CEL and NUS work together for better student representation

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Student representation in colleges is to receive a major boost this month following the collaboration of two organisations in implementing new measures.

The Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) and the National Union of Students (NUS) will work together to create student committees and ensure the inclusion of learners on college boards, as part of a wider learner involvement strategy.

Kat Fletcher, co-ordinator with the CEL, said: “CEL welcomes the new focus on learners and we will work with sector leaders to ensure that the increased involvement of NUS in colleges benefits both learners and providers”.

“This collaborative venture marks the start of a project to encourage more learner representation and we look forward to working with NUS and several sector agencies to develop the learner voice agenda”.

The collaboration will begin with a three-day regional programme for college student officers, entitled “FE Student Leadership”. It will deal with representation and the role of student unions, dealing with jargon, decision making and influencing skills, following which, a national conference will be held in January 2007, “Leading Learners”.

Ellie Russell, Vice President (Further Education) at NUS, said, “The CEL-NUS partnership will bring providers and students together for the benefit of educational provision. We recommend that colleges send as many student leaders as possible on this exciting new programme, to help them develop the student voice within their college effectively”.

Vijay Pattni.

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