This year we have delivered on our promises to our membership by; creating opportunities for 190 of our students to travel between our international campuses, securing a new first class building from which to base our services and mobilising officer networks to oppose cuts to the Arts that could have established a dangerous precedent.

During a major listening exercise in 2011 we heard about our members’ aspirations, fears, praise and gripes - we used this to form a bold strategic vision. We promised our members proactive development of our core activities by embracing the international nature of our institution, creating employability opportunities and providing strong representation.

Our ability to deliver is underpinned by a sustainable financial base that includes a successful record of providing relevant, value for money, commercial services. In 2012-13 our nightclub, head lease accommodation scheme, membership card and shops have bucked the national trends by generating a contribution to the LUSU charity of £731,855; more than doubling our block grant. In tough economic times we have used this funding to create student employment (111 jobs in 12-13) and also one year internships for our own graduates (8 in ‘12-13 up from 4 in ‘11-12) who have brought fresh ideas and energy to our organisation.

Internationalisation

Our strategic plan identified that engagement with international students was an area we had failed to move on in the past. An initial visit to India by the President, officers and staff identified that Lancaster’s collaborative partners provided a platform for student exchange that built friendships, networks and cultural understanding; we saw this as the starting point to develop an awareness of the students we represent and an appreciation of their needs; both in the UK and at our international campuses.

Upon returning to the UK, officers and staff lobbied the University and secured a £1.1m grant (during ‘12-16). This has enabled us to deliver a three week exchange programme that this year involved 105 students travelling from Lancaster to India, Malaysia and China and also 86 students studying Lancaster programmes overseas to visit us from India, Malaysia, China, Palestine and Pakistan. We plan that by 2016, 500 students will travel overseas each year and another 500 will visit us.

The international programme;

  • Connects our members with Students’ Unions that represent those studying Lancaster degree programmes in other countries, leading international companies, government and community organisations through volunteering.
  • Supports students from WP backgrounds to travel at a hugely discounted rate and creates paid student employment to further remove financial barriers.
  • Is rated 4.6/5 by those travelling overseas who cite meeting the Prime Minister of Malaysia and networking with Virgin Atlantic as highlights. Those visiting the UK scored their experience 7.8/10 and enjoyed debating with the shadow minster for Northern Ireland; a Pakistan student said “If we work together for community we can bring about change”.
  • Creates lasting connections between students. For example, establishing a Indian story-telling society to engage school pupils and the debating society connecting with their counterparts in Pakistan.

Strong Representation

Success overseas has not overshadowed our determination to enliven representation. We have sustained some of the highest percentage voter turnouts; 30% in college (we have nine colleges) and over 20% in all cross campus contests. As an example, a standalone referendum engaged 2,418 voters in supporting improvements in our sabbatical structures.

This year’s priority campaign was born from the announcement that our Music degree scheme was to cease. The priority was to pressure the University to rethink entry requirements, breadth of subject provision and factors that make Lancaster distinctive, so we:

  • Joined forces with our UCU branch to challenge the University’s admissions strategy, declining financial investment in the arts and a lack of focus on improving quality.
  • Launched an awareness raising drive involving 500+ students [see photo].
  • Gained the attendance of 389 students who filled into an Emergency General Meeting to debate and then unanimously condemn the cuts.
  • Used Senate to hold the University management to account.

As a result the admissions strategy has been modified and a strategic conversation is currently ongoing.

We also lobbied the University alongside the Office for the Independent Adjudicator and secured student presence on University complaints panels for the first time. After lobbying, the University has changed the triennial review process to allow direct Students’ Union involvement in Periodic Reviews.

We have revisited Postgraduate representation and provided dedicated staff support, regular open fora, and £15,000 of project funding. The most recent Lancaster Student Experience Survey cited Postgraduate engagement with LUSU as up by 40% (from 2011).

In a time when the University has appointed a new Vice Chancellor, we have responded quickly to ensure student engagement is top of his agenda. This is highlighted most by the appointment of the Students’ Union President onto the University Management Advisory Group (UMAG).

Opportunities

  • We have a record 213 clubs and societies on campus (up 65% from ’11-12) that engage c.6000 students; we have re-prioritised budgets to provide £30,000 to support this activity.
  • We have supported 1,400 (up 150 from ’11-12) of our students to volunteer in the community through opportunities that include aspiration raising schools outreach that targets pupils from WP backgrounds and is supported by 19 academic departments.
  • Officers and volunteers have driven the development, design and construction of our Green Lancaster Eco-Hub building and gardens. A previously derelict barn has been renovated thanks to a £80k University grant and £13k from NUS Student Eats. The site incorporates a base for green volunteering, free-range chickens and organic food production.
  • 69 students have been supported to set up businesses (up 265% from 26 in ’11-12), one example is ‘Slingshot’, that provides a new approach to internet shopping that allows items from anywhere to be placed into your shopping basket – it’s been featured on BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20892658) online and has customers including Sky and Unilever.