NUS Campaign and National Conference

Our engagement with the National Union of Students enables us to send a team of student representatives, or delegates, to the NUS National Conference, which took place in Blackpool last month.

Earlier in the year, you elected five delegates with the aim of working collectively as a team of student representatives for the University of Sunderland Students’ Union. Following their election, the team worked on a policy motion to submit for consideration ahead of the Conference. The submitted motion was entitled: “The negative effect of the current economic development on Higher Education”. After due consideration of this submission and the submissions of delegates from other students’ unions, the motion was combined into an eventual policy proposal entitled: “Campaign for international student equality”.

Our active participation in NUS campaigns and initiatives, are further aimed at amplifying student voices and driving positive change at the national level. Additionally, we held online elections for regional officers, further strengthening our representation within the NUS and ensuring that the interests of North East students are well-represented on a broader scale.

It was an honour to lead delegates in representing University of Sunderland students at the NUS National Conference, which hosted delegates from various students’ unions across the UK. The Conference included workshop sessions to deliberate on reform to NUS democracy, policy priorities and scrutinising the work of Democratic Procedure Committee (DPC), National Scrutiny Council, NUS UK Board and Returning Officer. There was also policy development workshop on the following themes:

• Funding, Food and Shelter: Defending Students' Right to Basic Human Rights
• Campaign for International Student Equality
• Reform to NUS Democracy and Organising
• Increased Further Education Representation in NUS
• Solidarity with the People of Palestine and Preserving the Student Movement