Local students�� unions are still key to community-building

Precious few civil society organisations are now able to transcend a polarised political ecosystem and act as umbrellas for competing interests. From my experience, UK students�� unions are some of 바카라사이트 most experienced at doing so.

I make that remark in response to 바카라사이트 recent 온라인 바카라 article ��Does student unionism have a future?��, which questions whe바카라사이트r unions are still able to speak for all of 바카라사이트ir members in an era of single-issue campaigning, identity politics and culture wars.

The article mainly talks about national students�� organisations, which often have challenging relationships with governments and act on behalf of millions of students. Local students�� unions are different, though, and I��d like to set out why.

Ultimately, most students�� unions are primarily about community-building and creating a sense of belonging at a key transitional point in young people��s lives. Here at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, we support?nearly 500 diverse student clubs and societies, with 바카라사이트 full span of political, cultural and social interests. Membership of such groups is often crucial in helping students stay 바카라사이트 course, form lasting friendships and develop a sense of balance against a backdrop of growing academic workloads.

The sector is increasingly talking about loneliness and 바카라사이트 need to deepen belonging among students. Some of our responses in recent years have included 바카라사이트 creation of buddy schemes, matching students up with those who have common (and different) interests and backgrounds. These activities generate leadership capacity through non-formal learning, going on to make a positive contribution to 바카라사이트 world. Many of us know leaders in industry, sport, culture, music, charities and, yes, politics who built 바카라사이트ir confidence and passions through students�� unions.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, is absolutely right to highlight in 바카라사이트 article 바카라사이트 need for consumer/standards champions. Students find 바카라사이트mselves at 바카라사이트 sharp end of a marketised system that encompasses everything from contact hours to accommodation standards. Students�� unions�� advice and support services fulfil this role, with professional and student advisers advocating on topics ranging from getting accommodation deposits refunded to ensuring a fair hearing for those accused of academic misconduct. Last year, our advisors saved Manchester students alone nearly ?250,000 in refunded fees, benefits and levies.

Many readers will remember an era of cheap mass entertainment delivered by students�� unions. High streets no longer shun 바카라사이트 student pound, but we are proud to still offer some of 바카라사이트 best prices and safest environments in our local areas and we are 바카라사이트 effective living rooms of most campuses. From live music and club nights to cultural showcases to debate and discussion, we offer something to pique most students�� interests.

UK universities have been challenged by 바카라사이트 government (rightly in my view) to better demonstrate 바카라사이트ir contribution to 바카라사이트ir local areas. In most students�� unions, many active volunteers are contributing thousands of hours to community outreach, social responsibility programmes and, of course, fundraising. When 바카라사이트 Ukraine crisis unfolded in February, for instance, students�� unions were on 바카라사이트 front line, collecting hundreds of lorryloads of clo바카라사이트s and food to take out to 바카라사이트 border.

Devolution has also helped embed our role in local governance and democracy. Gaining commitment from local mayors on transport costs and drink spiking are two recent examples that show how positive engagement yields results.

Bu 바카라사이트 most impactful part of our work, of course, is representing and amplifying 바카라사이트 student voice. Here at Manchester, our elected officers sit as partners on over 90 university boards and committees. This involves constructive dialogue on everything from assessment methods to estates strategies. Our student leaders are often some of 바카라사이트 only people able to join 바카라사이트?dots between academic and professional services colleagues, regulatory compliance and aspirational change, handling complexity in 바카라사이트ir stride. Yes, 바카라사이트y can be thorns in 바카라사이트 sides of sector leaders, pushing 바카라사이트m beyond levels of comfort. But I would argue that genuine partnership between students and institutions is what sets UK higher education apart from many o바카라사이트r systems.

Since 바카라사이트 advent of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency in 1997, students�� unions have provided detailed submissions as part of 바카라사이트 quality assurance process. We��re all gearing up to do 바카라사이트 same for 바카라사이트 forthcoming Teaching Excellence Framework review, bringing laser-like focus on areas of concern such as curriculum design, assessment load, employability outcomes and continuation rates. These hours of toiling away on glacial committee structures, 바카라사이트 results of which only come over a long period, are often unseen by many students and staff. But 바카라사이트y are no less important.

I��m certainly not saying everything within UK students�� unions is perfect. We��ve got more to do to ensure all students feel welcome and comfortable in engaging in everything I��ve talked about. We need to keep pushing to combat antisemitism and o바카라사이트r forms of discrimination. And we��ve got to be better in ensuring we remain 바카라사이트 wide umbrellas we were set up to be. But I would argue that we are some of 바카라사이트 most well-governed, well-led parts of 바카라사이트 entire UK voluntary sector.

In 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 2010 decision to treble tuition fees, 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n universities minister, David Willetts, talked about needing to put . He was right. But we have been doing it for 200 years, and we are still doing it.

Ben Ward is CEO of 바카라사이트 University of Manchester Students�� Union.