Campus Officers Update

VP Coleraine Ethan Davies

There has been substantial investment into the Coleraine Students’ Union bar (Bann View Social) with over £200,000 being directed to the refurbishment of the bar. UUSU is leading on the design of this, directing & advising on what features/aesthetic is best suited for the student experience. We have confirmed new designs for this and have widely consulted the student cohort on how they want their bar to look.

During exam season students in Coleraine often struggle with group revision as the library area is smaller at night-time and is often not noise proof. Therefore, we decided to open U-Block for group revision, this has been received quite well with a lot of students using the room

VP Magee Dónall Ó hÉigeartaigh

The Magee Bar (Bunker) investment is a project that aims to create a welcoming environment for students to build a sense of community. The VP Magee has campaigned for designated spaces that promote this sense of community and flow onto their campuses. The temporary uplifts in the project are designed to promote footfall into the Bunker from those living in accommodation. This has resulted in an increase in the number of students visiting the bar and has created a positive impact on the student experience. The project has been successful in creating a welcoming environment for students to socialise and build relationships with their peers. This has led to an increase in student satisfaction and has helped to create a sense of belonging among students. Also VP Magee got taps on the bar!

VP Belfast Robert Millar

New campus, new challenges. Problem solving was crucial in identifying and solving issues when entering this new space. Longstanding issues such as the lack of a campus bar were brought to a climax when the new bar was opened despite challenges in September, and VP Belfast remained close to the implementation of this, tendering both graphics for the bar and for the UUSU space. VP Belfast became involved in a visual solutions working group to identify ideas for how to improve the campus visually. Multiple spaces were inadequate when opened so VP Belfast lobbied for Islamic prayer room modifications, and a designated chaplaincy space, as well as feeding into plans for a quiet room and all have since been opened.

Booking rooms was difficult at first which created problems for student clubs, so we continually raised this to university leadership, and dismantled this barrier to events. Belonging, was encouraged through installation of pianos, pool tables and games on campus to encourage interactions.

Student housing Co-Ops Development Over the course of this year, President and VP Belfast have been in the development of establishing Student Owned Housing. Last March, UUSU Passed policy at NUS-USI Conference to explore and research an alternative solution to the accommodation crisis in establishing a student housing co-operative. President and VP Belfast have been working towards this goal. We have since made progress in the following areas:

• We’ve made connections with the student housing network
• We carried out an initial legal and financial feasibility study
• We’ve passed policy as both UUSU and NUS-USI - mandating student officers to work on this to ensure we’re growing and making the co-op a priority!
• Became members of Student Co-op Homes, Co-operatives UK, and Co-operative Alternatives & we’re now officially registered as a legal entity
• Met with Lease holders

We as a union have presented at a Co-operative Alternatives webinar, joining an introductory meeting with Co-operatives UK introducing our mission and model for a Belfast Student Housing Co-operative. Webinar available on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=Q3unee5TpRE UUSU VP Belfast and President had the opportunity to attend Student Housing Symposium in Switzerland, meeting others in the European Student Housing Co-operative network. We visited three student co-operatives across Geneva and Zurich, taking home inspiration of sustainable student co-operative models. We presented a report to UUSU Management Committee on our learnings and feedback was positive about our progress.

Attended Ulster University Students’ Union Freshers Fayre in Belfast recruiting our steering group members and volunteers.

EDI - VP Equality and Belonging Chaudhary Hamza Riaz

Ulster University Students Union’s (UUSU) campaign for equality is exemplary in its approach to promoting, protecting, and improving aspects of equality for all its students. UUSU has organized itself into six subgroups for equality, including LGBTQIA+, BAME+, part-time, parent/carer, mature, and international students. In our campaign, we have Food Requirement Policy and Gender-Neutral Bathrooms, LGBTQIA+ Lobbying, Bilingual Signage. We organized dozens of events, like ‘Are you New Here?’ event, promoted friendship. ‘Guys, Gals, and Non-Binary Pals’ event for a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community. UUSU organized the first Diwali, Burns Nights, and Holi event in UU history for international students and they were some of the most successful events this past year. Team worked on Breastfeeding room and we have rooms across the campuses. As we have students from different communities and cultures, Bidet Showers policy is passed and that is the first in the history on NI and ROI where Bidet Shower policy passed. We are working with faith groups for interfaith harmony, pushed for a Belfast chaplaincy room, and Islamic prayer room adjustments. With this, Equality officer’s organized E&D forum twice a year provides platform for students to be heard. UUSU represented students in Belfast, Derry London-Derry, Mid-Ulster Pride parades. UUSU working for safer space for women with OMFG campaign across the campuses. UUSU working on employability for Neuro-divergent students.

Equality and Belonging was extremely important given the substantial increase in international students this past year. UUSU helped facilitate many UU firsts to show that everyone belongs in Ulster University including organising the first Diwali celebration, first Burns Night, and first Holi festival and we tried to involve engaged students in helping where possible. Many societies needed help in re-establishing so from a Freshers event, “Guys, Gals and Non-binary pals,” UUSU grouped together students to reform the Belfast LGBT+ society which has thrived since. By empowering international students, a South-Asian Student society was set up to help represent and host large cultural events.

The UUSU Identity Policy passed Council and is now being implemented, it will give students a chance to be themselves. If implemented it will be the largest LGBTQ+ win the Union has achieved since establishing of the LGBTQIA+ Network. Our Identity Policy will allow students to put their preferred name & pronouns on the University system which will hugely reduce the amount of misgendering/deadnaming on campus, helping to make Ulster University a more inclusive and safer place for students.

Student’s with Additional Needs Network has been passed, it is currently being worked on and will be fully functional by next academic year and will be representing over 3000 students on issues on and off campus. We’re already working with students & staff for feedback etc.