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SECTION 7: Strategies
7.2 Learner Engagement Strategy
Students Union
With a view to preparing for merger,
the Student Presidents from each of the
three partner colleges have decided to
create a Shadow Students Union Working
Group. Members of the group also
include Student Liaison Staf and Student
Executive Members. The Group are also
seeking independent advice from other
areas in the sector, including the National
Union of Students (NUS) Scotland,
colleges of similar sizes to that of the New
College and institutions created from
mergers. The Group will be responsible
for a number of tasks including creating
a new constitution and structure for New
College Glasgow Students' Union. The
Group has decided to focus on, but not
be limited to the following areas:
Sabbaticals
The Review of Scotland's Colleges (Rosco)
made recommendations that colleges
should have at least one sabbatical
Student Oi cer. At present only one of
the partner colleges has a Sabbatical
Student President. Given the size of the
New College and considering Rosco
recommendations the Shadow Students
Union have recommended that there
should be a minimum of three elected
Sabbatical Student Oi cers.
Staf and Support
The key issues which impact on creating
a strong and active students' union
include long term strategy, continuity and
institutional memory. Whereas students
who are responsible for direction and
policy, Students' Unions (especially those
in colleges) are incredibly reliant on high
quality staf support.
Although impossible to give specii c
resources required at this time, the
Shadow Students' Union, working with
the Shadow Board, will be looking
toward the Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK)
and NUS Learner Involvement National
Occupational Standards.
We would welcome early discussions on
how we might go about ensuring high
quality support for the students who will
lead the strong students' union that the
Shadow Board have envisioned in their
consultation document.
Estates and Facilities
The Shadow Students' Union would
welcome oi ce and social space on
both sites. We would also envisage social
learning spaces, areas to host Student
Representative Council and have areas
available to host extracurricular activities.
Democratic Processes and Governance
When creating a new constitution we
will cover the following areas, working
with the Shadow Board and any other
applicable working groups:
Mission, vision and values;
Accountability;
Executive and portfolio positions
to compliment College strategic
objectives, where appropriate;
Election Cycles.
Financial Resource (Block Grant)
Given that New College Glasgow will
be a world class college, catering for over
40,000 Students, the Students Union
will have to be resourced adequately to
cater for the needs of the students and
cope with demand.
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