Aaron Draft Manifesto 11

8/7/2019 Aaron Draft Manifesto 11

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NUS NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2011

RE-ELECT AARON PORTERFOR

NUS PRESIDENT

BUILDING ON A RECORD YEAR


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AARON PORTER for

National President

NUS has delivered its most high profile year indecades. The student movements reaction tothe austerity measures of the Coalition Govern-ment, higher education funding reforms, w ith-drawal of the Education Maintenance Allow-ance, axeing of AimHigher and scrapping of theFuture Jobs Fund w ill go down in history.

It will go down in history because NUS managed to en-

sure our issues dominated the debate, galvanised publicsupport and shot to the top of the agenda. Of course NUSisnt responsible for this alone, but it was our decisive ac-tions at critical moments a campaign built on a longterm strategy, a costed alternative which gained us credi-bility, allowing us to steer the debate and build public sup-port.

The coming months and years move us into a new, anddifficult territory. I will lead an NUS which retains its prin-

cipled opposition to the higher education reforms andseeks to reverse the marketisation in our education sys-tem. But I will also lead a student movement that doesntbury our head in the sand pretending those reforms arenot coming around the corner, and ensure that we arefighting for new and improved student rights and recogni-tions, new protection and increased funding for studentsunions and improvements in access and participation ineducation.



REVERSING THE MARKETISATION IN HE PRIORITISING FURTHER EDUCATION

FIGHTING FOR NEW STUDENT RIGHTS A NEW DEAL FOR STUDENTS UNIONS

I am re-standing for NUSPresident, to ensure we

continue to provide lead-ership from the front, that

we deploy the right tactic

at the right tim e; directaction , lobbying, researchand evidence-based cam-paigning to fight for newrights for all students anda new deal for students


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AARON PORTER FOR NUS PRESIDENT

ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2010/ 11

NUS has delivered a record breaking year for students. Our campaigns and researchled helped to ensure that the rights of students have dominated the public debate inan unprecedented fashion over the last few months. NUS decision to devise a longterm strategy on funding, with a fully costed alternative to tuition fees, a master-

stroke pledge which boxed in politicians, a 50000 strong national demonstration fol-lowed by scores of student actions that has seen the resurgence of the studentmovement as a force to be reckoned with. Of course NUS cant take full credit, norshould it, but our decisive actions have re-ignited a generation of students, andtaken our issues to the top of the agenda. Since becoming President I have deliv-

Ground breakingVote for Students andsubsequent campaign of enforcement dominated thedebate on tuition fees and was the foundation for the

most high profile student campaign in over 20 years.Widely regarded as the most effective tactic of anycampaigning organisation in 2010.

Over 50000 students and supporters on thestreets of London on 10th November jointly with UCUagainst cuts to education

5 Nationw ide Days of Actions in campuses

across the country co-ordinated by NUS fighting EMA,tuition fees and broader youth issues

Scores offlash protests targeted at politicians intent on breaking their pledge on tuition fees

ANational Protest with the TUC and UCU andrally with trade unions in Manchester on 29th January

Change in policy from the Labour Party fromtuition fees to a graduate tax

Achange in policy in the Liberal Democrat partyin support of a graduate tax (sadly a number of theirMPs did not honour this, or their Vote for Studentspledge in the crucial vote)


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The biggest rebellion in the history of the Liberal Democrat party on the tui-tion fee vote

Loans for part-time students, first called for by NUS over 2 years ago

Improvements in the Access Agreements for all institutions, meaning more

money on outreach and student support.

2 lobbies of Parliament (on tuition fees and EMA)

Historic partnership w ith UCU and other Trade Unions

Student issues dominating the public debate in the most high profile wayfor decades

Direct support for local cuts campaigns on campus

Support for the VP FE to fight against the scrapping o f the EducationMaintenance Allowance

Greater engagement with FE Unions as part of the wider funding campaign

Greater communication with students and SUs by improving direct interac-tion with students, and coverage in student m edia

The greatest local and national media coverage in the history of NUS


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Freeze in affiliation fees to decrease NUS dependency on funding from Stu-dents Unions

More SUs in membership with Durham SU re-joining NUS

Improvements to the NUS Benefits Statement, so we start to becomebetter at articulating affiliation benefits to SUs

Ongoing support to SUs in Mission Groups

Started student poll ing on topical issues to help ensure students are settingthe national agenda and not just responding

Greater support for Unions in Crisis

More focus on Widening Participation and Access than ever before

Detailed engagement with the HE White Paper setting out new rights forstudents including transparency on costs of study in HE, improved information,advice and guidance for prospective students.

Drastic improvement in the performance of the Student Loans Com-pany compared to 2009/10.

Employabil ity statements from every institution to help improve the qual-ity of support for graduates into the workforce

Direct lobbying to the Home Office to fight against reforms to Tier 4 visa ap-plications for international students

Support for a new dedicated FE Unit within NUS

Improvements in our national relationship w ith BUCS


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REVERSING THE MARKETISTATION OF EDUCATION

This year we saw the most radical reform of higher education funding, matched bythe most high profile and relentless campaign in opposition to the Coalitions plans. Acampaign based on an alternative, led by NUS and supported by students and stu-dents unions from the four corners of the UK from a 50000 national demonstra-

tion, scores of campus protests, petitions, lobbying and in Vote for Students themost innovative tactic of any campaigning organisation seen in years.

NUS faced with the introduction of an unprecedented market in higher educationmust retain a firm and vocal oppostition to the market.


I w il l deliver

Direct opposition to the market in higher education.

An ongoing campaign of both direct action and lobbying, ensuring NUSleads the way for the re-introduction of public funding for the arts, humani-ties and social sciences

A UK wide campaign ofprotests focussed at MP s who broke their prom-ise on tuition fees, utilising Right to Recall legislation where appropriate.

Lobbying of the Labour Party and others in opposition to devise a costed al-ternative for higher education so that this can be open to scrutiny

Force institutions to publish transparent information about additionalcosts of study, and push for the elimination of hidden course costs

Regulation to prevent institut ions charging h igher fees if they fail tomeet access requirements

Pushing for the introduction ofmodular funding to prom ote lifelonglearning

Raising the issue of postgraduate funding ignored by both Lord Browne and the

Coalition to push for the provision of loans for postgraduate taught stu-dents.

Greater transparency of International student fees, to ensure institutionsare not simply treating them like cash cows.

Continue to increase our engagement w ith Trade Unions in the broader anti-cuts campaign


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PRIORITISING FURTHER EDUCATION

Over the last 12 months with the Vice President Further Education, we have ensuredFE has had more prominence than ever before in NUS; ensuring FE funding has beenincorporated in the Priority Campaign for the first time, national action on the EMA,opposition to the removal for second chance learners and continued support for FEUnions but there is so much more still to do.

I w ill deliver

Support the development of a dedicated Further Education Unit withinNUS to continue to raise the pro file of FE across the organisation

Support NUS first national work w ith apprentices

Fight for the reinstatement oftargeted financial support for the pooreststudents in colleges

Improved training for FE student governors and officers Support for FE Unions to ensure they have fit for purpose constitutions and a

strategy for block grant funding

Develop an FE model for the Students Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI).

Ensure NEC members visit a minimum number of FE Colleges and Un-ions as part of Union visits



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FIGHTING FOR NEW STUDENT RIGHTS

The HE White Paper should be seen as an opportunity to secure new rights for stu-dents enshrined in law, and ensures that institutions are forced to comply with. Inaddition to rights for students, I will be seeking greater protection and funding forStudents Unions.

I w il l deliver

Swifter resolution of student complaints at a national level, pushing for a maxi-mum of 6 months

Campaign for the abolition of hidden course costs Support the roll out of detailed academic information for every course, at every

institution to support prospective students The right for students to change course or institution mid-study if their institu-

tion has failed to deliver on what it promised Campus ombudsmen linked to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator to en-

sure students can get immediate support in dealing with complaints Parity of treatment across part-time and full-time study on regulations and fi-

nance The right for students to hold their institution to account if they fail to deliver as

advertised in prospectus material. Increased student representation in institutional decision making, as a reflection

of changing financing of HE

Push for a dedicated careers advisor in every school and college to help improveInformation, Advice and Guidance for every prospective student

A national application system for postgraduate application (similar to UCAS) Support the use of contextual data in admissions to inform HE admissions Greater support on employability from institutions, including ongoing use of ca-

reers services and increased provision of work experience and placements.



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DELIVERING A NEW DEAL FOR STUDENTS UNIONS

NUS needs to place more central support to ensure that Students Unions are get-ting more personalised and expert support. The day of one size fits all support areno longer appropriate, and NUS needs to recognise the diversity of our studentbody, but also our students unions. This means more nuanced support for similarUnions, better central support from NUS HQ to ensure that expert support is givenon key issues like student engagement, increasing election turnout, diversifying in-come for SUs etc.

I w il l deliver

NUS to cut affiliation fees by 10% in recognition of the difficult financial cli-mate SUs are in

NUS will provide greater support for Unions from similar missions

Greater support for Small & Specialist Unions A hub of online support and cutting edge research to ensure NUS is sharing

best practice for SUs wanting better information on engaging non-traditionalstudents, improving election turnout, diversifying income etc

Greater legal and financial protection for SUs in the HE White Paper Work with institutions and SUs to build a database of over 1million student

contacts. Important for student engagement and future campaign effective-ness.

Further improvements, transparency and distribution of the NUS Benefits

Statement to clearly demonstrate what NUS has achieved in the last 12months including campaigns won, national representation, research, presscoverage, projects delivered and financial benefits.

Second Year Sabb training to provide additional benefits in our training provi-sion

Accreditation for training undertaken with NUS Greater support for Unions from similar missions, to ensure NUS is providing

more specialist support Expert support for Unions re-working their constitution or governing docu-

ments

Documents

Aaron Draft Manifesto 11