The student view

Undeb Bangor, our Students’ Union, delivered a huge amount of activity and work in 2021–22 with fellow students, our Student Officer and staff teams. Our priority has been to support students, represent their voice and offer them opportunities.

We have worked closely with the University to ensure that the interests of our students have been effectively represented and our involvement in decisions relating to the changing Covid–19 restrictions is a strong example of our partnership approach and close working relationship. In 2021–22 we worked to ensure that there was student consultation on the University’s International, Sustainability, Employability and Widening Access and Civic Mission strategies.

Other partnership projects included the HEFCW–funded project Myf.Cymru, to improve mental health and wellbeing support for students through the medium of Welsh; student experience enhancement events; student educational attributes; student safety and tackling harassment; University student–led mental health strategy collaboration with student consultants; and the promotion of period dignity with the University committing to ensuring access to free period products across campus following a successful Period Poverty and Dignity pilot scheme led by the Students’ Union. These projects have been collaborative throughout, and the partnership work that we have seen during this period demonstrates the benefit of a strong and independent Students’ Union working to represent the interests of all students.

We developed health and wellbeing initiatives with £103,605 from the University via HEFCW to support student wellbeing and health. This funding had a very positive impact and supported students’ wellbeing in many areas, from providing them with opportunities to socialise, team build, connect with friends and new people to learn with, challenge themselves physically and mentally and develop new skills and confidence.

As presidents of the Students’ Union and UMCB, the Welsh Students’ Union, we are members of the University Council and sabbatical officers are represented on all University strategy groups. The president was part of the Vice–Chancellor appointment process and other sabbatical officers were involved in stakeholder engagement as part of the process. We have been proud to make contributions to many initiatives over the year and we have also hosted Q&A sessions with members of the University Executive Board.

Our Strategy for 2021–24 was launched in September 2021 and is helping us to deliver the best quality student experience for our diverse student body. It has been designed to contribute to the University’s Strategy 2030. The Students’ Union also undertook a staff restructure which was implemented in January 2022. We were very excited to be able to launch the Undeb Activities Hub above Bar Uno through the support of HEFCW capital funding to improve the student experience. The space has been transformed for student groups and provides a social hub for Undeb clubs, societies and volunteering projects, consolidating and improving facilities for clubs and societies to meet, creating a sense of identity and place.

In 2022 we held our award ceremonies in–person for the first time since 2019. These recognised outstanding achievements and contributions and celebrated the hard work and dedication of our brilliant students and also recognised outstanding teaching, contributions and support from staff across the University.

The Eisteddfod Ryng–golegol was held in Bangor and organised by UMCB and Bangor University won the Eisteddfod for the seventh consecutive year. The Eisteddfod is regarded as one of the main social and cultural events on the calendar of any Welsh student or learner studying in Wales. We also took 900 competitors and spectators down to Aberystwyth for the Bangor vs Aberystwyth Varsity and Socs Fest, and we were thrilled to bring the trophy back to Bangor for the sixth consecutive year.

Undeb Bangor ranked 5th in the Students’ Union of the Year category of the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2022 and ranked in the top 20 Student Crowd league table for Best Students’ Union and in the top 10 ranking for Best Clubs and Societies. These awards are based on real student reviews. We won the NUS Wales Community and Solidarity award that recognised exceptional projects which have brought communities together. This was for our student volunteering work with the elderly and children.

We have once again received the Green Impact Excellence award for our sustainability work and initiatives. This is the 11th consecutive year that Undeb Bangor has picked up this award due to the efforts of its staff, officers and students in addressing key sustainability and environmental issues, as well as working to embed positive sustainability changes at Bangor University.

We are also thrilled that we ranked first as the highest–scoring Students’ Union in Wales for student satisfaction in the important National Student Survey. We will continue to work hard to make sure that student satisfaction remains high at Bangor University and to ensure that Bangor students love student life. These awards are testament to the hard work the Undeb team and our student leaders have put into creating a great experience for students bringing the student community together in these testing times.

Nyah Lowe President, Student Union

Celt John Llywydd UMCB