Every year across the sector in the early part of spring, thousands of students put their name forward hoping to become the following year’s full time, elected student leaders for their university.
Many only see the litter of leaflets, the lollipops being handed out by candidates in costumes, or the over-zealous estates jobsworth carefully removing posters from prohibited areas in the dead of night. It looks like – and in many ways is – a garish popularity contest.
But most of those standing and even more of those winning have a deep passion for improving their university and its “student experience”. This cracking video from one of the outgoing “sabbs” (from “sabbatical”, although most do it at the end) explains the role – often operating right at the nexus of students’ urgent expectations for change and the sector’s often snail pace at delivering it.
As well as writing blogs about HE policy and popping up to talk about cost of living or belonging at sector events, we both spend a good chunk of our week supporting those student leaders to be more impactful, influential and powerful when they’re talking to students.
We have both relished poring over the promises that candidates have made this year in their manifestos. They are, especially when combined with meeting most of them, in a real and visceral sense, an eye-opener.
Many have strange fonts or outlandish ideas, some have policy proposals so parochial and specific that they make us wince, while others are so “big picture” or vague as to make us feel for the local SU staff trying to get an action plan out of the post-it notes.
But read them all – as we have almost done this year (some SUs seem to have abolished them, which is frustrating) and you get a real sense of what the emergent priorities of students are, and the sort of support they might need to realise their ambitions for their education.
You also get a clear view of what students feel students are missing, and where the big gaps are. When you know the regulatory frameworks inside out like we do,they’re painful to read – because more often than not students are promising to “push” for things that the “system” has already promised as a minimum.
It’s also poignant to reflect on the ambition that many of the manifestos reflect for the future of higher education when compared about the narrow (or indeed nailed shut) policy window available to achieve those changes amid a slow-burn funding crisis.
Once again this year we’ve picked six big themes that we think the sector ought to think carefully about, along with some examples of commitments made that students will be seeking to secure in the year ahead.
1. Organisation and management
The first thing worth highlighting is the sheer number of what the NSS might call “organisation and management” issues coming through in 2024’s batch – all of which might have been forgivable when the bulk of students had three years and plenty of spare time to cope around. But in a contemporary context, they do feel especially acute:
I will aim to… ensure that no major deadlines fall on the same, or on consecutive days of each other. In addition to this, the introduction of ‘guidance’ hours across all departments, to give students the chance to speak to lecturers about content away from a class setting.
Fenella Johnson, Academic Officer, York University SU
I endeavour to advocate for spacing between assessment deadlines, as assessment bunching and multiple deadlines at the same time, can be highly stressful and may hinder students from submitting their best work.
Madeeha Saher, VP Education (Arts & Sciences), KCLSU
…students are often juggling part-time and even full-time jobs alongside their studies, facing a housing crisis and relying on food banks, coupled with a difficult legislative scene which continues to make students feel ever so stifled.
Russell Group SUs manifesto 2024
In pretty much every set of manifestos there’s a collection of pledges that are really about juggling the demands of long commutes, part-time work, caring responsibilities and extracurriculars:
Make an effective timetable that takes into account transportation constraints and maximises student productivity.
Farhan Zakir (Salamouny, Ahmed), VP Education, UWE SU
I know that timetabling is one of the biggest problems you are having with the university. I’m already working on making changes to this but I want to continue my work to make sure you are having and getting the university experience you deserve.
Martha Mitchell, President, Hallam SU
Despite plenty of research on the issue(s), progress feels slow – with those not able to be around all week getting their needs reflected in the pledges on offer:
Exploring the opportunity to move the start time to 9.15 which in turn will allow additional time for commuters, family/careers, full time working, and all students arrive to class at a reasonable time.
Holly Lloyd, President, Derby Union of Students
Prioritizing fair workloads, convenient timetables, and timely feedback, I aim to empower your academic journey.
Rewathi Viswanatham, VP, Cardiff Met SU
If students aren’t turning up to class, it might feel like students are less interested then they were in learning – but the ideas on offer tell a different story, one of students pretty desperate to achieve academic immersion, albeit scaffolded in a way that feels possible:
Campaign for a more interdisciplinary education, allowing students to broaden their academic experience. I want everyone to have the opportunity to study things beyond their home department that they find interesting.
Alex Keen, Education Officer, Birmingham Guild of Students
Academic excellence and intellectual growth are at the core of our postgraduate journey. I will collaborate with faculty and administrators to advocate for resources and initiatives that enrich our academic pursuits. This includes securing research grants, organising interdisciplinary seminars, and facilitating networking events.
Ritakshi Maheshwari, Postgraduate Officer, Birmingham Guild of Students
In fact many of the ideas suggest that while bolting more onto the expectations of student life outside of the formal credit system was a smart idea 2 decades ago, increasingly students want hard decisions to be taken over what counts and doesn’t within it.
2. The first cut won’t hurt at all
In a number of the manifestos, it’s easy to feel the impacts of efforts to reduce costs per student. Pledge like this are not untypical – and suggest that more ought to be done to understand the impacts of rapid recruitment to make the numbers add up:
Accountability: Holding the University accountable for oversubscribing courses, which has led to overwhelmed lecturers and overcrowded libraries/lecture theatres. Creating solutions such a tutoring system in certain schools, with out-sourced staff to accommodate for lack of lecturer support and aiming to reduce course sizes.
Nicola Maina, Union Development Officer, University of Nottingham SU
Many of the campuses are overpopulated with not enough space dedicated to study areas. This is an issue that many students have raised and is therefore an issue I would like to work on.
Lucy Church, Candidate for VP Education, Brookes SU
Something that’s also starting to come through with clarity is the state of the estate. There’s promises on freezing cold blocks, dangerous paving, a chronic lack of space to socialise and an alarming number of pledges to fix lifts:
Current construction work often closes parts of campus with little communication to the student body. This, paired with issues such as regular lift breakages and broken/non existent disabled door access creates a large issue in accessing campus and education for our student body.
Darcie Jones, Vice President Education, University of Plymouth SU
We often wonder about the extent to which estates priorities reflect or even reflect on student needs and priorities – perhaps less important when times are good, but arguably essential when the budgets tighten.
Space is a consistent theme – we’ve lost count of the number of projects and ideas that come down to having somewhere to sit:
Expanding the new student kitchen and social spaces to the other three campuses.
Ckyra Laurence, Union of Kingston Students
Have rest and relax spots on campus to escape the busy university life.
Lillian Watson, President, Chester SU
An improved social life on campus with better spaces and options for socialising, eating, relaxing, and praying for all religions.
Mojahar Ali, VP Equity and Welfare, London Met SU
Lobbying the University to provide more accommodating spaces on campus for socialising such as wind down / quiet areas in libraries or classrooms.
Alex Wilson, President, Winchester SU
But more broadly, there’s a strong sense that as the sector makes difficult decisions, it’s failing to take students with it. Not all students will only notice when long gone, and not all election addresses signal goals – many carry commentary of this sort:
We don’t need a glossy brochure; we need the security that we are going to get the quality of education we’re paying for. Student satisfaction is baselining and, ultimately, if universities are going to be run like businesses, then students need to be treated as valued customers rather than cash cows.
Lulu Collins, President, Kent SU
3. But the rent
The cost of living crisis is very much not over, and as we might expect, is stripped right throughout the manifestos. Many of the pledges represent heartbreaking aspirations – not to be rolling in case, but to just be able to afford the basics:
Launch the LSE Market; a subsidised supermarket on campus. Provide free menstrual products in all buildings on campus. Provide students with a discount when joining more than one society.
Tito Molokwu, Gen Sec, LSE SU
Continue pushing for a University Guarantor scheme so that international students don’t have to pay an entire year’s rent up front
Cerys Evans, President, Lancaster University SU
I will work with local staff to ensure students are supported during the cost of living crisis, including aiming to introduce at least one free meal day available from campuses.
Shannon MacCallum, VP Education, UHI Students’ Association
Introduce healthy, affordable food options.
Lily-May Cameron, President, University of Essex Students’ Union
As in previous years, we’re both disappointed and inspired by the extent to which the ideas on offer represent ways of coping rather than preventing the problem – when we talk to them, they recognise that they need long term solutions but in the face of that, they also want realistic short term solutions to alleviate the impact on their fellow students’ studies.
We’re disappointed because we really do need pressure on decision makers to create solutions, but inspired because of the practical ways in which student leaders seem focussed on the scaffolding that would enable students to help themselves, or eachother:
Fancy dress swap scheme with the potential to expand this to a thrift shop
Olivia Hunt, Activities and Opportunities Officer, UEA SU
A financial fitness campaign to empower you following the recent financial announcements made by the university by giving you tools to help with budgeting, and how to make more informed financial decisions.
Amelia Hinton, Support & Development, Lincoln SU
Incentivise SU Swap Shop – themed socials are great! But we don’t need to buy new outfits for them that get used once.
Nadya Ghani, Welfare & Sustainability Officer, University of Sheffield SU
We’re also constantly amazed when we rock up to campuses at how few students work seem to work there outside of ambassador roles – something many of our US cousins are spectacularly better at – and a strategy over which plenty of student leaders would clearly welcome:
To enhance the student experience, I will work towards creating more job opportunities within the university. These opportunities will not only provide financial support but also valuable work experience, enriching the overall university journey for our students.
Sodiq Ayobami Lawal, GSU officer, Greenwich SU
4. Rules Britannia
Transition looms large across the collection – as it has always done – but the notable aspect is the extent to which international winners feel unprepared as a result of whatever is on offer during their induction:
I will hold an information class on how to study under the British education system at the beginning of the new semester to solve the problem of international postgraduates who are unfamiliar with the teaching mode and have difficulty in learning.
Linming Sun, Postgraduate Officer, Newcastle University SU
Academic Seminar for New Students: New students, particularly international students, encounter challenges in adapting to academic tasks and assignments. In collaboration with BU Library, practical sessions on critical writing, AI use and referencing will be organised for new intakes, both in-person and online, ensuring broader accessibility.
Grace Egbonna Ehiosun, VP Education, Students Union Bournemouth SU
You get a real sense that the sector has not properly addressed the assumptions that surround induction once you have large volumes of international students as PGTs – although the good news is that more often than not, it’s something student reps see themselves facilitating as experts in this area.
It’s also something that’s true in terms of wider structures and policies as well:
Lobby for Masters students to retake an exam in same year, not the next year – particularly difficult for international students who have to come back and forth to UK for resits.
Deputy President Education, Emina Hogas, Imperial College Union
5. But somehow the vital connection is made
It’s also hard to overstate how many manifestos discuss networks and networking. The sense – that students want more opportunities to come together outside of their immediate characteristics or course groups – might have felt like a luxury in the past, but takes on a new meaning when belonging is overlaid:
Build belonging: Focusing on more culture at university with a range of night and day activities for everyone, including students and staff. These include open mic nights, poetry readings, comedy nights, talks, cinema nights, film screenings and more.
Indi Williams, SU President of Community and Welfare, NUA SU
To re-introduce CoLab and making it more visible and easier to find for all students. CoLab was a platform that allowed students to contact each other regarding collaborative projects.
Jadelle Luckman, President Falmouth, Falmouth and Exeter SU
And where we once would have seen pledges on reps being better supported, we now see more on their role in bringing others together:
I aim to increase our amount of Course reps and work with them and my fellow Presidents to create faculty support networks for students.
Tom Shoulder, President for Academic Experience, Hull University SU
There’s an especially interesting theme across the docs that we might summarise as “social solidarity” – the sense that while directly supporting particular groups with particular needs, what would really help would be wider awareness amongst students so they can support eachother:
I plan to organise a series of events, workshops, and campaigns aimed at educating the student body about issues of inequality and social justice. Through these initiatives, I aim to build a campus culture that is not only aware of diversity issues but is actively working to address them.
Nuriat Oluwa, Liberation Officer, University of Nottingham Students’ Union
…highlight issues of inaccessibility across the different campuses, and raise awareness of what it’s like to live within a society that is not designed to cater for our needs.
Sophie Anderson
The need for the return of the NSS question on community – along with a viable national population survey for PGRs and PGTs – has never felt greater. And it’s also refreshing to see students place greater demands on the people responsible for the place in which they live:
Communicating with Nottingham city council and police to ensure safety schemes, including the Nottingham City Council Community Protection van, are better known and further developed for optimum safety and fewer sexual assaults and harassment
Work alongside club representatives, Nottingham police and council to tackle ongoing bouncer violence
Ela Taylor, Community Officer, University of Nottingham Students’ Union
Our student union is our collective voice… with institutions such as the City Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. This means loudly opposing private housing developments which are unaffordable for the vast majority of students, continuing our steadfast support for the people of Palestine in their struggle against genocide, and fighting tooth and nail against a resurgent far-right which utilises transphobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism and sexism to undermine solidarity in our communities.
Elliot Briffa, City and Community Officer, University of Manchester SU
Little of the civic work seems to really address what it’s like to be a student in most towns and cities – students are still frequently “othered” by local authorities. It’s something that it will be vital to address if Starmer’s devolution ambitions come to fruition.
6. Think about it seriously, you know it makes sense
If Jim compares the manifestos in the attic to the contemporary crop, the sheer volume of careers related pledges these days is astonishing:
Build relationships between the Careers department and academic societies when offering careers related events and opportunities. Embedding employability modules across schools and departments. Empower students to understand the skills they learn through their degree and student leadership positions.
Madelaine Gray, VP Education, Royal Holloway SU
Supporting students to find sandwich placements, Improving careers fairs.
Sarah Lahreche – Business, Technology and Engineering College Officer, Hallam SU
It also speaks, we think, to both the needs and expectations that international students have around their career – and the sense that whether or not the education improves, it’s the ability to meet other students and employers that matters most:
More curated networking opportunities (UG and PG) between students and employers across all the departments.
Sanidhya Shetty, VP Education, Solent SU
My goal is to organise an even more impactful and comprehensive program. This will include workshops, industry connections, and tailored support to empower students, ensuring they transition successfully into the workforce.
Kolawole Samuel Olure, President, UWE SU
Networking opportunities with industry professionals.
Lillian Watson, President, Chester SU
But more broadly, there’s an old(ish) issue lurking in the text – the sense that there simply isn’t enough curriculum time for employment related activity embedded into programmes:
I believe that gaining work experience is vital for our future job prospects. The university already has strong ties with many local businesses. Therefore, I shall campaign for an optional, “work-experience” module into all subject areas so that when students graduate, they can have relevant experience on their CV to the subject they are studying.
Shreyas Gandhi, Education Officer, Reading Students’ Union
Committee roles should be credited for the time and effort they are contributing. At the minimum students should be provided with extensions, flexibility, and career support.
Annie Henderson, Wellbeing and Sports Officer, Sheffield SU
What’s especially interesting about many of the solutions here is not that they would be especially expensive to implement – because there’s not a lot in there that would involve more staff providing support. More often than not, student leaders want the scaffolding that would enable students to provide it instead:
Enhance academic assistance by implementing additional resources such as peer-led study sessions, ensuring that students receive comprehensive support throughout their academic journey.
Gabrielle Bailey, Officer for Biology, Medicine & Health Officer, University of Manchester SU
Revamp the peer mentoring scheme to be more effective for first year students and rewarding for mentors
Reed James, Community Officer, Leicester SU
Listen to the sound from deep within
There’s plenty we haven’t covered in detail here – counselling services wait times, improving aspects of SU internal operations, and taking steps to improve such that students feel more listened to are all as present as they ever were.
The sports ones seem to have a strong link to health:
Promoting the positive impact sport and physical exercise has on mental health.
Molly Davies, President (Student Life), Canterbury Christchurch SU
And AI is everywhere – with the sector’s stated promises on integration into curricula frequently showing up as undelivered in practical terms thus far:
…integrating AI into course curricula. This will be through improving learning and productivity, as well as improving assessment methods to take this technology into account and better measure students’ abilities.
James Simpson, Academic Experience Officer, Loughborough SU
In collaboration with BU Library, practical sessions on critical writing, AI use and referencing will be organized for new intakes, both in-person and online, ensuring broader accessibility
Grace Egbonna Ehiosun, VP Education, Students Union Bournemouth SU
It’s also with noting that where they don’t exist or are sparse, the push for instalment options on tuition fee payments is almost universal:
The tight tuition fee instalments plan gets hard on many students especially international students. We will push for more flexibility with tuition fee instalments, we need more than two instalments to deposit our fee. You deserve a payment plan that works for you, not against you.
Sheeba Naaz, VP Postgraduate, KCLSU
Behind every bullet point, of course, is a tale – either of personal battles or those of housemates, relatives and friends. We’re often surprised at how little interest seems to be shown in their experiences, as opposed to identifying and then warning them off their goals.
Our top tip if you’re working with student leaders at any level in the year ahead remains as follows: don’t dismiss the pledges on paper or sideline the ideas on offer – intread interrogate carefully and listen to why students are proposing what they are, working to address what drove the apparently daft idea in the first place.
Officers make conscious decisions about their manifestos beyond wanting to win an election. They identify what’s been missing for them and their fellow students and vow to fight to make it better, and the more we listen, ask and understand why they care about what they’ve written, the more we can do to scaffold an enhanced student experience instead of seeing the same manifesto points be repeated next year.
We promise you’ll be rewarded with energy, creativity, commitment and a real passion for the place – something that feels like it’s often in short supply these days in HE.
