Diversity is an important part of the student movement, and every year NUS runs a survey to gauge the diversity of students’ unions’ workforce.

This annual survey measures characteristics of staff, such as ethnicity, gender and disability. It provides a national snapshot of the student movement workforce and helps to inform initiatives aimed at promoting equality.

The results of the survey will be published in a Diversity Report, which will provide students' unions and NUS with an evidence-base for workforce planning and development of talent management strategies. The 2010-11 Diversity Report is available to download on NUS Connect.

This year the survey is only for non-student staff and student staff, it is not for officers. It has been decided to exclude officers from the diversity survey because shortly NUS will offer the facility to students' unions to conduct a survey of all candidates in sabbatical officer elections and shortly thereafter, all those successfully elected. These surveys will explore the diversity of candidates and elected officers.  

Students' unions where more than 25 respondents complete the survey will receive their own tailored report providing a diversity snapshot of their workforce.

As a result of data collected by the Diversity Survey key challenges facing the student movement - in relation to the diversity of the workforce and the support provided to staff from a variety of different backgrounds - have been highlighted.

For example, the in response to the findings of the last four diversity surveys NUS has chosen to invest in diversifying the students’ union workforce by creating an Equality and Diversity Consultant role in the organisation. 

The survey results have also provided context to NUS joining the Network for Black Professionals (NBP). NUS have also negotiated a bespoke membership package from the NBP for students’ unions. This membership package includes a free HR health check or advice on how unions can respond to their bespoke diversity survey results.  For more information on this membership package please refer to the Diversity Report 2010-2011.

Visit NUS Connect to complete the survey, where you will also have the opportunity to enter a draw to win a £50 Amazon voucher. All union staff should complete the survey and circulate it to colleagues.

Student staff should also be given the chance to fill the survey in, so please pass it onto them too.

Any questions about the survey should be directed to the Diversity Action Working Group on dawg@nus.org.uk

What students' unions can do:

1. E-mail the survey flyer to your staff (non-student and student staff) and ask them to complete it. Please click here for the eflyer or please email dawg@nus.org.uk

2. Encourage student staff who work in shops and bars to complete the survey by giving them a five minute break specifically to do so.

3. Table the survey as an item in your team meetings; discuss the findings of last year's report and think about how your union could use the results.

To read FAQs about the diversity survey, click here.