Sabbatical

Setting the Presidence for students'!

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:52:00 Z

President I here you say!….What does the president do I here you ask??

Well I can tell you from now, it ain’t no walk in the park…No really I don’t just walk up and down the pathways in all saints park. I’m here to RE-present you come rain or shine (though it is Manchester so it’s always blooming raining) on a day – to – day basis.

Last term I:

Pushed for more student internships within the students’ union i.e. Democracy and governance to assist in further engagement with students. As president I collaboratively signed off the proposal for increased funding to fund the position. I was further involved in the recruitment for the post. I am now currently working with the democracy and governance intern on our forums structure and how we can best engage our students using new means.
Campaigned to create more officer positions in the union and more inclusive reps. I (with other officer) created a structure that would allow for further representation in the students union when it came to minority groups. This was again to increase engagement as we do not currently do this and to also provide more opportunities for students to gain skills
£2Millon refurbishment of the students’ union I have attended many meetings on this topic, with the university understanding that the students’ union building has passed it’s sell by date and epic work is needed asap. £100,000 has now been signed off to start design work.
represented students both locally and nationally on a number of different issues with regards to housing, cuts to higher education, cuts to sports funding, university services etc
Sports funding: Proposed changes to charge sports societies students for using sporting facilities became a union issue as it would mean the students union would incur costs that were not budgeted for and would have to of been passed on to the students. By taking the issue to Board of governors I managed to get the university to fund the facility again meaning £28,000 was not charged to the students. The battle has been won but not the war as this cost could still be passed onto the students union in the future. A campaign must be started to lobby the university to remove this fee permanently.
Student to staff ratio. It was highlighted that MMU’s student to staff was low. I initiated the work that went forward to gain more information about what members of staff students would like more of if the university was going to invest in any. The work with student voice was a success capturing vital information which allowed the university to invest in more personal tutors and support staff.
24 hour libraries in Manchester. Me and the vp education attended action group meetings stemming from the making a difference group (Union officers and student services team). From these meetings we managed to lobby the university in getting 24 hour libraries from January 9^th to June the 1^st. We are now currently working on the promotion of these services. Further meetings are going ahead to discuss the plan for Crewe campus and there library hours.
Campaigned against job cuts, privatisation and marketisation of Higher education. Working on opening event on cuts meeting which I encouraged and assisted in the promotion of the event. With the vp education we organised a march in Manchester against the decrease in pensions and the privatisation of higher education. I put out a statement on behalf of the union supporting the strikes and produced material in line with the statement which was advertised to mmu students and members of other unions.

But it doesn’t stop there!! The list is very endless. But I won’t bore you with anymore as even I’m getting tired ;). This term is looking to be quite a big one so stay tuned!

If you would like more info on all the work I have done and more just contact me on

s.u.president@mmu.ac.uk or 01612476524 I’m always around and happy to help out.

Till the next time I see yah

Your EL PRESIDENTE

Tunde Adekoya

What's Been Happening in Cheshire

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:21:00 Z

Hey There,

I'm Laura, VP Cheshire. over the past term i have been working hard to ensure students enjoy their experience at our Crewe campus. i have been working closely with Sanka, VP Student Activities Cheshire, to improve our 'I Love Wednesdays' nights and I have been liaising with the university to get funding for a new PA system for the Student Zone. There aren't many other venues around Crewe and many students find themselves travelling to nearby cities like Manchester and Liverpool, which isn't very cost effective on a student budget! We wanted to help improve their experience at university by bringing the different types of events to them so that they don't have to go looking for them elsewhere. We have already started giving student DJ's the opportuity to perform on a Wednesday night, and we have had live acts such as Goldierocks, P Money, and Ethan Ash. We hope that the new PA system will allow us to continue to put on these types of events and others more often.

we have liaised with the bar and catering staff from the university about the different events that they put on and asked students for their feedback on these to help them create better services. These include regular themed food nights where they set up a restaurant type environment in the Student ZOne with themes such as Pizza night, Mexican nights, Chicken night, Italian night, and they also hold a 'Curry and a pint' night on Thursdays.

I have been working on a drink aware campaign in Cheshire which promotes responsible drinknig and aims to reduce late night dispruption to other students and residents in the area. this term I am also aiming to run a Student Safety Week. This will incorporate all types of student safety, and aim to give advice and raise awareness on ways to stay safe and to help minimise the chances of students being victims of crime.

This term I will be researching the use of libraries in Crewe to find out if the students here would benefit from the longer opening hours, which have been introduced in Manchester.

For more up to date info on what we're up to in Crewe, follow me on twitter @mmuc_vpcheshire

Laura Ramli :)

VP Cheshire

Keep the Community Spirit Alive !

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:24:00 Z

Hi,

My name is Samaira Anjum and I am your Vice President Communities. Having been in this post for 6 months now, it’s been a great honour to have delivered and been involved with various events, projects and campaigns. Being an officer has been exciting and rewarding.

I could probably give you a long list of all the things that I have worked on, working on and will work on, on a day to day basis, but you would probably get bored. So here is a short snapshot of my term so far.

This year I stood on a platform to campaign for a community free from fascism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism. I set up and have actively led the One Society Many Cultures Campaign where I have organised several events, such as the rejecting Islamophobia, racism and fascism discussion, followed by a joint stall with the university on celebrating Black History Month. I organised the Love Music Hate Racism gig in Cheshire.

I have represented MMUnion and students at a number of conferences such as the Unite Against Fascism conference in London, Progressive Students Conference, and Student Activism where I have spoken on a anti racism platform.

I helped organise the demonstration against the Tory party conference in Manchester and mobilised hundreds of students from our university and beyond to attend.

I have been promoting safety awareness to students in Manchester by giving them key tips on keeping safe around the city and I will be having regular security and crime prevention stalls across the different campuses this term.

After several meetings with key individual staff in the university, I have managed to successfully implement food provisions (halal food) for Muslim students. There is still ongoing consultation about the Muslim prayer facility.

I have set up a community rep scheme which aims to build stronger relations between students and the wider community. Through this scheme students have been given the opportunity to get involved and to develop and initiate their own projects.

I have worked with The University of Manchester Students’ union and we have jointly organised a reclaim the night demonstration which will take place this term. I will also be attending a mental health workshop to raise disability awareness later this term.

Just so you’re aware, today, I juggle 5 meetings a day, check and reply to at least 50 emails, think strategically, implement policy and try to keep up with all the different projects that are running simultaneously. Although it is a challenge, it is great to see things taking shape and making a change.

However, I am still learning a lot every day and while there are days when nothing seems to go right and barriers appear out of nowhere, I accept the challenge, and step up, which makes success ever more worthwhile.

If there is something you think I should be working on then please get in touch via email on s.u.community@mmu.ac.uk or in person, feel free to come and talk to me, the office door is always open.

Peace, Love and Respect

Samaira

Follow me on twitter- samaira_anjum

We're learning all the time.....

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:01:00 Z

Hi all, hope your all having a great start to the new term and exams aren’t too stressful. This is a blog to keep you updated with some of the things I’ve been working on this year :)

This year I’ve chaired the Education Sub Group meeting and Student Shout out’s across all MMU faculties. This has given students and course reps the opportunity to ask questions to the Dean of their faculties and suggest things that they like and don’t like about their courses and facilities at MMU. All of your ideas have been compiled into a Student Voice Report which has been received by the University Deans with a lot of enthusiasm to deliver the changes that you’ve asked for. I’ve also encouraged more students to become course reps at Freshers Fair via pledge cards and through lecture shouts and induction talks.

I have been planning a course rep Course Rep Conference for February 1^st where course reps will get the opportunity to meet staff and students across MMU. There’ll be four fantastic workshops, including one on “how to use the campus as a learning laboratory for sustainability” so if you’re a course rep make sure you go along!

I’ve also been involved in initiating the MMUnion Icycle bicycle Project and I delivered a talk to other student union reps at an NUS Conference in November and two student unions were interested in replicating the project, woohoo. I’ve also supported Green Impact at MMU, to help Robert Croll and Laura Williams from the environment team sign up more auditors! So Sign up as an auditor if you haven’t already at www.mmu.ac.uk/environment

I’ve worked with the President of MMUnion to lobby the university for longer library hours at All Saints and these have been extended to 24/7 from January, so make sure you make good use of it! This term we’re conducting some research with the library to find out what you thought of the service so please let us know if MMU can improve it for next year.

At the start of the year I organised an event to inform students about the changes to Higher Education with speakers from NUS and UCU. I also worked with four students to create a giant ‘Culture Vulture’ for the march on the Tory Party conference and In November I organised a feeder march from MMUnion to Central Manchester to support the thousands of teachers and support staff at MMU who were on strike over the proposed pension cuts, which will have a huge affect on students of MMU. In October, I organised a day of workshops in MMUnion on climate change with the ‘Stop Climate Chaos’ coalition and there’s another full day of workshops at MMUnion on Sat 17^th March with the World Development Movement: An economy for the 99% so make sure you come along if you’re free!

This term, there’s a number of projects I’ll be working on including Teaching Awards and a book-swap scheme so you can buy 2^nd hand books from past students, so watch this space!

The Life of Student Activities MCR

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:32:00 Z

Hi I’m Ben. As the VP of Student Activities in Manchester it has been my pleasure to be involved in a lot of projects, events and campaigns this year. Some of my favourites have been the ‘Lets Make a Sustainable Planet’ staff student forum concentrating on Environmental Issues at MMU, and from that I have been working on a project with students to start a Farmers Market and promote sustainable cooking for Students.

I have been spending time getting to know and working with the more outside faculties, I have been spending a couple of hours a week up in Hollings with students promoting the union and helping them to get involved in clubs and societies which could boost their employability. I have worked specifically with Events Management students to help run events as part of their 2^nd year degree course work, such as ‘MMU’s Got Talent’ and the ‘Eco Fashion Show’.

I have had the pleasure of being involved with such negotiations as the annual Sports Tour (which is the biggest in MMUnion History!), Activities Wednesday Night Social and other club specific activites such as working with students with an interest in Boxing and Golf to form to successful new clubs which are looking to be entered into the BUCS leagues next year.

I have also been heavily involved with a Pilot Scheme at MMU called ‘NUS Student Skills Award’ which is a accreditation scheme run nationally to give students the evidence of all the extra curricular work they do for example running clubs and societies, volunteers, being a course rep etc. Working with Student Activities I have been involved in presenting the scheme to the University, promoting and gaining interest from students at a local level. And I have also been invited to be on the national steering group for the project which will take me to NUS headquarters to work with other officers and staff across the country to set the direction of the project for the future.

Activities Man Ben

Success of an MMUC Student! :)

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:41:00 Z

Want some inspiration?? Read the link below!

One of MMU Cheshire’s very own students, Fes Batista, has had the amazing opportunity to live his dreams by being offered a deal to become part of the Mayweather fraternity!! The young boxer from Huddersfield spent last summer in Las Vegas training with Floyd Mayweathers uncles after they were impressed by videos of him boxing in England. The article describes how he never believed this would happen to him and how he wants to be an inspiration to others, including you guys, his friends and peers at MMU. Although he wants to continue with his studies before embarking on his boxing career, he plans to return to Las Vegas in the summer for more training with the Mayweathers!

http://world-countries.net/archives/136445

I would like to congratulate Fes on his fantastic achievement, wish him all the best in his boxing career and commend his desire to inspire you to dedicate yourselves to your passions!

Laura Ramli
VP Cheshire

Its a Gold Mine Up There!

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:11:00 Z

As Student Activities Officer, I have the privilege of sticking my oar in wherever I see fit. I have recently been working on projects with some very exceptional Events Management Students at Hollings. They are going to be running some projects during Feel Good Week (Coming soon – Jan 16-20^th) and also Go Green Week (February). However, making the short bike ride up to Hollings has made me realise. Here at the Union, we have been missing out on an absolute gold mine of talent, professionals and amazing people.

It seems that this year, as a Union we have been pushing towards creating a real relationship with Hollings as a Faculty, and we are only scraping the surface of the potential! I’ll give you an example of what I mean. After meeting one of the most inspirational and fantastically eccentric and exciting lecturers, Haleh Moravej, She has introduced me and given me the opportunity to get to know, get involved and start to tap into the Student body up at Hollings. I have realise how amazing and also how completely different life is at Hollings! It was fantastically described to me today as being ‘the orphan child of MMU, which just wants a hug’ It’s a real shame that both lecturers and students feel like this, but it also give us as a Student Union so much scope to build bridges and create some of the most exciting events and activities the Union has ever seen!

I went up to Hollings today for a meeting about a possible Hollings Food Festival, showcasing some of the amazing healthy local and sustainable produce at hand (Seeing a theme yet? J ) and opening it to the wider Student Body, I ended up being an official taster of the students food, which all I can say was incredible! (Not to pick a favourite or anything but the Fish pie was amazing) But no only did I get to watch some very skilled students, I had a chance to speak to them, ask them about their University experience, ask them why they weren’t involved in the Union and how I could help them to become involved! The response I got was fantastic. The vibe I got was that we (as a Union) need to reach out to these campus’s and really make them feel like they belong!

I truly believe that given the effort, the time and the passion which I feel from Hollings whenever I visit (which is pretty much weekly now, and from January, Im going to set up a Student Activities Office once a week) Everyone involved, Students, lecturers, staff and anyone else can benefit from this relationship. Whether Im here next year or not is anyone’s guess, however Im hoping my passion, my excitement and my enthusiasm can lead to this relation only moving on and gaining in strength!

Hollings Food Fair is being planned now, and we are also feeling a monthly themed day at the Union incorporating some massively cross faculty participation? Im talking Catering, Fashion, Art, Design, Environmental and so much more of a mash up all being organised and run by our Events Management Students? Can I get a hell yes.

Imagine a University which can use its students to not only create incredible events and activities but also give some key employability skills! Its win win win win win etc….

So yeah… Not sure how much of that is relevant or whether my excitement just bubbled over and ended up on the Internet. Either way if you want to get involved, don’t wait for me to come and find you (Cos I will eventually) Give me a shout, give me a call, email, tweet, facebook, write me a letter, send me a messanger pigeon. Whatever you decide, just please please please get involved.!

Massively long post there – However very fun and exciting time at MMUnion…. And to prove it, heres the traditional photo of me enjoying some delicious food with the Students and Haleh Cant wait to keep working with them!

Watch This Space.

Activities Man Ben

Growing your own to save money?!?

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:02:00 Z

Im sure a few things would spring to mind with that statement, However as hopefully some of you have noticed, iv picked up an idea from other unions, of running a farmers market for MMU. Imagine a bustling market place full of Manchester based students shopping for locally produce fruits and veg, locally reared meats and all kinds of other fantastic things you weren’t ever aware was a product of Manchester! I reckon this could be one of the most exciting projects I could work on in this union!

However from my research and Questionnaire taking I have seen a couple of students claim to grow their own veg?! Is this something that students could do? Would you do? Its something that is becoming more and more appealing to myself! I live in the City centre; I have a bedroom with a window and a Flat with a balcony. So Im worse off than a lot of Students in Fallowfield and about with there little yard! However, I’m thinking, a few pots spread around could i cut down my food bills?

How about a plot of land somewhere from MMU used to grow fresh produce? There are case studies at Unions up and down the country who are trying their hand at Gardening! Why shouldn’t we be one of them? I can’t think of anything better than tucking into an MMUnion baked potato at the end of a cold winters day covered in local Mancunian cheese and freshly picked salad!

This is just me having a ramble about fresh food and veg, as with the days closing in around us I seem to feel more pushed outside to get fresh local produce, before heading to the kitchen to try some cooking, Hence why im planning to start myself of by ordering from http://www.digfood.co.uk/ Local food, delivered to your door, and they do Student Discount Aswell!?!

How do you guys feel about this? If it sparks off some inspiration why not come join in MMUnion’s ‘Lets Make a Sustainable Planet’ Staff and Student Forum. Working with the University and Union, Students and staff can make a huge difference to MMU and Manchester as a Whole! Why not Get involved? The Forum is on 29^th November, at 4.30pm on the Top Floor of the Union! Bring your ideas and enthusiasm with you! I’ll see you there I hope!

P.s If you havnt Filled out my survey yet… Why not? Do it now - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QQN7DWZ

Peas and Carrots.

Activities Man Ben x