Bob Anderson – The University of Surrey Students’ Union

• • The UK is seeing a drop in International recruitment
• • The traditional UK Students’ Union model does not appeal
• • Focus of many UK SU’s has traditionally been to hold on to
• • The need to look outside the UK into another system that is

Surrey Students
International students make up almost 25% of our total population and up to 70% of our postgraduates.
Postgraduates make up circa 40% of our membership.
Surrey celebrates an increasingly diverse multicultural society with a variety of expectations
The University of Surrey Strategic Plan has set out the path for dealing with the challenges of the next decade.
The Students’ Union is in a position to make informed choices about how best to support the changing needs of the students and the University and has it’s own 5 year strategy.

• • Surrey was typical of medium sized UK Students’ Union’s
• • Our constitution was non inclusive, undergraduate centric and only
• • Although Surrey continues to beat the national decline in incom e, it still runs on the traditional model of wet sales and entertainme nt to
• • Participation in activities from International and Postgraduate
• • Students had become uninterested in the democratic workings of the Union and the Union had no real relationship with the Univer sity

The student’s world :
The lifestyle of students continues to change
The student environment is also changing dramatically
Developments in technologies, teaching styles and support services are adapting to suit student’s needs
There is an increasing focus on the ‘Student Experience’
Need to acknowledge consumer satisfaction and feedback at all levels of the institution
Change in political climate of Students’ Unions
Greater need for the Students’ Union to ensure continuation of its primary function as the custodian of students’ rights

Australia Key Points:
• Australia introduced tuition fees in the early 1990’s
• There have already be successful cases where students have reclaimed their fees for poor teaching quality
• Australian Union’s are heavy income generators, relying little on the sale of alcohol for their main sources of income.
• The governance models for Australian Unions sees a greater level of influence from their University and from external trustees / stakeholders.
• There seems to be a greater level of awareness of democratic and representational processes than in the UK.
• Heavy discussion as to whether students are customers.

Following our return:
• The Union authored a 5 year strategic plan following Australia
• A constitutional review has taken place over 2 years to introduce greater synergy with Academic Faculties and create a new governance model including external trustees
• The Union has diversified its trading, creating spin off companies and brands (including Origin Events Ltd, FLIRT! and Tease)
• The Union was able to negotiate an increase in its subvention grant from the University of Surrey and introduce developments in areas of skills development, volunteering and entrepreneurship.
• Other concepts are being considered as seen in Australia, including: juice bars, purchase of shares, property ownership and collections of art

Following Australia, USSU clearly defined its functions in the f ollowing way

PRE AUSTRALIA

The Student Activities Department currently runs
NB. Active Clubs only
International Week
Colours Ball
Social Sports / River Sports
Debating Week
Freshers Fayre

Things to think about :
• To help UK Universities retain and grow their market share, Unions have got to embrace wider considerations for provision and integration of International students.
• The governance models of UK Unions are going to have to adapt to make way for better regulation through the Charities Act – towards Aus style trusteeships.
• Unions have to think outside the normal conventions and be the providers of a wide variety of elements as part of the overall student experience.
• Top Up Fees will only ever increase the likelihood that Unions will be called on to battle Universities over quality of teaching and learning and assist students in getting value for money.
• Based on Australia, the UK will soon be faced with redefining Unions from membership orientated towards customer orientated approach for key services.

Bob Anderson – The University of Surrey Students’ Union