Last week I wrote about the idea of a culture change, this week I want to expand a bit further on what I think that needs to look like. The luxury of having time to think about what change should look like and how we can best affect it is one of the benefits of working during the summer. This week our Communications Officer, Jeremy, has been putting the final touches to our Welcome Handbook with the help of exec and this allowed me to go back to my manifesto and consider why I was so passionate about standing for this position in the first place and why I think it is brilliant for other students to get involved.

A student union provides you with a really unique opportunity, the chance to display leadership and initiative in your activities with a freedom that few schools allow while giving you a safety net to sample a wide variety of activities and even fail which no job with profit margins to hit could sustain.  There is the chance to learn and bounce off the ideas and skills of your peers, something I personally experienced through the Mancunion, our student paper, and the campaigning collective, but can be found through any of our 200+ societies, RAG, Student Action, Fuse FM, the course rep system and more!

Our independence from the University allows us to do this in a manner which is truly student led and ensures that we don’t have to worry about ‘being down with the kids’, as , if our representation is working well, we know that ‘we are the kids’. Though admittedly the exec may have a few more features of political hacks than your average student, but that makes us good at working the University politics to make sure the student voice is heard. (or so we like to think!).

It is only through our independence that we can ensure that the University listens to us and we can be critical without fear that they will fire us – only the student body can do that!

In this period of cuts and changes to higher education where the goverment is proposing that 2 years degrees and degrees spread over 5-6 years should become the norm it is difficult to know where our individual Union’s voice can fit into the discussion. I had a long coffee with Kate, our Academic Affairs officer about how we can impact the Univerisity and also the government in the appropriate manner with a well thought through foundation to build from. Ultimately our concern is that Manchester provides its students with the best possible academic experience which allows them to leave fulfilled in terms of knowledge, but also with excellent job prospects,  with appropriate levels of welfare support and a strong CV where they’ve been able to learn skills past their degree programme(what in jargon the Uni calls ‘the student experience’). UMSU has a role in safeguarding and lobbying the Univeristy over the first two concerns and having a very active role in the thrid and forth.

UMSU has a great opportunity to find it’s direction and working out what we’re good at and how that fits into our role certainly seems like a good start.

I’m off on holiday now, it’s been a great 6 weeks, but I’m certainly ready for a break and I’m looking forward to coming back energised, tanned (sort of) and ready to give you guys an awesome year and make sure your voice is being heard right at the top of the University!

The past two weeks have involved a plethora of exciting events, including the formality of my graduation, an exec away day and the rather formal Board of Governors for the University. During the latter event, one wise  man told me that it was easy to make changes in one year, or even five, which are noticeable because they mess something up, but making positive changes are usually so incremental that the fruit they bear are often not seen for many years. This seems to be because often the most positive change we can make in work, and even in family and friendship groups, is one of a culture change and laying strong positive foundations.

However, when chatting to students who have elected me, or senior University officials it doesn’t sound dynamic or sexy to say my big aim for this year is to lay in place a culture which will allow positive student led change to occur in future years. Indeed, there is a chance this year we will fall far short of the potential which Manchester has.  One of the unique and most exciting aspects of being part of ‘the student movement’ is  the fluidity with which everything flows as each office has one year to make their mark. This also means we have to be cautous of being active, not reactive (see last weeks blog) whilst having achievable, yet ambitous aims.

The theme of July generally seems to have been that of planning. Although we have all been getting down with representation we have also been attempting to  get some plans in place for the coming year.

Chatting to various exec members we know a big part of the problem is that we can work extremely hard, for lots of hours (usually more than we’re contracted for) but end up feeling like we have achieved very little. Indeed, if we are  constantly coming up with amazing ideas, but not getting much further with them than the ideas themselves then we can end up achieving very little.

Thus we have been talking about some exciting ideas which are possible for us to achieve this year and not infringe on the steady process of creation of a positive culture. This year, therefore, we’re going to impliment a priority campaign for the first time in many years. That priority campaign is going to be based around education funding and will be focused on the NUS’s demo which will be taking place in November (many more details to come!). We’re also getting a new branding campaign for the union going so we can better communicate to our members the many services which we offer as so much of what we do. We had an exec away day where we spoke about lots of these issues including how we can ensure that we are focusing on issues which students are concered about. Rather than guessing, this year we will be sending out staggered surveys to students to make sure we are focusing on those things which only a union can provide such as an awesome course rep reward system and better society development.

We’ve had a planning month, but without engagement of students and good representation this will all fall down. With cuts facing the University the Union’s funding is not secure either and we need to get good at what we do. That means lots of unsexy planning and cluture change along with some flashy ‘this is what your Union does for you’ advertisment, and if you want to get involved, you know how to contact me!

This was the first week where the new exec were left fully alone in our offices to contemplate the tasks of the year ahead. However, there was little chance for contemplation with the plethora of meetings and greetings which occurred this week. This week has presented situations of immense frustration, debate, but also excitement about what being involved in something as strange as ‘the student movement’ might involve.
The key lesson which I’ve taken from this week has been about how easy it is to continually react to situations without considering the wider consequences these knee jerk reactions might have. However, the nature of being an Student Union sabbatical officer is that you are in many situations in which it is difficult for you to not act in a reactive manner. I found this in the middle of the week when I was sat around the table of Senate (the most senior academic decision making body in the University with elected representatives from the University staff) and I wasn’t sure if I should make comments or bide my time for the opportune moment. I did the latter and discovered that opportune moments are unlikely to arise without you taking a proactive role in creating them.
So this weekend when I was sat in a Q&A session with the Vice Chancellor of Nottingham I was lucky enough to pin him down on whether he would favour higher fees over a graduate tax. The answer was yes, which  was less than encouraging to hear. However, I managed to catch him afterwards and explain my point a little further. Unfortunately for me Vice Chancellors,  unlike Student Union officers, are able to maintain a consistent line without having to work out what they think every year and they are also subject to pressures other than the interests of their student bodies.
Vice Chancellors and University policy along with gaining a vision about Union projects have been the key trends of this week. The first I have been rather reactive in my dealings with as I learn about the internal politics that the University, along with any other institution, has and how the Union has a role to play in University dealings as the student representatives. The second trend, of think about Union projects, has very much linked to longer term visions of how the Union can provide better representation of students, whether through an improved course reps system, making societies more accessible, ensuring the ascetics of the Union are pleasant, or simply getting students excited about Union democracy.
This is all linked to a bigger vision, which I owe a lot to Gabriel (the outgoing General Secretary), for helping me to understand. Manchester has amazing potential – to become the best Union in the country in the space of ten years. It’s incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to be part of making that happen, but it’s going to take a lot more than one jumped up 22 year old.
That realisation made me really grateful for the weekend conference which I went to in Nottingham along with Kate, our Academic Affairs officer. This was a meeting of the Aldwych Group (a collection of the Russell Groups Students’ Unions) which get together seven times a year to chat about what our Universities are up to, share best practice and give each other support, inspiration and hugs (though the latter is not compulsory, but did make working 8 days straight worth it!).
We talked quite a lot about cuts to Higher Education and also increasing costs. It seems that a big challenge within this is to ensure that students are not simply seen as spoilt brats throwing their toys out of the pram when fees are cut. There is a need for reasoned arguments about what the consequences for education, and indeed the whole socio-economic climate, of the country will be if certain decisions are made about how Higher Education is provided. I hope very much that in this consideration, the Browne Review, the government and our Vice Chancellors do not behave reactively to the difficult climate we face in the UK. I hope they take the active approach which the US and Germany did during recession, and use investment in education as a means of stimulating innovation, rather than narrow participation by rebuilding our Universities as ivory towers for an elite.

At the end of the second and final week of handover I feel very ready to sit down on Monday and have space to think with a hot chocolate and a notepad about the year ahead.

Despite a busy week, we did have the chance for some fun and team bonding on Thursday afternoon with a trip to Chester Zoo! It was lots of fun, particularity the bat cave which Hannah was keen to  share with us. In an extremely loose and cheesy way much of the past few weeks has felt a bit like that cave – the path is laid out in front of you, but in a dark and windy manner. It seems that starting with any new job feels like stumbling in sort of the right direction with the little distractions flying at you, but despite the problems you come out the other side, relatively unscathed, but with your adrenaline worn out. Certainly, at the end of week two I am very ready for the weekend.
This week started with a lunch in the union on Monday with senior members of the university. As the University think of the General Secretary’s role is the President of the union (it’s not quite as the Gen Sec has the same decision-making power as the rest of exec), I got to sit on the table with the newly appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Dame Nacey Rothwell, or Nacey as she asked us to call her http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=412174 . Was good to hear about her plans to do with the 2015 plan and her desire to improve the experience of international and BME students in Manchester, along with the Teaching and Learning which seems to be the University’s new focus as the Undergraduate Student Satisfaction seems to be going down every year, despite scoring very high when it comes to Research. http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/tables/0,,1574395,00.html

It was a great lunch during which all of the new exec had a great chance to meet some of the movers and shakers of the Uni and have a conversation about some of the reasons why we chose to run for election and what we want to aim for in the year.

Tuesday was a day of understanding our role as Trustees of the Union (which means that we have responsibility for the overall direction of the Union). This is actually rather exciting as it was about the vision we have for what the Union can be; ultimately  becoming the best Union in the country in 10 years – how exciting that we, and all of you can be involved with that process! Hopefully we can get to the point where we are enhancing every aspect of student life in Manchester. But there are lots of projects to get done before that point.

On Wednesday I went with Kate, our Academic Affairs Officer, and the Faculty Officers to a round-up of how Teaching and Learning is assessed in the University – it’s really interesting how and where students can have input – if you want to get involved volunteer to become a Course Rep at the start of the year and you get lots of lovely support from the Union! In the afternoon, despite most of the Union staff being gathered in the bar with 400 other people to watch the last England group stage match, Gabriel and I went through some aspects of the GenSec’s portfolio and walked around the relevant University rooms, most of which are much prettier than our building!

This week has been really bitty and Friday proved to be no exception, with a few hours in the office going through final handover bits, before heading to Macclesfield for an afternoon with the NUS Services Limited (NUSSL) as an additional role I have taken on is to sit as a student volunteer on the Environment and Ethics Committee for NUSSL. This was a really good chance to talk to officers from around the country and learn from their experiences, along with gaining some understanding of how students can  lead where NUSSL puts it’s energy and focus in terms of the deals and products it offers to students. – NUSSL act as a buying consortium for all of NUS’s member Unions meaning we can benefit from their discounts on offers, which we pass on to you!

After getting back from Macclesfield I had a chance get mt degree results and stop by the end of the staff party (an important annual event to say goodbye to to the old officers and hello to the new ones) and the entertainment was very much provided by the people attending the party! Looking forward to week 3 when we have a chance to get stuck into our roles proper!

A week of many meetings! It has comprised of everything from a team building game of rounders to a meeting with two University senior staff, chatting to the NUS President elect Aaron Porter to getting my head round union finances.

It’s really exciting to have finally started the job which I was elected to in March. Since that point I’ve had to contend with a dissertation and final exams and I had a really great time finishing my degree and focusing on some academic work before getting stuck into my role in UMSU. Much of this week, and next week, is spent working out exactly what that role is going to comprise of and when I’ve done that I’ll put it on another tab on this blog and with a jargon buster for any acronyms which I use.

There really has been no rest for the wicked: on Sunday the new exec left from the Union steps at 8.30 for a lodge in Lymm which has conference facilities (and really good cream teas) to have a training from two NUS regional directors. They helped us think through how we work together as a team (there’s 13 of us, with hopefully another to be elected in October,a non sabbatical representative for post-grad and mature students), but more importantly hammer it home to us that our role as elected officers is to Represent students. This means that much of the Union’s Commerical work is done by staff members who run our bars, shops and gigs which helps raise money so we, the exec officers, and make sure that we are working on representation of your views to the university whether on Acadmeic affairs, events or campaigns and general “enhancement of the student experience”.

We had three days on training and this produced some beautiful images which I will upload to photos soon!

After this we got into the Union on Wednesday morning to start our inhouse training which has been given in lots of interactive sessions by the outgoing officers and include sessions about building effective campaigns, governance and what being a trustee involves. It was a bit of a shock that Gabriel and I had a meeting in the very posh John Owens building in the University to talk about some of the changes which the Union is going through at the moment half an hour after I got in the door, but it was a really good wake up call for me to realise that on non academic issues a large part of my role is to be the medium talking between the Union and the University and in a year of cuts, this is a role which it’s important to take seriously.

I’m really enjoying getting stuck into work, and I’m hoping enough planning and preparation at this stage will ensure that many of manifesto pledges which you elected me on can be fulfilled and the Union will be a building and a community which really can improve the lives of all the students in Manchester.

Something which previous friends who have worked as Executive Officers in UMSU have warned me about it that you don’t know any organisation until you’ve worked for it, but perhaps better communication and a welcoming atmosphere can  help offset this. Hopefully you’ll be able to learn a bit more through this blog and coming in to chat to me, but more importantly the exec officers, council and other Union active students being out and about chatting about what goes on here and why it’s great fun to get involved. Remember the Union is there to represent you, use your assets!

Hi everyone,

Just a short message to say thank you all very much for your support over the past few weeks  paid off and now  I am going to be working full time for you next as UMSU General Secretary!

There’s coverage of the elections in Monday’s Student Direct p1,3 and editorial on 7 and Fuse FM’s video can be found here

http://www.student-direct.co.uk/2010/03/independents%E2%80%99-day/

Thank to all your support I won by a record majority for the position of Gen Sec in UMSU since records started in 1967 so thanks again!

I look forward to you all pestering me about things you would like done in the Union and please do be in touch with any ideas.
Best wishes and good luck with all the assessment deadlines coming up

Sarah

PS I will keep this blog active – especially once I take office in June!

Please vote online via your student portal now!

This is the last of my campaign videos and features the Univeristy of Manchester Harmony Gospel Choir (their concert is May 15th in St Peter’s Chaplency if you want to see more)

Thank you so much for all the support and please do vote and as your friends to as well!

VOTE FROM TODAY on your student portal!

It’s all about international students today – I want to make sure they get better representation in the Union and encourage better understanding between home students and international students.

Ill be uploading videos every day until polls close on 11th March. Students in the University of Manchester will be able to vote online via their student portals 9th-11th March 2010!

Vote Sarah Wakefield #1 for General Secretary!

The twelth daily video for the Vote Wakefield for UMSU General Secretary 2010-11′ campaign or the rather snappier Wake up with Wakefield.

It’s all about sustainability today! Recycling in Whitworth Park…remember voting starts tomorrow!!

Ill be uploading videos every day until polls close on 11th March. Students in the University of Manchester will be able to vote online via their student portals 9th-11th March 2010!

Vote Sarah Wakefield #1 for General Secretary!

The eleventh daily video for the Vote Wakefield for UMSU General Secretary 2010-11′ campaign or the rather snappier Wake up with Wakefield.

Today I went to Owen’s Park tower to chat to first years about the elections. It’s really sad that most of them haven’t had the chance to get that involved with the Union. One of my pledges is to get first years representation on Union council from November so they can have representation in the Union. This way the Union is making sure it gets the energy and ideas of first years from the very start.

Ill be uploading videos every day until polls close on 11th March. Students in the University of Manchester will be able to vote online via their student portals 9th-11th March 2010!

Vote Sarah Wakefield #1 for General Secretary!