New DIUS funding to dramatically increase the impact UK students' unions have on the student experience

New DIUS funding to dramatically increase the impact UK students' unions have on the student experience

During this morning’s keynote speech to UK students' union managers, Bill Rammell, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning and Further and Higher Education will announce a DIUS commitment of £280,000 to enable more students' unions to participate in a new quality initiative for students' unions - the Students' Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI).

This move, welcomed by the National Union of Students (NUS), will help to give students' unions the tools they need to raise the quality of management and leadership. Which, in turn, will ensure that students' unions can better develop and respond to the many challenges that they will face and therefore improve the student experience within institutions.

NUS National President, Gemma Tumelty said;

"Students' unions are a key component of the distinctive offering of the UK's Higher Education sector. They act both as representative and campaigning bodies, and providers of social, cultural and welfare facilities.

The decision by DIUS to fund the Students' Union Evaluation Initiative is a vital one, truly showing this Government's commitment to the value of strong students' unions.

A pre-requisite of high quality student representation is that students' unions should be well led, governed and managed. This funding will ensure that extensive and sustainable improvements are made in these fundamental areas.

This is a time of immense change for students' unions. This partnership between NUS and DIUS through the SUEI will ensure that current best practice in students' unions is encouraged and the impact of students' unions on higher education and the student experience is dramatically increased.'

Bill Rammell, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education said;

"The health of the students’ union is essential to the health of the higher education institution and is a crucial part of the higher education experience, which is why I am delighted to announce that the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is funding an extension of the Student Union Evaluation Initiative to cover 30 new students’ unions in England.

We are funding this in partnership with NUS, with a government contribution of £280k. I believe that the Initiative will be essential in helping students’ unions honestly assess their performance against a range of criteria and where appropriate helping them to put in place action plans for improvement."

NOTES

• Twenty students' unions are currently participating in SUEI, a further thirty unions will be able to participate in the initiative as a result of the funding

• For more information see http://www.sueinitiative.co.uk/

• To speak to Gemma Tumelty, call the NUS press office on 07866695010

• The National Union of Students (NUS) represents the interests of over 7 million students in further and higher education in the UK. NUS is committed to improving the lives and experiences of students in the UK, ensuring their voices are heard and effectively represented.

• To see NUS’ draft mission, vision and values see http://resource.nusonline.co.uk/media/resource/Draft%20NEC%20MVV%20and%20strategic%20objectives.pdf