NUS has launched resources which will help promote good practice in students' union governance and relationships between students' unions and their university or college.
The Good Governance project resources consist of an interactive website, including a students’ union governance code of practice and resources to help strengthen relationships with parent institutions.
The project
This two year project has supported the improvement of good governance with students’ unions throughout England with the view to building stronger relationships between students’ unions (SUs) and higher education institutions (HEIs). This project has been funded by the HEFCE Leadership, Governance and Management Fund.
Universities UK, the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, the Committee of University Chairs and the Association of Heads of University Administration have supported this project and are represented on the project steering group alongside a number of students’ unions and universities.
Project Research
Research indentified examples of good practice across the sector and beyond. Students’ unions and higher education institutions across England took part in a survey to gain a base line understanding of the current state of play in relation to SU governance and existing relationships between SUs and HEIs. This data has been used to develop practice guidance.
Project Resources
The findings from the Good Governance project research have been used to create good practice guidance for students’ union in relation to their governance. An associated toolkit has also been developed for students’ unions to use when undertaking governance reviews. The interactive toolkit will make it easy to apply the practice guidance to the individual circumstances of each local organisation.
It is recognised that good governance arrangements support and strengthen good relationships between students’ unions and Higher Education Institutions, for the benefit of both organisations and the ultimately the student body.
