Ideas Board

I am proposing that BCUSU holds a vote to disaffiliate from the National Union of Students (NUS).

Over the past two years, there have been growing concerns regarding the NUS’s effectiveness, governance, and representation of students. Many students feel that the NUS is no longer fulfilling its core responsibility as a national body to protect, represent, and advocate for students.

It is important to note that several universities, including the London School of Economics (LSE) and the University of Cambridge, have previously voted to disaffiliate from the NUS following similar concerns about governance, representation, and value for money.

This demonstrates that reviewing affiliation is a legitimate and democratic step for a Students’ Union to consider.

Key concerns include:

1. Failure to Support Student Advocacy
In multiple high-profile cases across UK universities, students involved in advocacy faced severe disciplinary actions. There was limited meaningful intervention from the NUS to defend students’ rights to freedom of expression.

Concerns have also been raised about limited advocacy for international students, particularly regarding visa policy changes.

2. Treatment of Student Officers
There have been instances where NUS leadership responded to criticism from student officers with exclusionary or punitive measures rather than constructive dialogue.

This raises concerns about transparency, accountability, and democratic culture within the organisation.

3. Weak Engagement with BCU Students
There appears to be limited meaningful engagement between the NUS and Birmingham City University students.

Many students feel disconnected from national campaigns and decision-making processes. As a result, confidence in the NUS among BCU students has declined.

4. Lack of Clear Impact and Accountability
There is no clear and transparent evidence demonstrating what the NUS has recently achieved specifically for BCU students. Many students are unaware of tangible outcomes or measurable benefits from continued affiliation, raising serious questions about accountability and effectiveness.

5. Financial Value for Money and Student Experience
BCUSU contributes approximately £40,000 annually in affiliation fees. At a time when students are facing a cost-of-living crisis, it is important to ensure that every pound is used effectively. Redirecting this £40,000 could significantly improve the BCU student experience by investing in:

• Cost-of-living support initiatives
• Enhanced student services
• Cross-campus engagement activities
• Events, societies, and community-building opportunities
These funds could have a direct and visible impact on students at BCU.

Why Disaffiliate?
Disaffiliating from the NUS would allow BCUSU to:

• Reinvest approximately £40,000 directly into local student priorities.
• Strengthen support for students during the cost-of-living crisis.
• Improve cross-campus engagement and community.
• Increase accountability and transparency.
• Focus fully on representing the needs and interests of BCU students.