• NUS-USI
• UCM Cymru
• NUS Wales
• NUS Scotland

Zone Conferences 2012 | Explore. Dream. Discover
28 October - 2 November 2012, The Palace Hotel Manchester

We are living through a time of immense social, political, and economic change. Our world has been utterly changed by the global financial crisis, and our education is being utterly changed by the ongoing march of marketisation.

We have to work harder than ever to resist the imposition of regressive policies and to campaign for the reversal of policies already imposed, such as top-up fees and the abolition of the EMA, and the savage cuts our education system has been dealt. But these extraordinary times also demand that we consider the future.

• What do we think life and learning as young adults should be like, for people who are being born today?
• What can be done to develop structures to support true lifelong learning beyond that?
• How can we build powerful connections for the future between education, welfare, citizenship, and students' unions?

This is a time for resistance and for vision. The great author Mark Twain once said:

“twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Explore. Dream. Discover”.

For just one week this Autumn, we should give ourselves the opportunity to do just this - and that's what these Zone Conferences are all about.

At NUS we are committed to getting student officers and staff more involved, and Zone Conferences are a key opportunity to do that - giving you a chance to hear from experts and each other, spaces to deliberate, network and discuss away from grandstanding speeches, and chances to feed in informally to NUS’ priorities and policy making process.

Each of the events are held over two days and feature:

• Big name keynote speakers
• Plenary – issues briefings
• Panel debates
• Workshops led by external experts
• Workshops of best practice led by other unions
• Student Representative Policy Forums
• Staff/Practitioner Discussion Forums

There is also formal democratic processes– these sections are totally free to attend

• Accountability sessions- VP and President
• Report from Zone Vice President
• Zone Committee Elections

During each two day event, student officers and students are able to stand to be members of our Zone Committees- an exciting opportunity to get further involved in driving the work of that Zone.

Following the consultations at each Zone Conference, Zone Committees will be publishing their policy proposals for the year ahead, and there will be a chance for all unions to consider these, submit amendments or event submit ideas of their own in the new year.