National Union Of Students Research Articles

Engagement with Online Pre-exam Formative Tests Improves Exam Performance and Feedback Satisfaction

The National Union of Students (NUS) National Student Experience Report identified examination feedback as an area where students had particular concerns. This finding was echoed in the authors’ in...

Violence against women students in the UK: time to take action

Sexual and gendered violence in the education sector is a worldwide concern, but in the UK it has been marginalised in research and policy. In this paper we present findings from the National Union of Students' study Hidden Marks, the first nationwide survey of women students' experiences of violence. This research established high levels of prevalence, with one in four respondents being subject to unwanted sexual behaviour during their studies. We analyse why the issue of violence against women students has remained low profile in this country, whereas in the USA, where victimisation rates are similar, it has had a high profile since the 1980s and interventions to tackle it have received a significant amount of federal support. We urge UK policymakers, universities, students' unions and academics to address the problem, and make suggestions about initial actions to take.

National student governance in Germany: the case of fzs

This article analyzes the organizational development of freier zusammenschluss von studentInnenschaften (fzs), the national union of students in Germany from its foundation until 2010. It situates it within the variety of student organizations acting on behalf of students within the multi-level system of higher education governance in Germany. Starting out as a rather small, ideologically driven and a more network-oriented association fzs developed into a national-level umbrella organization with a more professional working structure. This institutionalization and professionalization – especially during the 2000s – can be explained by several important developments in the domestic environment in which fzs is embedded. The current diversification in German higher education governance, leading to the loss of influence of the federal level and growing diversity between the Bundesländer, together with increasing influence of commodification in the context of the Bologna Process, coincide with the decrease of impact and members of fzs after 2005.

Dubious causes of no interest to students? The development of National Union of Students in the United Kingdom

In February 1992, the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom celebrated its 70th anniversary, however there were those within government that were determined that NUS would not see another decade. This article examines the ideological roots of this hostility to student organisations and examines NUS' response to it and the consequent legal framework that was devised. The article continues with a discussion of the calls for the reform of NUS from member students' unions and minority groups within the student body and analyses the organisation's response to the change process as well as the approach to student representation and government relations that NUS has adopted.

Preservação do acervo histórico do centro acadêmico XXXI de Outubro da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo

Preservation of documents is justified by the importance of the existing collection of documents in October XXXI Academic Center of the School of Nursing of USP in order to provide for the organization and the access to future researchers interested in the history of nursing, as well as safeguard the collective memory of that profession. This study aimed to sanitize, organize and prepare an inventory of documentation of October XXXI Academic Center of the School of Nursing. Methodologically, documents were submitted to the diplomatic and typological analyzes and then were cleaned and organized in terms of archival, according to thematic affinity. For this purpose, we developed spreadsheets in Excel. The results revealed a large mass of documents, which was organized by thematic affinity, yielding a total of 9 subjects, totaling the amount of 1028 documents: National Union of Students -UNE (134), State Union of Students -UEE (131); Incoming Correspondence general (76); Correspondence Received - USP (140); Entities and Institutions Nursing student (60); Correspondence issued (229); Organisation Finances (150); Sparse Documentation (99) and Iconographic and Press material (9). The present study allowed a fresh look at the value of the document as a source of research and re-signified the social locus of collective memory.

A EXPERIÊNCIA DE EDUCAÇÃO POPULAR DO CENTRO POPULAR DE CULTURA EM GOIÁS

This article discusses the involvement of the Goiás Center for Popular Culture in adult education in the 1960s. This was a popular education movement, organized by the National Union of Students, engaging high school and university students, intellectuals and artists in cultural awareness activities and in adult education in the State of Goiás. The study shows how these militants in Goiás were influenced by the Recife Popular Culture Movement in terms of adult literacy, resulting in the preparation of a book entitled Leitura para Adultos (Readings for Adults). The text is based on doctoral research, including documental analysis, interviews, testimonies and reports from militants of that period.

Student music

PurposeThis research aims to explore in detail aspects of the role and character of student unions as venues for live music in post‐war Britain. Guiding questions ask: what part have student unions, entertainment officers and the wider body of students – in their role as consumers – played in the economics of the live music business? What is specific to the business of live music in student unions? How is this sector of activity related to national and local scenes, promoters, non‐student audiences and the wider popular music culture and economy?Design/methodology/approachThe research draws upon formal and informally archived sources to formulate definitions and scope for research, tracing the historical emergence and fortunes of popular music programming in universities.FindingsThe research traces a history of professionalization of music provision by students, a result of co‐ordination efforts by the National Union of Students. It outlines the specific character of live music business in student unions as determined by its subsidized nature.Research limitations/implicationsSources for research are unevenly preserved and the scope of activity – historical and contemporary is considerable. Further empirical research is required in order to fully explore this important, if neglected area of cultural and economic activity.Originality/valueThe role and character of student unions in the economy of the music industry is rarely considered and this paper offers set of concepts for further research and detailed historical insights into this sector of business.

Information technology in university-�level mathematics teaching and learning: a mathematician's point of view

Although mathematicians frequently use specialist software in direct teaching ofmathematics, as a means of delivery e-learning technologies have so far been lesswidely used. We (mathematicians) insist that teaching methods should be subjectspecificand content-driven, not delivery-driven. We oppose generic approaches toteaching, including excessively generalist, content-free, one-size-fits-allpromotion of information and communications technology. This stance is fullyexpressed, for example, in the recent Teaching Position Statement from the LondonMathematical Society (2010) and is supported by a recent report from the NationalUnion of Students (2010, 5): “Not every area of study needed or was compatiblewith e-learning, and so to assume it would grant blanket advantages was notaccurate”. This paper is an attempt to explain mathematicians’ selectivity in use ofinformation and communications technology and its guiding principles. The paperis addressed to our non-mathematician colleagues and is not intended to be a surveyof the existing software and courseware for mathematics teaching – the corpus ofexisting solutions is enormous and its discussion inevitably involves hardcoremathematics.10.1080/09687769.2010.548504

Establishing Precedents: Women’s Student Activism and Social Change in the (Canadian) National Union of Students, 1972-1979

I provide an account of young women’s activism in the (Canadian) National Union of Students from the time that the national student organization reformed in 1972 to the signing of the National Union of Students’ (NUS) Declaration of the Rights of the Woman Student in 1979. I focus on the problems NUS women faced, the solutions and organization structures they devised and how they helped shape and transform the social organization of NUS. Through the lens of social action theory, I identify the social agency of women students in student movements, the knowledge of which has implications for understanding women’s movements and social change processes more generally. By uncovering the social activism of women students, this work makes an important contribution to the historiography of 1970s Canadian women’s movements, which so far has ignored young women’s contributions to the demarginalization of women and the production of society.

‘Are you listening please?’ The advantages of electronic audio feedback compared to written feedback

Feedback on students' work is, probably, one of the most important aspects of learning, yet students' report, according to the National Union of Students (NUS) Survey of 2008, unhappiness with the feedback process. Students were unhappy with the quality, detail and timing of feedback. This paper examines the benefits of using audio, as opposed to written, feedback in an attempt to overcome student criticisms. Using the Audacity audio software MP3 feedback files were created and sent to 60 students either via a VLE or email. The students were asked to complete an online survey on audio feedback. Twenty‐six students responded. The results were, generally, very positive. The use of audio feedback seemed to have overcome the problems reported by the NUS survey. Students are at least 10 times more likely to open audio files compared to collecting written feedback. The paper concludes with reflections, and advice, on introducing audio feedback.

Fees hike leads to UK student riot

Summary The UK government's plan to shift the cost of university teaching from the state to the students has led to mass protests and riots. Michael Gross reports.

Performing sem-teto: the transversal tactics of artivismo and the squatters' movement

‘Who has the right to the city?’ Henri Lefebvre1 Shortly after the turn of the millennium, when various Brazilian sem-teto (homeless) movements made the squatting of abandoned...

The changing nature of students’ social experience within university

This paper outlines the development of an online learner support tool “Early Days” and the information it subsequently provided into one aspect of the early experiences of students in the case study university. Analysis is based on two years of data that considered the extent of students’ social integration and emerging changes in the nature of their social experiences. Findings indicate that the majority of students enjoy the social side of higher education and feel they have settled into the university, but conversely they are not gaining this social experience through traditional social activities such as clubs and societies. Whilst the data offers a picture of one university, other higher education institutions may be interested in considering whether the changes are replicated in their own institutions. The current trend by the National Union of Students to move away from alcohol‐based events suggests that this may be the case. The paper raises the need for further research into the the changing nature of students’ social experience within university and suggests one challenge may be to consider the role of universities in providing students with a blended and positive social experience in the future.

STUDENT EVALUATION AND THE QUALITY OF LEGAL EDUCATION1

The reconstruction of students as consumers of educational products and services has led to changes in the ways in which universities operate. Part of this process has been the solicitation of the views of students with regard to numerous aspects of university provision. The profile of student evaluation as a measure of the effectiveness of university provision has been raised in recent years: the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the government, and the National Union of Students (NUS) in particular have given special prominence to this, culminating in the National Student Survey. These bodies appear to regard the opinions of students as a valuable indicator of the quality of university provision and thus as a source of useful information for stakeholders, especially prospective students. This article examines the concept of student evaluation, rather than any particular manifestation of it, and explores some of its implications for legal education. 1 An earlier version was given at t...

Student Perspectives on Higher Education as a Factor in the Founding of Knowledge Societies

The Chairperson of ESIB--the National Union of Students in Europe, a student union umbrella organization--briefly traces the origins of her organization and argues vigorously for strong government support for well-developed and diverse tertiary education systems. These must be broadly engaged both in their respective societies and internationally so as to prepare civil society for participation in so-called knowledge-based society.

University accommodation prices soar

The cost of university accommodation has risen by more than twice the rate of inflation in the past year, the National Union of Students' 2002 accommodation costs survey found. The largest rent increase (10.7%) has affected students in private halls of residence. The number of students living in such accommodation has increased, however, from 2.5% in 2001 to 4.5% this year. The average weekly rent in UK university accommodation is about £60 (€94; $88)--5.13% …

Students protest in London over loans

Thousands of students descended on London last March to urge Tony Blair to scrap student loans. An estimated 15 000 people marched along the high profile route past the House of Parliament and 10 Downing Street, culminating in a rally in Trafalgar Square--virtually unheard of during the week. The National Union of Students, which organised the demonstration, believes that virtually all its affiliated institutions …

NUS says students' living conditions are “second class”

Sixteen per cent of students live in vermin infested houses, according to a survey by the National Union of Students (NUS). The findings, published as part of the NUS Housing and Health Survey 2001, showed that half of students live in houses which have damp and 40% reported mould growing in bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. Basic safety precautions were often neglected by landlords: 20% cent …

Students' union launches new writing award on mental health

The National Union of Students (NUS) has announced an innovative award to be given for the positive portrayal of people with mental health problems. One in four people will be affected by mental health problems during the course of a year, yet discrimination is still rife, particularly in the media where negative stereotypes and derogatory language are often used. “Tomorrow's Minds” research conducted by Opinion Leader Research showed that among young …

Rate of undergraduates pregnancies is worryingly high

One in 10 female graduates become pregnant before they graduate, according to new research commissioned by the National Union of Students (NUS) which surveyed 970 female higher and further education students in England and Wales. Students who were married or in steady relationships and mature student were, unsurprisingly, three times more likely to have been pregnant than comparative subgroups - 36% and 35% respectively, compared …