Ulster University Students’ Union (UUSU) is a not for profit, charitable membership organisation which was formed in 1984 as an independent body to Ulster University. The UUSU mission is clear in that it strives to ‘improve the lives of students by being an inclusive and supportive community where students can fulfil their potential and ensure their voice is heard’. UUSU currently represents approximately 25,000 student members and provides a vast range of services for members including academic representation, welfare advice, volunteering opportunities and enhancement of the student experience through events, activities, clubs, societies and change programmes. Each year the student membership elects seven student officers to represent them, each of whom are closely supported by around 30 staff across the Belfast, Coleraine, Jordanstown and Magee campuses.

As UUSU holds dual status as both a charity and a membership organisation, our governance structures need to reflect this. We therefore have a Trustee Board who ensures our legal, financial and strategic affairs are in order, and a Student Council which ensures that our members are at the heart of campaigning priorities. Both entities endorse the vision and commitment of UUSU which is to represent, support and connect our student community through providing a first class experience through our engagement with the membership. In order to meet this vision UUSU has a series of aspirations which are:

• To represent the student body effectively both in the University and with external stakeholders.
• To have services and offerings that support the student community.
• To connect students to make lifelong friendships whilst at University.
• To listen and engage effectively with the student body to ensure our offer is relevant.
• To provide a first-class student experience across everything we do.

UUSU also has a set of core values that we strive to exude across our work, membership and behaviours. These values that underpin the organisation cover the notion that UUSU are:

• AMPLIFIERS working to represent the student voice from the grassroots upwards and providing our members with a platform to be heard.
• HONEST and don’t shy from difficult conversations to make the student experience everything it should and can be.
• INCLUSIVE and will compassionately strive to represent and welcome all students into our UUSU family.
• SUPPORTIVE ensuring that students can adapt to, and benefit from University life.
• TENACIOUS and are driven to ensure that students are empowered, and beneficial change is achieved.