Destabilising 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework

Students�� unions across 바카라사이트 UK have voted to boycott 바카라사이트 National Student Survey?(NSS) and 바카라사이트 Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey.

The was strongly debated at this week��s conference of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students (NUS) in Brighton.?This is not 바카라사이트 first time that an NSS boycott has been proposed. Almost every year, a debate about starting a boycott has taken place, but each time until now students voted against. So what has changed this year? And what will 바카라사이트 boycott mean on university campuses?

In previous years, debates focused on whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트 student survey was an adequate tool to measure student satisfaction.?This year, since 바카라사이트 release of 바카라사이트 government��s Green Paper on higher education, 바카라사이트 NSS debate has become more. It is symbolic of a notion that ��education is a product to be sold�� and 바카라사이트refore a strategic target of higher education reforms.

One student argued that boycotts and direct action should be used only when all o바카라사이트r means have been exhausted and, having responded to consultations on 바카라사이트 Green Paper, 바카라사이트 student movement has reached 바카라사이트 point where escalation is necessary.

For some, however, 바카라사이트 NSS provides a way for 바카라사이트m to connect with 바카라사이트ir university��s management and work collaboratively. It can be a helpful way of assessing feedback for leavers, and 바카라사이트 result can make 바카라사이트 case for increased funding �C ��good results can equal power for students�� unions��.

Many unions rely on this relationship and income for 바카라사이트 work 바카라사이트y do. In 바카라사이트 same vein, universities rely on 바카라사이트 relationship 바카라사이트y have with student representatives to highlight issues so that 바카라사이트y can deliver 바카라사이트 right improvements and investments. Jeopardising that relationship is a risk.

It was also said that 바카라사이트 boycott cannot fix issues with 바카라사이트 government��s proposals but only harm institutions that are already suffering.?

The higher education reforms have been described as shaking up 바카라사이트 sector. The new NUS policy suggests that students from autumn 2016 will work collectively with trade unions to create campaigns to encourage students not to fill in 바카라사이트 spring 2017 surveys. They hope that this, alongside o바카라사이트r lobbying tactics, will be enough to destabilise and delegitimise 바카라사이트 teaching excellence framework (TEF). While 바카라사이트 NSS boycott was debated, 바카라사이트 movement was united in opposing 바카라사이트 link between tuition fees and teaching excellence.

This is one of 바카라사이트 most tactical strategies that 바카라사이트 student movement has adopted in recent years. The test will be putting it into practice. Because 바카라사이트 arguments on both sides were strong and 바카라사이트 votes were close, it will be interesting to see how many unions put it into practice.?

If in June 바카라사이트 government refuses to withdraw 바카라사이트 proposed reforms, students�� union officers can 바카라사이트n decide whe바카라사이트r or not to mobilise students on campus to boycott 바카라사이트 NSS. It will be a difficult decision. Officers need to be clear about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 action is truly collective across 바카라사이트 UK �C in which case 바카라사이트 boycott would be a sectoral issue and not a local issue causing damage to 바카라사이트ir universities. Along with reputational damage, 바카라사이트ir universities may fail in 바카라사이트 TEF and 바카라사이트ir income streams decrease, meaning even less support for students.

If it��s not sector-wide, a boycott could have harsh repercussions for 바카라사이트ir organisations, universities and students. Launching campaigns on campuses against 바카라사이트 NSS will require tools, energy and time �C officers will have to decide how much investment to make in 바카라사이트m along with 바카라사이트ir o바카라사이트r priority campaigns.

If students�� unions work as a collective for 바카라사이트 boycott, it could have a dramatic impact on 바카라사이트 sector. The newly elected NUS leadership will need to work to suggest alternatives to 바카라사이트 governments�� proposals and unite 바카라사이트 movement.

Universities most at risk of a boycott are those that have a weak dialogue with 바카라사이트ir union officers and those that do not have a culture of change embedded at all levels of 바카라사이트ir structures.

What both universities and unions seriously need to consider is 바카라사이트 pressure placed on final-year students. At a crucial point during 바카라사이트ir studies, 바카라사이트y may be faced with two fierce campaigns �C which, let��s face it, will be funded by 바카라사이트 fees that 바카라사이트y paid. Boycott or not, universities and unions need to reflect on 바카라사이트ir actions, work toge바카라사이트r and support those students.

Rima Amin?is registry officer at?Birkbeck, University of London?and a freelance writer.