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Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative

Students’ Union Evaluation Students’ Union Evaluation InitiativeInitiative

… is an assessment model that is an assessment model that assists in improving the services assists in improving the services and activities delivered to and activities delivered to members of the Union by members of the Union by indicating areas for continuous indicating areas for continuous improvement.improvement.

The Leader’s Role The Leader’s Role is to is to

Govern ChangeGovern Change

Why Change?Why Change?

• To make a Positive Difference To make a Positive Difference to the lives of our Members to the lives of our Members whilst they are at College / whilst they are at College / UniversityUniversity.

Organisational Change – Classic Model

CurrentState

FutureState

ActionPlan

ACTION

• What’s going on here?• Where are we now?

• What does success look like?• What outcomes do we want?

• What can we do that will make a difference?• What obstacles do we need to overcome?

From: Egan, Change Agent Skills, Model B

What are we trying to do?What are we trying to do?

We’re changing the We’re changing the Student ExperienceStudent Experience

Don’t Fall in the Trap and FailDon’t Fall in the Trap and Fail

This is a This is a PeoplePeople Process Process

not a not a

PaperPaper Process Process

SUEI PhilosophySUEI Philosophy

• Everything we do must Everything we do must be member focused.be member focused.

• ‘‘Being involved with SUEI has brought us Being involved with SUEI has brought us closer to our members. closer to our members.

It has really helped us focus on looking at all It has really helped us focus on looking at all issues from our members point of view’issues from our members point of view’

- - Cohort One memberCohort One member

SUEI PrinciplesSUEI Principles

SUEI concentrates onSUEI concentrates on

OUTCOMESOUTCOMES andand

IMPACTIMPACT

The SUEI Killer QuestionThe SUEI Killer Questionto be answered by your students to be answered by your students

during the SUEI processduring the SUEI process

Is the Union making a positive Is the Union making a positive impact to your lives as students impact to your lives as students whilst you are at this University/ whilst you are at this University/ College?College?

There must be evidence of improvement There must be evidence of improvement during the SUEI processduring the SUEI process

Oh No ..not another SUEI Philosophy!

We’re connecting We’re connecting with, and finding wins with, and finding wins for our studentsfor our students

Some Basic PrinciplesSome Basic Principles

• Knowing what you want to do and Knowing what you want to do and how to do ithow to do it

• Learning from what you doLearning from what you do

• Using what you learn to develop the Using what you learn to develop the Union and its servicesUnion and its services

• Achieving what you set out to doAchieving what you set out to do

• Satisfying stakeholdersSatisfying stakeholders

Why is there a need for Why is there a need for evaluation of some kind?evaluation of some kind?

Unions need to show that:Unions need to show that:

• They provide members and funders with They provide members and funders with efficient, consistent servicesefficient, consistent services

• They meet the often conflicting They meet the often conflicting demands of their members and that the demands of their members and that the members are satisfiedmembers are satisfied

• The Union is making a real differenceThe Union is making a real difference

• They are legitimate organisationsThey are legitimate organisations

What’s in it for………Unions?What’s in it for………Unions?

• Promotes LegitimacyPromotes Legitimacy• Improves AccountabilityImproves Accountability• Provides Improved GovernanceProvides Improved Governance• Provides Challenge - Catalyst for ChangeProvides Challenge - Catalyst for Change• Provides Strategic FocusProvides Strategic Focus• Ensures Continuous ImprovementEnsures Continuous Improvement• Ensures ResponsivenessEnsures Responsiveness

What’s in it for…….Officers?What’s in it for…….Officers?

• Help, Support and AssistanceHelp, Support and Assistance• Focus on OutcomesFocus on Outcomes• Being able to see the Big PictureBeing able to see the Big Picture• Specific Performance ObjectivesSpecific Performance Objectives• Model of AspirationModel of Aspiration• Measurement of Managerial PerformanceMeasurement of Managerial Performance• Benchmarking and NetworkingBenchmarking and Networking

What’s in it for……Universities?

• Model

• Measurement of Performance

• Scrutiny

• Benchmarking

• Marketing Aid

• Reduction in Risk

Common Questions from UniversitiesCommon Questions from Universities

• Are there good Governance and Are there good Governance and Scrutiny arrangements?Scrutiny arrangements?

• Is the Union financially sound and are Is the Union financially sound and are there robust financial procedures?there robust financial procedures?

• Does it maximise participation in Does it maximise participation in Activities, Services and Governance?Activities, Services and Governance?

Common Questions from UniversitiesCommon Questions from Universities

• Is there a sound constitution with good Is there a sound constitution with good electoral arrangements?electoral arrangements?

• Does it truly represent student views?Does it truly represent student views?

• Is it effectively managed?Is it effectively managed?

• Does its Strategy reflect the needs of its Does its Strategy reflect the needs of its members?members?

Where are we now?Where are we now?

• 11stst Cohort started in May 2006 Cohort started in May 2006

• 22ndnd Cohort started in October 2006 Cohort started in October 2006

• 33rdrd Cohort started February 2007 Cohort started February 2007

• 44thth Cohort TODAY Cohort TODAY

• 55thth Cohort May 2008 Cohort May 2008

Unions involved in first three Cohorts

• Bath• BedfordshireBedfordshire• BirminghamBirmingham• BrunelBrunel• CoventryCoventry• De MontfortDe Montfort• EssexEssex• HullHull• KCLSUKCLSU• Leeds UniversityLeeds University

• Leeds MetLeeds Met• Nottingham TrentNottingham Trent• Oxford BrookesOxford Brookes• Queen’s BelfastQueen’s Belfast• ReadingReading• Sheffield HallamSheffield Hallam• StrathclydeStrathclyde• SussexSussex• TeessideTeesside• York St JohnYork St John

Unions in Cohort 4

• AberdeenAberdeen• EdinburghEdinburgh• HertfordshireHertfordshire• ImperialImperial• Liverpool Liverpool

UniversityUniversity• LoughboroughLoughborough• NottinghamNottingham

• Robert GordonRobert Gordon• Royal HollowayRoyal Holloway• SolentSolent• StaffordshireStaffordshire• South BankSouth Bank• UlsterUlster• UCLUCL• WorcestershireWorcestershire

National Union of Students

AMSU

SUEI Funders

Key ThemesKey Themes

A: What's so special about the Union?A: What's so special about the Union?  B: What is this Union aiming to achieve?B: What is this Union aiming to achieve?  C: Is there quality stewardship?C: Is there quality stewardship?

D: Are there quality outcomes?D: Are there quality outcomes?    E: What underpins this quality?E: What underpins this quality? 

Students’ Union Evaluation InitiativeKey Lines of Enquiry

Values

•Empathy

•Democracy

•Diversity

•Learning

•Openness

•Behaviour

Rationale

•Effectiveness

•Service

•Trust

•Legitimacy

•Governance

•Learning

•Development

What’s so Special about the Union?

•Participation•Representation•Governance

What is this Union trying to achieve?

•Vision•Yearly Plans•Customer Focus

Is there quality stewardship?

•Well managed•Effective performance•Political management

Are there quality outcomes?

•Impact•Reputation•Services

What underpins this quality?

•Communication •Finance •Partnerships

The ProcessThe Process

• Year OneYear One– Start work on modelStart work on model– Getting started workshopGetting started workshop– Consultant visits and reportConsultant visits and report– 2nd workshop2nd workshop

• Year TwoYear Two– continue work on modelcontinue work on model– 3rd workshop3rd workshop– pre audit visitpre audit visit– audit and reportaudit and report– apply for accreditationapply for accreditation