2000 hits. IMPACT: These initiatives have improved the quality of governance, democracy and accountability in students unions across the country, making them more accessible to students. We have used the tool and the associated resources to build some very strong and powerful relationships within the university board and senior management, 16 based on a mutual respect and trust, largely because of our approach to the governance aspect of our relationship. It is a fantastically valuable batch of information and resources, which can only help us all to be better students unions. Daryl Ormerod, General Manager, University of Cumbria Students' Union of the delegates said that they would recommend it to others. IMPACT: This conference created a stronger student movement through the development of students union officers and staff. The single best NUS event I have attended in my 12 years in the movement. The organisation was great, the venue was great and, most of all, the NUS and LUU staff were outstanding they really made the event for the delegates To me it represents a real step change in the organisation and the very high standard set by this conference sets a new benchmark for future events. Very well done to all involved you have done the movement proud! Attendee

STUDENTS UNIONS 2011

The inaugural Students Unions 2011 event was held this year. The event was developed to replace the Association for Managers in Students Unions (AMSU) conference, following the merger between AMSU and NUS last year. The two-day event brought together officers and staff to share best practice, learn from outside the student movement and hear from leading figures to prepare for the year ahead. It was a hugely successful event, with 581 attendees. Over 90 per cent

NUS AWARDS
The Students Unions 2011 event also incorporated the NUS Awards. A new online hub was launched, allowing students and unions to submit their entries online. We saw

an 11 per cent increase in nominations, which totalled 382. IMPACT: Promoting the good work and rewarding best practice inspires others and champions a strong student movement.

Jeremy Gilley, of the charity Peace One Day, delivered an inspiring keynote speech at Students Unions 2011

ELECTIONS
NUS provided support to over 100 students unions in running their sabbatical officer elections. This support included returning elections and helping with queries. IMPACT: Supporting students union officers and staff to run successful elections results in strong student leaders, and in turn a strong student movement.

STUDENT GOVERNOR SUPPORT PROGRAMME

NUS has designed a new FE Student Governor Support Programme, which was piloted in colleges in the Midlands this year. This programme will now be rolled out nationally and NUS will provide direct support to 64 colleges over the course of the year. In addition to the student governors who were trained under the pilot scheme, another 40 student governors will be trained this year.

IT WAS A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL EVENT; OVER 90 PER CENT OF THE DELEGATES SAID THAT THEY WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO OTHERS
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SECURING A FAIRER SOCIETY

TENANCY DEPOSIT SCHEME (SCOTLAND)
Following years of campaigning, the Scottish government has introduced legislation to bring forward a tenancy deposit scheme in Scotland. The Scottish Government estimates that a total of 3.6 million is unfairly withheld from 8,000 11,000 tenants every year. IMPACT: NUS has helped to ensure that students have increased rights and security when it comes to tenancy deposits.

Green Impact engaged 2,803 staff through Green Impact teams and reached 22,256 students in participating departments. Green Impact resulted in 10,620 greening actions being completed as a direct result of the scheme. IMPACT: NUS has helped students unions and institutions to drastically reduce their carbon footprints by inspiring them to think more about the environment in their day-to-day behaviour, and to carry out longterm green initiatives.

10,620 GREENING ACTIONS WERE COMPLETED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE SCHEME

colleges took part in the Green Impact universities and colleges scheme. Student Switch Off engaged 14,119 students as Eco-Power Rangers and reached 81,204 students living in halls of residence. Student Switch Off delivered carbon savings Carbon over 1,800 tonnes of CO2, based on comparisons with energy use in the same halls in the pre-intervention year.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IMMIGRATION CAMPAIGN

NUS has worked with institutions to force significant changes to the Governments proposals regarding visas for international students. All institutions sponsoring student visas must gain accreditation and Highly Trusted Sponsor status by the end of 2012. Students at universities and publicly-funded further education colleges will retain the same working rights as they have now, and students coming to the UK will be able to enter the UK to take pathway courses to improve their English before taking up a degree place as long as they are sponsored by a university.

DEGREES COOLER
So far, 78 students unions have taken part in Green Impact, with 27 of these achieving the gold standard. 35 universities and 18

IMPACT: NUS has helped to protect the rights of international students.

HIDDEN MARKS
NUS Womens Campaign conducted the first ever nationwide survey of women students experience of harassment, stalking, violence and sexual assault. This led to the Hidden Marks report and later in to the Hidden Marks website, which provides support for victims. IMPACT: NUS Womens Campaign has provided direct support links for women students experiencing harassment, stalking, violence and sexual assault.

The event attracted record numbers, and for the first time resulted in zero complaints, and zero incidents where security needed to intervene. Students union officer

RACE FOR EQUALITY

NUS published a groundbreaking report showing that black students face a range of barriers in further and higher education. The report is the culmination of a two year research project that gathered existing evidence combined with new surveys and focus group evidence. IMPACT: Institutions have used our report to stop cuts in equality budgets. The report will be used to help us understand and meet student needs, particularly in line with changes in equality legislation Kingston University

DRINKAWARE
NUS have run a high profile campaign in collaboration with drinkaware, to educate students about alcohol consumption. We have also campaigned for more stringent regulation for organised bar crawls, and we have provided guidance for licensing enforcement officers on how to manage these events. IMPACT: This campaign has enabled students unions to make their events more socially responsible and has helped improve relations in the community and local stakeholders.

SPONSORED STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER THE UK TO IMPROVE THEIR ENGLISH BEFORE TAKING A DEGREE
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ORGANISATIONAL HEALTH
MEMBERSHIP SATISFACTION
Overall satisfaction with NUS was high, with almost 8 out of 10 students unions satisfied. This has doubled over five years. Over 90 per cent of students unions think that NUS has been able to influence national decision makers on the issues that affect students and students unions, exceeding our target of 80 per cent. More than 8 out of 10 students unions think that NUS has had a positive impact on student representation at their students union.

THE COMMISSION NUS HAS PAID TO UNIONS HAS ALREADY REACHED OVER 1.1M THIS YEAR
FINANCE
NUS has worked hard to improve its financial performance, while giving our members even better value for money. We have increased our total revenue by 20 per cent in the past two years; and we have managed to bring the proportion of our income coming from affiliation fees down to 44 per cent, from 89 per cent in 2000. The total commission from extra cards paid to students unions in 2010 11 was nearly 1.2m.

AWARDS
NUS has achieved the Disability Two Ticks status. This quality mark was awarded by the Department of Work and Pensions (JobCentre Plus) for our positive commitment regarding the employment, retention, training and career development of disabled employees. NUS was named Sustainability Partner of the Year for our Degrees Cooler project at Studentforce for Sustainabilitys inaugural environmental awards event last year. NUS achieved a Silver accreditation by Investors in People for demonstrating a commitment to the development and success of our people and a desire to continually improve and grow.

NUS HAS BEEN ABLE TO INFLUENCE NATIONAL DECISION MAKERS

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FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

000s

2011

2010 10,279 11,074 (795) Fixed assets Current assets Creditors 000s

GROUP 2011 19,199 3,003 (1,861) 1,142 20,341 20,341 0 4,619 20,341 2010 17,026 2,899 (1,947) 952 17,978 17,978 15,342 2,636 17,978

Turnover Total operating costs Operating surplus/ (deficit) Other income, charitable donation and rationalisation costs Surplus on ordinary activities before taxation Taxation Surplus for year after taxation Minority interest Surplus for the financial year

13,805 13,775 30

725

995

Net current assets/ (liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities Capital and reserves

755 (177) 579 (305) 274

345 (71)

General fund 274 (166) 108 Premises revaluation reserve Total funds

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE

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National Union of Students Fourth Floor 184192 Drummond Street London NW1 3HP t. 0845 5210 262 f. 020 7383 0794 w. www.nus.org.uk w. www.nusconnect.org.uk