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Section 4: Stake in NUS for AllIntroductionNUS’
ultimate strength remains its membership, and its ability to generate
involvement among its members. I got involved in NUS through the
liberation campaigns, and played a leading role in creating the part-time
Black Students Officer position in 1999. I truly believe in their work not
only to involve the traditionally under-represented groups, but also to
change attitudes on and off campuses. As VP Education, I have worked
closely with NPC to ensure postgraduate students too have a stake in our
national union. The change in the demographic of students has meant that
students’ unions and NUS need to reach out to the diverse nature of our
student communities and provide a flexible service, tailored to their
needs. I am committed to building strong and sustained partnership with
bodies such as RCN, NASUWT and Mature Students Union to build an inclusive
NUS where every member has ownership of our campaigns. LiberationI fully support the autonomy of Liberation
Campaigns and will be committed to support their work. I want Liberation
Campaigns to work and the wider student movement to recognise the valuable
contribution they make to our national union. As President, I will ensure that
the support is made available for their campaigns and events, and I fully pledge
to remove the barriers that undermine their vital work. International StudentsThe number of international
students in UK institutions continues to grow and yet they remain with little
financial support & limited rights to paid work. Over the past two years, I
have campaigned actively to lift the restriction on employment rights for
international students. Last year, I played a central role in the creation of
the International Students’ Committee. This year, I have lobbied ministers for
the regulation of international students’ fees. I am also organising an
international students conference in May 2002 to establish a permanent national
committee for international students. Next year, I will create a specific area
of responsibility on the NEC & in the budget to support work on
international students banking, and provide unions with best practice guides to
support international students locally. Special RegionsNUS-USI is not only the
voice of students in Northern Ireland, but also plays an important part in the
community. Projects such as Community Relations & Conflict Resolution
initiatives have proved to be valuable in bringing students from different
communities together. I have travelled to Northern Ireland on several occasions
to support NUS-USI events, including addressing their demonstration against
hardship. As someone who believes in
devolution, I am committed to working with our Special Regions to call on
Westminster Government to provide the funds to meet the pledges of the
respective governments in Scotland, Wales & NI to eradicate student
hardship. I will ensure that NUS UK
Priority Campaigns are drawn up with the full involvement of our Special
Regions, and I will also take full responsibility on the NEC to oversee the full
implementation of the Bi-lingual policy across all departments. Nursing StudentsAs VP Education, I have attended both the
UNISON & RCN conferences to represent the needs of nursing students. Next
year, I will prioritise campaigning for living salaries & adequate equipment
provision for nursing students. I will establish a forum to bring together
student officers and representatives of nursing & midwifery students, so we
can provide a united and professional support and advice. Postgraduate Students & NPCThis year, I have built a
strong and meaningful link with the National Postgraduates Committee (NPC) and
attended & spoke at its AGM in the Summer. I have also produced a
comprehensive section on the website on PG students covering key issues like
research supervision & PG student funding. I have also established a
permanent seat for the NPC on HENC to ensure the voice of PG students remain at
the core of our National Union. As President, I will
integrate work on PG students within our staffing structures so we can begin to
provide MPs with research documentation and information for better support for
PG studies. Initial Teacher training (ITT) StudentsThis year I have worked
closely with the NASUWT to rid the education system of the unfair system of
numercy tests and to call for financial parity for all Initial Teacher Training
students. As President, I will
maintain the close ties with NASUWT to continue to provide representation and
much needed advice to ITT students. I will promote the work of the NUS/NASUWT
caseworker and build formal links between local NASUWT and students’ unions.
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