There are a number of categories that you can enter in this year’s awards. These are listed below, along with the criteria for each one.
Higher education students’ union of the year
- What is the students’ union’s vision and how has this been developed and achieved buy-in from relevant stakeholders?
- How is the union working towards and achieving best practice in planning and objective setting?
- What tangible mechanisms to obtain student feedback are being used and is this information being used to improve the union?
- How is the union positively contributing to the student experience?
- How has the union demonstrated improvement in the past year, in terms of participation, influence and structures?
- What successful campaigns and impacts have the union had?
Further education students’ union of the year
- What is the students’ union’s vision and how has this been developed and achieved buy-in from relevant stakeholders?
- How is the union working towards and achieving best practice in planning and objective setting?
- What tangible mechanisms to obtain student feedback are being used and is this information being used to improve the union?
- How is the union positively contributing to the student experience?
- How has the union demonstrated improvement in the past year, in terms of participation, influence and structures?
- What successful campaigns and impacts have the union had?
Small and specialist students’ union of the year
- This award can be entered by higher education students’ unions only.
- What is the students’ union’s vision and how has this been developed and achieved buy-in from relevant stakeholders?
- How is the union working towards and achieving best practice in planning and objective setting?
- What tangible mechanisms to obtain student feedback are being used and is this information being used to improve the union?
- How is the union positively contributing to the student experience?
- How has the union demonstrated improvement in the past year, in terms of participation, influence and structures?
- What successful campaigns and impacts have the union had?
Course representative of the year
- What were the problems faced by fellow students on the course?
- What was the student representative’s contribution to solving them?
- Please explain the positive impact they made on students’ experience.
- Why they are worthy of recognition?
Higher education students’ union officer of the year
- What have they done over and above the normal expectations for their role and so deserve recognition?
- Have they been an inspiration to others, and in what way?
- What impact have they made on the students’ union, to achieving its aims and objectives, and how these have impacted on the student experience?
- How have they been an inspiration to the students they represent?
- How have they improved participation in their area of the union?
Further education students’ union officer of the year
- What have they done over and above the normal expectations for their role and so deserve recognition?
- Have they been an inspiration to others, and in what way?
- What impact have they made on the students’ union, to achieving its aims and objectives, and how these have impacted on the student experience?
- How have they been an inspiration to the students they represent?
- How have they improved participation in their area of the union?
Simpson-King students’ union staff member of the year
- What has the staff member has done beyond the call of duty and so deserve recognition?
- Who has benefitted from their work and commitment?
- Have they been an inspiration to others, and in what way?
- What impact have they made on the students’ union and the student population?
- How have they contributed to the work of the students’ union, its aims and objectives?
Endsleigh student of the year
- What has the student done to be an example of an outstanding and inspirational student and so deserve recognition?
- Who has benefitted from the student’s actions?
- Have they shown a commitment to volunteering within the last 12 months?
- Have they been an inspiration to others, and in what way?
- What impact has the student made on the student population, student volunteering or local community
- What level of dedication (in terms of time, resources and effort) has the student shown?
Campaign of the year
- What was the campaign, and what did it aim to achieve?
- How did the campaign demonstrate best practice in planning, communication, team working and evaluation?
- What did the campaign achieve and what quantifiable impact did it have on others locally or nationally?
- How did the campaign show creativity in the delivery of campaign objectives through events, activities and communication channels?
- How did the campaign utilise resources within the student body, local stakeholders and/or the media?
Best student media
- How has the media outlet ensured quality of its output whilst encouraging student participation?
- What measures has the media outlet has sought to meet its objectives and target audience?
- How has the media outlet been used to campaign and raise awareness of student issues, what impact has this made?
- What levels of student participation in the production and student uptake of the media outlet?
- What examples of improvements made in the past year have been implemented?
- How has the media outlet encouraged students on non-media courses to contribute?
Student journalist of the year
- How has the student journalist taken information and converted it into high quality and compelling content on their chosen media outlet?
- How have they made a positive impact to the student population – this can be through the content of the stories they have covered or from their dedication to student media?
- What journalistic competencies and skills have they shown through their work?
Club or society of the year
- What successes has the club or society since July 2012?
- What are, and how can you demonstrate the levels of student participation in the club?
- How has the club or society has made the most of its resources to meet its objectives and made an impact?
- How has the club or society has contributed to the student experience in a positive way?
- What activities that have been of benefit to the student population or the wider community has the club or society taken part in or led?
Community relations award
- How has the students’ union has had a significant impact on the local community?
- How has the union demonstrated evidence of best practice in planning, communication, team working and evaluation?
- What evidence of creativity in the delivery of work objectives through events, activities and communication channels?
- What evidence of the ability to effectively utilise resources within the student body, local stakeholders and/or the media?
- What quantifiable impact or change to the target community or beneficiaries have been made?
Endsleigh technology innovation award
- What was the challenge and how was it approached?
- How have they combined creativity with technology to achieve their result?
- How have they made a positive impact on the student population?
- What technology based competencies have they shown through their work?
Equality and diversity award
- How has the union and its structures strengthened equality and diversity activities in areas such as staff recruitment, accessible student activities and involvement of under represented groups in student democracy?
- How has the union shown development of innovative projects and initiatives that have promoted equality and diversity?
- How have these projects helped to improve equality and diversity?
