On 9th April, over 750 students (including your 3 elected delegates from Worcester) throughout higher and further education from across the UK spent a week in Glasgow to debate and decide on key policy issues affecting students.
NUS is run by a team of full time elected officers, representing the broad range of our membership. NUS National Conference elects the National President and 4 Vice Presidents - Further Education, Higher Education, Welfare, and Union Development.
Successful candidates for all positions:
NUS National President - Zamzam Ibrahim (priorities include: free education, re-introducing EMA, bringing back the post-study work visa)
NUS Vice President Further Education - Juliana Mohamad Noor (the BAME attainment gap in FE, tackle the cuts to funding into FE colleges)
NUS Vice President Higher Education - Claire Sosienski Smith (fighting back against the Prevent Legislation, decolonise Universities, better mental health services for students)
NUS Vice President Welfare - Eva Crossan Jory (fairer student rent, fighting sexual harassment on campus, better GP access for students)
NUS Vice President Union Development - Erica Ramos (right to remain for EU students, review the Totum card branding and returning to the NUS card brand, more accessible accountability measures for NUS elected officers)
For the first time in NUS history, we have an all-female team!
Left to right: Claire Sosienski Smith, Juliana Mohamad Noor, Zamzam Ibrahim, Erica Ramos, Eva Crossan Jory
Zamzam has promised to lead a national student strike, which would demand free education, an improved education maintenance allowance (EMA) and the restoration of the post-study work visa for international students. She has also pledged to campaign to secure EU citizens' rights post-Brexit.
Delegates at the Conference also approved a set of changes intended to transform the 100-year-old organisation and save it from financial collapse.
Speaking at the end of the debate, outgoing NUS President Shakira Martin welcomed the vote. "I am grateful to Conference for taking this momentous decision to endorse reform and deliver the vision of members. This vote sends a clear message that we have listened, heard and acted. We will now prepare for a company law meeting and subject to their endorsement for transition, the organisation will reform. This will see us create a new NUS structure that addresses the governance issues that have contributed in part to our current financial challenges."
Last October, NUS informed members that it had a £3.6m shortfall and was facing potential insolvency. The NUS London office was put up for sale, a loan secured, and a round of cost-cutting measures resulted in 54 redundancies and plans to reduce elected officers from 20 to 12.
Activists campaigned against plans to rid NUS of liberation officers, who represent black, LGBT+, trans, disabled, and female students. The Conference in Glasgow approved amendments of the original motion, including one stating that if the NUS was able to afford more officers in future, full time liberation officers should be restored.
The measures approved by Conference will allow for a simplified governance structure, a reduction in fees charged to members and a "modern approach to campaigning and service delivery".