Welcome From our Union base in Garthdee, we really do have so many incredible achievements that we should be proud of. It has been a year where we have shown a strong commitment to campus-wide, local and national campaigns. A year where we have managed to engage with a record number of volunteers at the Union and have set the foundations for new Union services such as our environmental projects, and ‘nightline’, our new student-led helpline. This year we were honoured to be nationally recognised at NUS Scotland Conference, with two national awards, our first Gold in the ‘Greener Unions’ awards and I am pleased to say that we finally achieved the SUEI (Student Union Evaluation Initiative) accreditation.
Paul Greene
President (Communication & Democracy) 2014/15 It’s my pleasure to present the 2013/14 impact report on behalf of the RGU:Union executive board. The past year has been a very important and exciting time for the Union. I believe we have taken significant steps to improve the student experience this year, but we have also operated within a challenging environment, from the closure of commercial facilities to the move to the Garthdee campus.
The last academic year has also seen remarkable progress in the governance of the Union, having approved our new constitution, constitutional regulations and set up the Union’s new trustee board. I fully believe that the new governance structure and improved autonomy of the Union will provide the bedrock for even greater achievements to come. I would like to thank all of the volunteers, Union staff and elected officers who have worked tirelessly this year to make these achievements possible. It has been a pleasure working with each of you, and I am excited to see all of these things and many more come to fruition in 2014/15.
all their hard work and dedication to the Union. This year the Union has had much to celebrate as we have successfully achieved a ‘Bronze’ award from Student Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI), NUS Scotland ‘Best Officer Team’ and the award for ‘Equality & Diversity. At the same time the Union was proud to have been shortlisted for a further seven NUS awards. We have also received numerous other awards such as ‘Gold’ for Best Bar None, an award for ‘Best Public Health Initiative’ and a ‘Gold’ for Greener Unions. These awards were gained through both staff and student officers’ hard work and commitment.
Michele Collie General Manager
The past year 2013-14 has been highly successful with a significant growth in the student participation and engagement. The relocation of the membership side of the business, the Sabbaticals, Senior Manager and the Administration staff into the heart of the campus has had a positive impact on the growth of the Student Union. The Union has gone through a major change process this year with the introduction of a new constitution, which for the first time has the ability to have external trustees. This will give the Union the opportunity to have the knowledge and skills from a wealth of different backgrounds. Another significant change has been the closure of the Union building at Schoolhill, which has resulted in the loss of the majority of the commercial activities. However, we have relocated the shop to the Garthdee campus in the Riverside East Building. The move has given the Union the opportunity to rebrand the shop so that it is more student friendly. This year the Union has had the fantastic opportunity to celebrate the long service of two of our staff members. Audrey Bainbridge has given thirty-seven years as Student Advice and Administration Co-ordinater. Audrey has supported and given advice to many Students, Sabbaticals and Union staff. Personally, I have a lot to thank Audrey for as she has been such an inspiration to me throughout my time as General Manager. Audrey was recognised also by NUS Scotland for her long service to the student movement by receiving an award. Our second member of staff is Richard Raffan who has given a fantastic 39 year’s service as a porter to the Union. Richard is known by many as he was the first point of contact and always had a friendly welcome to both students and staff. Both members of staff need to be commended for
Over the past year the Union has be sourcing new income streams. This has resulted in the Union securing external funding from Climate Change of over £208,000. This has been a fantastic achievement for both the University and the Union. It has given us the opportunity to employ three new members of staff who will take forward four new projects which include bike hire scheme; allotment; energy challenge and the training of student energy ambassadors. This is not only a great opportunity for students to increase their skills but also reduces our carbon footprint. It has been fantastic to see a growth in student engagement this year, through a major increase of society and volunteer numbers, it’s definitely been influenced by the Union being in the heart of the campus. The Elections were also a success with an increase in voting numbers from the year before. This is the second year of RAG (Raising and Giving) being a fundraising arm of the Union. Over that time it has grown from strength to strength. With all their hard work they have raised over £25,000 for different charities. In recognition of all their hard work the RAG chair won ‘Outstanding Individual’ at the first national RAG award at the National RAG Conference. Our sabbatical team have had a successful year with the introduction of some new and exciting initiatives such as the signing of a Mental Health Agreement and the Partnership agreement with University. Another of their great achievements was at the AGM where the new constitution was ratified giving the Union the opportunity to establish a Trustee Board. The development and improvement of the Academic Representation structures has strengthened the avenue of communication for all students. Building on the various strands of communication there has been a vast amount of work achieved in the development of the student magazine, radio and T.V. Finally, I would like to congratulate the Staff and Officers for achieving so much in 2013/14 in an ever changing working environment. I look forward to another year of exciting projects and new initiatives.
Welcome
Contents
2013/14 at RGU:Union 2: Welcome 3: Our Team 2013/14 4: Effectively Representing Our Students 6: Student Elections 7: Supporting Our Students 8: Volunteering 10: Transition To Garthdee 11: Raising And Giving 12: Campaigns & Events 14: Green Initiatives 16: Societies 18: Sport & Physical Activity 19:
Financial Summery
19:
Student Media
Our Team 2013/14 Paul Greene
Rachel Joyce
Steve Mills
Rachel Sanders
President (Communication & Democracy) President (Education & Welfare)
Paddy Maughan
President (Sport & Physical Activity)
Martin Mgbemere Vice President (Academic)
Callum Martin
Vice President (Entertainment & Events)
Elena Stanica
Vice President (Environmental & Ethics)
Deena Tissera Vice President (International)
Vice President (Sport) RAG Chair
Michele Collie General Manager
Iain Donaldson
Commercial Services Manager
Audrey Bainbridge
Advice & Admin Co-ordinator
Stephen Fiddes
Advice & Admin Co-ordinator
Hugh Coleman Union Finance
Gregor Mailer
Graphic Designer & Marketing Co-ordinator
Stevie Kearney
Student Development & Volunteering Co-ordinator
Debbie Booth PA
Hannah Smith Receptionist
Anthony Browne
Climate Change Manager
Mhairi Mackintosh
Carbon Reduction Co-ordinator
Natalie Stypa
Climate Change Engagement Co-ordinator
rgu:
ion
RGU Students’ Union University Street Garthdee Campus Garthdee Road Aberdeen AB10 7GE 01224 262 266 hello@rguunion.co.uk RGU Student Association is a registered Scottish charity SC0 16639
Effectively Representing Our Students
Constitutional changes, Regulations & Trustee Board During 2013/14, a new constitution was developed for RGU:Union. This was submitted and approved at our AGM, and also by the Robert Gordon University Board of Governors. The updated constitution is aimed at making the Union student-led and to provide greater autonomy as a charity. An 80-page regulation document was also created to accompany the constitution to allow for more flexibility in making amendments to detail in future.
Strong Turnout for Rescheduled AGM Our Annual General Meeting was held in amphitheatre of the University’s new Riverside East Building for the first time in November. Although quorate was not reached at the first attempt, a rescheduled AGM proved successful, with around 100 students in attendence.
New Vice President Roles Introduced
The constitution introduced the creation of a trustee board to replace the Student Association Management Advisory Group (SAMAG), which will ensure that the union is appropriately run, in line with interests of students, charity law and the 1994 Education Act.
To further provide a voice for under-represented groups at the university, 3 new Vice President roles were introduced:
The Union’s new trustee board is made up of eight students (three Union Presidents, three elected students and three appointed students). There are also four external trustees and one University-nominated member on the board.
- Vice President (Community) - Vice President (Student Affairs) - Vice President (Wellbeing & Equality)
Prior to the advertisement of external trustees, a skill set was drawn up to reflect the type of skills and experience the Union would endeavour to have on the board. This comprised of governance knowledge, finance experience, knowledge of sport development, and experience of operating in the third sector. External trustee opportunities were advertised through local third sector organisations and to the Universities’ alumni community, resulting in four candidates fulfilling the recommended criteria. We are confident that the additional knowledge and experience which has been brought to the board will be beneficial for the student experience and to the future successes of RGU:Union.
Lesley Wilson (Chair) External Trustee
Vinny O’Donovan Student Trustee
Pauline May External Trustee
Amit Jolly Student Trustee
Scott Baxter External Trustee John Barr External Trustee Paul Greene (Vice Chair) Student Trustee
Students’ Union Trustee Board Members
Antoinette NcNeil Student Trustee Graham McDougall Student Trustee James Dunphy University Trustee
Student Faculty Officers
This year saw the highest number of applications for Faculty Officer position ever. 2 officers were appointed per faculty, with a gender balance amongst those in place. A SFO training programme was developed, and each officer was provided them their own email accounts and hoodies. Appointees included the first Distance Learner SFO. We will also be introducing DELTA Liaison and DSSS Liaison Officers.
Effectively Representing Our Students
Student Reps at RGU
2012/13 Total
133
114 118
Student Reps
152 146 154
18
Student Reps
61
44
20
Student Reps
Student Reps
Student Reps
Student Reps
37
417
2012 2013 2014
2014
2013
2012
400
2013/14 Total
39
43
41 38 35
19
41
42 42 39
35
37
37 32
30 30
18 19 11 4
2012 2013 2014
1
4
2012 2013 2014
2012 2013 2014
2012 2013 2014
2012 2013 2014
2012 2013 2014
2012 2013 2014
2012 2013 2014
2012 2013 2014
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
A
Aberdeen Business School
Faculty of Health and Social Care
2012 2013 2014
137 136 130 Student Reps
Student Reps
52
53
Student Reps
A: B: C: D: E: F: G:
Accounting & Finance Communication, Marketing and Media Information Management Law Management Applied Social Studies Health Sciences
34
33
29
Nursing & Midwifery Pharmacy and Life Sciences Computing Engineering Gray’s School of Art Scott Sutherland School
Training and Support
43
32
H: I: J: K: L: M:
35
For the second year running a Student Faculty Officer and the President (Education and Welfare) were trained under the sparqs Institutional Associate Trainer scheme to deliver student representative training
27
26 21
216
18
2012 2013 2013
2012 2013 2014
2012 2013 2014
2012 2013 2013
J
K
L
M
Faculty of Design and Technology
216 students attended training sessions in 2013/14. An increase from 190 in 2012/13
99% 99% of those who attended felt able to participate in training
93% 93% of those who attended considered the training ‘very useful/useful’. An increase from 86% in 2012/13
Student Elections Student Election Voter Turnout
1616 1335
1680
1920 1505
ReRcGU ord
1680 1413
1413
19% Increase 2014 election turnout compared to 2013 election turnout
1123
13 Total number of candidates running in the 2014 Elections
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
995
“Running for election is a great experience. You get to meet so many new people, and really understand what the issues are on campus. Win or lose, the campaigning experience is electric, and the interpersonal skills you learn from the experience is really valuable. I would recommend it to anyone.�
The highest number of votes gathered by one single candidate
Paul Greene, Election Candidate 2013 Number of candidates for full-time Sabbatical roles.
8 5
2009
10
9
8
2011
2012
2013
2014
9
9
6
5
2010
Number of candidates for part-time Officer & VP roles.
5
2009
2010
2011
7
6
2012
2013
2014
Supporting Our Students
Changes taking place in the Student Advice Department
Who we advise We have found that the number of students we have been able to advise has increased. This can most likely be accounted for by the positioning of the Union office in the heart of Garthdee campus, meaning our service is both more visible and accessible to students.
Stephen Fiddes was appointed as Student Advice and Administration Coordinator in April, having previously worked at the Student Help Point since 2012.
Referrals to the service most commonly occur from lecturers and the Student Help Point, but many students report being told by classmates what the service has to offer.
After 37 years of service to the University and the Union, Audrey Bainbridge semi-retired from the same post, but will continue work in a parttime capacity.
Over half the students we see are from outside the UK, and the vast majority of these are also non-European.
What we advise on
Stephen and Audrey will be developing an Advice section of the new Students’ Union website when it goes live, with the aim of making it an information hub that will direct students to the right service, person or course of action for each situation.
Student Appeals have overtaken Misconduct cases as the most common issue students require advice on. This could be explained by students becoming more aware of the option of making an Academic Appeal. There are numerous cases where students visit the Union seeking advice as they are at risk of not being able to complete their course, and it is only after discussion with ourselves that they discover they can make an appeal against any decision of the Assessment Board. Together, Appeals and Misconduct cases account for approximately half of the cases we advise on.
1/ 2
Over half the students we see are from outside of the UK.
34% 27%
Percentage of student appealbased cases seen in 2013/14 Percentage of student misconduct-based cases seen in 2013/14
The remaining cases were comprised of extenuating circumstances claims, finance and health situations, and other academic issues.
Volunteering Rewarding the work of our volunteers
Strengthening links with the community Following Stevie Kearney’s appointment to the role of Student Development and Volunteer Coordinator at the end of February this year, we made several changes to the structure of volunteering through RGU:Union, with more emphasis on our links to the wider community of Aberdeen. We have set up 20 partnership agreements with third sector organisations across the city, and as volunteer numbers rise we can look to add many more. Partner organisations include Inspire, Sport Aberdeen, Somebody Cares, Inchgarth Community Centre, Cornerstone and Aberdeen Action on Disability. Our link with Inchgarth generated local press coverage and several volunteers have been involved in marketing the centre’s facilities to the student population, as well as helping with web design and social media. We also supported 55 RGU volunteers who organised the first ever Aberdeen Youth Games, contributing 3,850 hours in the process. There were teams from 34 primary schools, with over 1,000 pupils in attendance on the day, so it was quite a task to bring it all together so successfully.
77
The number of volunteering certificates and awards presented at this year’s Student Achievement Awards Ball
10 Hours Marianthi Kerrouchi Vasilena Stamboliyska Ana Sleahtitchii Dean Leighton Reginald Ankrah Oghosa Obazee Bogenbay Tatayev Michael Obi Onyinyechukwu Molokwu Olushola Ajida Lodovica Avidano Olakorede Olaleye Prabhakah Bhatta Slimane Kerrouchi Ryan-Lee Hamilton Louise Dryburgh Rachel Broadley Sue Chowdhry 20 Hours Steven Hair Ana-Maria Bogdan Sajidh Ibrahim Katie Gibson Radisti Praptiwi Sarah Hay Kirsty Brown Konstantinos Boumpas Rebekah Tansey Deinma Okvchaba Madeleine Holmes Abimbola Alli Alan Khadir Chisa Onyejekwe Jamilu Mohamed Nana Atta Amy Arnold Olivia Robertson-Gray 50 Hours Sam Anwar Melehat Nil Gulari Nathan Skillen
Iain Moodie Alice Rose Morrison Mahesh Vishnu Ranji Amy Logan Leanne Fahy Karin Danz Alex Ross Stacey Hepburn Antoinette McNeil Stephen Williamson 100 Hours Laura Shanahan Stuart McMaster Grant Stengs Niamh Healy Lukas Podhrazky Rory Buchanan Marie Caulfield Steven Cassell Hannah Boycroft Justin Russell Efsevia Nicokavoura Nicola Robertson Connor Bond Amy McNellis 200 Hours Jenni Murison Deena Tissera Rebecca Petrie Emma Keddie Shadya El Shafiy Lee Boag Edward Pollock Gemma Stewart 300 Hours Jessica Knox 500 Hours Rachel Sanders Alasdair Lemon
“
Everything in terms of volunteering is now geared towards partnership working and joint projects, building our networks and being connected not only at RGU, but across the city, which creates an increased number of really valuable and challenging roles on offer to our students.
Volunteering within the University
“
Stevie Kearney Student Development & Volunteering Co-ordinator
Aberdeen Youth Games
ONE project
34
Volunteering within the university has continued strongly, with an increased focus on making connections across the academic and support staff, so we can be aware of the various projects taking place. We’ve been pushing for a university-wide approach to volunteering and will continue to press the need for this in the coming year. A link-up has also been formed with the Social Work courses and Aberdeen City Council to provide volunteers for projects across the city and this will be rolled out over Freshers Week, where students fill out an application form and are matched with a client according to their hobbies and likes. This will see a significant rise in the volunteering numbers. Another new development has been the launch of the Volunteering Opportunity of the Week, which allows us to focus on a particular role which we think is really exciting or important.
3850 volunteer
schools
1000 school pupils
This year 55 of our volunteers clocked up almost 4000 hours supporting the local Aberdeen Youth Games event
hours
55
RGU volunteers
100 Our Freshers Team contains over 100 registered RGU volunteers every year
Transition to Garthdee Goodbye Schoolhill Since it first opened in 1974, the RGU Students’ Union building on Schoolhill has been the first stop for thousands of students on nights out, the home of RGU Freshers Weeks, charity fundraisers, sports team nights out, society events, award ceremonies and much more. We served pints to students from all over the world, saw pub golfers, silent discos, UV parties, world record attempts, and hosted more fancy dress theme nights than we thought was humanly possible! But the doors of the Union closed for the last time in July as, despite strong student outcry and protests, the building was sold off by University senior management.
Today is the last day of th e Union, and whilst th at’s very sad, I shall have a few an d toast the m emories. I can’t help th ink that I wou ldn’t be where I am to day without the friends and experien ces that I foun d in that one building. I know the SA will move on to focus on other aspect s of the student expe rience, but I will always remember th e Union with a smile on my face.
Facebook best friends I met some of my in the Union
As well as the bar, cafe and shop, our city centre base also housed all Union elected presidents, vice presidents and staff members, and provided valuable free meeting, storage and social spaces for many societies, sports clubs, and student groups at RGU.
and en in Aberdeen, Ten years I’ve be d de un rro su en e be for ten years I’v even better g tin ea cr le op by good pe with they all started memories, and just an th re mo - much that institution a bar.
I’m glad we made it back to the Union. It’s been ten years since we first stepped foot in there. A terri fic place.
Hello Garthdee
No city centre replacement has been provided by the University, and all staff and presidents have been moved to new office spaces on campus.
40 The Students’ Union building on Schoolhill had been our home for 40 years, having opened its doors for the first time in 1974
The Union team moved into a new home in the heart of the Garthdee campus in October 2013. The office space, which is located underneath RGU: SPORT had previously housed the University’s Careers Centre, Placement Office, and various other departments, and now provides an on campus base for our team of presidents, vice presidents and staff members. A new student shop was opened in the Riverside East Building, and a second small room was also allocated to the Union, this will be utilised as a student media hub. Confidential advice and meeting spaces have also been made available in Kaim Cottage.
Raising And Giving RGU:RAG is the fundraising arm of the Union, organising a number of charitable events throughout the year, with all the proceeds going to local, national and international charities. The group is entirely student led, supported by a student elected Chair and in-house elected committee. These core committee members assist in the organising of and the overall running and support for the fundraising efforts of students and staff throughout the academic year.
This year RAG has not only raised over £25,000 for charity, but has been awarded two awards from national organisations, as well as winning an RGU:Union award for excellence for the fourth consecutive year. Five different RAG members have taken part in international projects, whether it’s raising money through a challenge event or working directly with international communities and helping them with building projects our students were there.
50 The number of students who took part in the first ever RAG on campus bungee jump
We introduced the first campus wide onsite challenge. A bungee jump, it allowed students to take on the challenge and raise money for charity without having to travel or pay high registration costs.
2013
£62,816 (Total includes £62,037, which was raised by RAG members to support an international challenge event to Mount Kilimanjaro)
Rachel Sanders, RAG Chair (2012-14) won the award for Outstanding Individual at the first National RAG Awards, at the Birmingham RAG Conference 2013. RGU:RAG won Best Newcomers at Childreach International’s Awards Ceremony in Nottingham with eight of the committee members attending the event.
2014
£25,145
2012
£8,317
RAG Charity Fundraising Totals
Continued to run overseas challenges, 3 students visited Morocco for a Big Build Volunteering Project, another student visited Tanzania as part of Climb Kili 4 Kids and another student went to Morocco to take part in Operation Sahara. For the 4th consecutive year RGU:RAG won the Students Association award for Consistency and Excellence. RGU hosted the first Scottish regional meeting of The National Student Fundraising Association (NaSFA), with four other universities represented. It was chaired by NaSFA committee member Anna McGivern (York RAG).
Campaigns & Events
Sexual Health Action Group The Sexual Health Action Group (SHAG) was established to make sexual health a strategic priority. We hosted a Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance Week (SHAG), published a SHAG guide and went on a halls tour to deliver SHAG packs to student flats on Valentine’s Day.
Out In Sport Our ‘Out in Sport’ campaign, ran with assistance from University staff, and society members was a huge success, receiving national press coverage and helped to promote the inclusive environment that our sports club provide.
Independence Debate We held an independence referendum debate with students, campaigners, the local community, MSPs and city councillors. The aim of the live debate was to stimulate debate amongst students and encourage them to vote in the independence referendum. The debate was broadcast live on RGU:Radio and streamed through RGU:TV.
I Love My Lecturer Awards The ‘I Love My Lecturer’ awards were refreshed and re-launched by having a new nomination list, new awards, and a bigger and more rewarding ceremony on campus.
Approximately 250 students attended the Independence Debate and put their questions to representatives from both Yes and Better Together campaigns.
Campaigns & Events
24 Hour Library We successfully made a case for the library to opening 24/7 during exam times, using feedback from a survey conducted by the University.
Mental Health Projects Graduation Ball 2014 Building on the success of our 2013 event, this year’s Graduation Ball saw an unprecedented demand for tickets. Again split across two separate nights, the first release of tickets for our Friday event sold out in just 3 hours. In total, over 700 students attended both our Thursday and Friday events, with the final night filling 3 separate ballrooms within the venue.
700
3
Over 700 students attended this year’s Graduation Ball across two nights
Tickets for our Friday Graduation Ball sold out in just 3 hours
The mental health campaign, which aligns with the Healthy Body Healthy Mind campaign, has had a positive response from all stakeholders. The campaign has raised awareness, tackled stigma and promoted physical activity to all of the University community. This year saw the signing of the Mental Health Agreement between the University and the Union and it is key that both parties continue to work together to develop this. Physical activity campaigns such as Intramural Sports have allowed more students to take part in a less competitive environment and increased the sense of community at RGU. It is hoped this programme will continue into next year. We initiated the launch of the RGU Mental Health Partnership Agreement, and hosted a ‘Mental Health Week’, including a Mental Health Fayre. A Mental Wellbeing Society was established, and plans were put in place for the Nightline service to be launched in the next academic year. This is a student-led helpline offering emotional support to students outside academic hours. We secured sponsorship with Keycom who are providing an internet network, an IP phone and a laptop. We also arranged partnerships with Police Scotland, RAS, Drugs Action and Shelter. We provided an exam de-stressor, handed out free water, played music and displayed lots of positive good luck messages around University Street during exam time.
Green Initiatives In 2013, RGU:Union secured funding from the Climate Challenge Fund to establish a carbon footprint initiative at RGU. The goal is to reduce the University’s carbon emissions and promote sustainable living. The initiative was brought to life as Go Green in February 2014, when three members of staff were appointed to launch a variety of projects. Go Green promote small changes to our lifestyle which can have a positive impact on the natural world and reduce the effects of climate change. To date, Go Green has engaged and inspired a large number of students and staff, both in person and through our various social media outlets.
3
24
We have employed 3 new members of staff (1 full time, 2 part time) to deal with green initiatives and environmental issues
We currently have 24 active volunteers involved with projects alongside our Go Green team
40
30
40 bikes have been donated, serviced, and are ready for hire as part of the Go Green Bike Hire scheme
30kg CO2 has been saved by growing fruit and veg in the RGU Community Garden
£200,000 The total amount awarded to the Students’ Union as part of our Keep Scotland Beautiful funding application
Community Garden The RGU Community Garden is a place for students and staff to grow their own fruit and veg, reconnect with nature, and learn more about organic growing. Consuming home-grown produce rather than buying it from the supermarket substantially cuts carbon emissions by avoiding packaging and long transport routes. The RGU Community Garden is part of the Garthdee Field Allotments. Work on the plot commenced in March 2014. Volunteers in conjunction with Go Green staff transformed the overgrown area into a flourishing garden. Raised beds now hold a variety of vegetables and a newly acquired polytunnel is used to grow chillies, bell peppers, aubergines, and other heat-loving plants. All produce is consumed by the volunteers. RGU students and members of staff as well as the wider community are encoraged to take part in the gardening and other activities on site.
Green Initiatives
Bike Hire Service From October 2014, RGU Go Green is offering low-cost bike hire to students and staff. The advantages of cycling over taking the bus are many: it’s cheaper, more flexible, and faster. It’s also a great way of getting daily exercise while substantially cutting CO2 emissions.
Energy Ambassadors The Energy Ambassadors scheme offers RGU students the chance to work with the local community on reducing carbon emissions by making buildings more energy efficient. The scheme was launched in May 2014. In the first round, five students received training in energy surveys and simple energy saving measures. After carrying out a sample survey on campus, they visited two churches and a community centre. Participating students helped reduce the carbon footprint of the local community, gained knowledge of how to consume energy more efficiently, and boosted their employability by acquiring carbon management skills. The scheme will continue in October and see the extension to private homes. All students are welcome to apply for the scheme as no previous knowledge is required. In recognition of their commitment, Energy Ambassadors can receive free student membership with IEMA, the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment. Benefits include access to online resources, a monthly magazine, and invitation to events as well as online networking opportunities.
Food Co-op Halls Energy Challenge All students living in Woolmanhill and Crathie Student Village are part of the Halls Energy Challenge. Launching in September 2014, the Challenge asks residents to join forces with their flatmates to save energy. Go Green provides students with information about easy energy saving measures like washing clothes at lower temperatures or cooking with the lid on pots and pans. Smart electricity meters allow students to review their flat’s electricity consumption online and compare it to other flats. Each month, the best flat wins prizes such as cinema and club vouchers, with the overall Energy Champions receiving a prize at the end of the year. Go Green organises photo competitions on Facebook and regular film nights as an opportunity for students to socialise, learn more about sustainable living, and get inspired.
Go Green will help students to establish a Food Co-op that will provide the opportunity to buy fresh, organic and fair-trade fruit and veg at a low cost on campus. Launching in October, the food will be ordered from a local, organic farm, picked up once a week, and distributed in ethically produced jute bags. Sourcing food in bulk and as local as possible helps to lower carbon emissions by reducing packaging and avoiding long supply chains. Food Co-ops are run by their members and for their members. This means that all work will be done by volunteers, allowing students to shake off the role as merely passive consumer and take charge over the quality and origin of their food.
Swap Shop Launching in October, the Swap Shop is a shop where students can take items of clothing they no longer want and swap them for something that other students have brought in. Reusing clothes allows us to save the carbon emissions caused by the production of new items whilst avoiding further additions to landfills. Ways for students to get involved include manning and promoting the shop, establishing a social media presence, organising socials, craft fairs, upcycling workshops and much more.
Societies Academic Society of the Year
Society of the Year
Interprofessional Education (IPE)
Research Student Assoc
Most Improved Academic Society
Forensic Society
Student Leadership Award
Assoc of African Students
Research Student Association Society of the Year 2013/14 The Research Students Association (RSA) provides a wide range of academic, networking, social and charity events to help fulfil the research student journey. From induction through to final viva and all the milestones along the way, the RSA facilitates the opportunities to be supported, encouraged and to be part of a research community. In the last year, RSA maintained their presence at postgraduate learning events such as the postgrad induction and PGCert 1 & 2. Activities for the past year include the Santa fun-run, Burns Night celebrations, movie nights, quiz nights, networking events, charity Zumbathon, Welcome to Riverside East and the Macmillan Coffee Morning. The highlight of the year was ‘The Burn’, where RSA members went on a three-day retreat to a massive old house near Edzell and invited guest speakers on topics such as publishing research articles, academic writing, interpersonal skills and motivation, while there were also teambuilding events to encourage development and social skills. RSA also organised their first ever conference, with students attending from universities all over Scotland, increasing RGU’s profile as a hub for post-graduate research and giving a chance to show off the facilities on campus. The charity sleep out was also a great success, with society members spending a rather cold night outside Kaim Cottage as a fundraiser – and the rain certainly didn’t help! Student feedback highlights the society as a safe, friendly environment, where people can socialise, feel supported, learn new skills, ask questions they wouldn’t ask their lecturers or just generally blow off steam.
40 1000 10
We have over 40 different student societies registered with the Union
Collectively, over 1000 students are currently involved as society members at RGU
This year has seen the creation of around 10 new societies
Societies
New Society of the Year
Most Improved Society
RGU:LGBT+
Nassau Business Society
International Erasmus/ Exchange
Award for Continued Excellence
Student Voice Award
RGU:RAG & Electronic Gaming
Radar Magazine
Society Person of the Year
Student Engagement Award
Amy McNellis
New Societies for 2013/14 It’s been an exciting year for new societies, with around 10 new student groups establishing and affiliating themselves with the Union. Responding to a need identified by our students – especially those from abroad – there is now a Languages Society, where students can take on the role of teacher, or just come along and learn from a range of languages on offer. The Whisky Appreciation Society is getting on its feet and will be ready to launch fully in the coming academic year, providing knowledge and tutored tastings for those who enjoy a dram or three. The African Caribbean Society has come a long way in a short time and they have some big plans for the forthcoming year, while we now also have a dedicated Nigerian Students Association. Student support needs can be taken care of by the new Mental Wellbeing Society, which will tie-in alongside with the Union’s new Nightline service, while the Events Society will provide support to other societies looking to host events and fundraisers of any sort. Like science? Like cake? Well, enjoy both at once with the new Science and Cake Society, which sounds like a lot of fun to us and we look forward to seeing if this society can capture the imagination of our students and kick off a whole new trend for interesting subject and food pairings! We have also a relaunch of the Fashion Society, which could be a runaway success, while the Applied Social Science Society provides a space for students to socialise and discuss issues related to their course. Finally, the Erasmus/Exchange Society has a new coat of paint and is now called ESN RGU, which may seem like a lot of capital letters, but promises to be even bigger and better than the previous society as it is now part of a European network of support.
Interprofessional Education Society Run as a joint society alongside the University of Aberdeen, Interprofessional Education (IPE) was founded in 2012 and has seen membership numbers rocket since then, with the total currently sitting close to 200. For those who don’t know, Interprofessional education occurs when two or more health professions learn with, from and about each other to improve the quality of patient care. Every one of the IPE events during 2013/14 reached capacity attendance, with many events repeated in order to allow everyone to attend. This shows the lengths the committee will go to in order to ensure equal access for all members. The society presidents also put out a questionnaire to all members to find if they felt the approach to IPE was successful, and how it could be improved. One of the many achievements from the last year has been the society helping the Pharmacy School to gain accreditation from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which add greatly to the university’s reputation and ensure a quality learning experience for RGU students. Making teaching resources available online has also been one of the key accomplishments of the last year, and there is now a wide range of material available through the society’s website. This also means those within other universities can access these resources and develop their own teaching practices, emphasising one of the key elements of the IPE Society – bringing people together to share and learn.
Societies A-Z 5710 Academic Supply Chain Society Association for BME Engineers Applied Social Science Society Association of African Students African Engineers African & Carribbean Society Believers Loveworld Fellowship Campus Consulting Christian Union Diagnostic Radiography Dumbledore’s Army (Harry Potter) Electronic Gaming Society Engineering Society ESN Aberdeen (Erasmus/Exchange) Events Society Fashion Society Forensic Society FIlm Society First Aid Africa Gaming Society
Interprofessional Education IHI Patient Safety Chapter Internaitonal Society Language Society Law Society Leadership International League of Anime LGBT+ Mental Wellbeing Society Midwifery Society Nigerian Association Nutrition Society Photography Society Research Student Association Science & Cake Society Shooting Stars (Drama) Singers South Asian Society Timothy Generation Whisky Appreciation Society
Sport & Physical Activity
It has been another successful year for sport and physical activity at RGU with great performances from our teams, an improvement in participation, and more opportunities for students to take part in physical activity. The continued partnership with RGU: SPORT and the current club structure has allowed for growth and development of student sport. We launched two new clubs this year, Weightlifting and Clay Target Shooting. Both clubs have been a success with Weightlifting attracting over 30 members to facilities which RGU: SPORT provides. The majority of clubs have increased, and retained, members. RGU have had another successful competitive year. We won the Aberdeen Asset Management Boat Race for the 3rd Year in a row. Our Gaelic football team were the most successful team in Britain, and also performed admirably in Ireland. The women’s football team were the Scottish champions. Men’s Basketball won the Scottish Conference Cup and came 2nd in their league. Men’s Hockey won their league and they were runners up in the Scottish Conference Cup.
Our intramural competition saw approximately 80 staff and students, who were not members of sports clubs participate in physical activity on a weekly basis. Plans are already in place to expand this programme next year. We launched and have continually promoted our ‘medal routes’. These are three walking paths which utilise the riverside area of the Garthdee campus. We continued to work with Fit for the Future, arranging University wide events and campaigns to promote physical activity, health and wellbeing.
33
1100
Number of sports clubs
Registered members
Recognising Sporting Volunteers To recognise the work our volunteers do, we introduced the Volunteer of the Year trophy at our annual sports awards ball. We continue to work alongside RGU: SPORT to support and promote the Streetsport and VFS programmes. This year saw a record high for volunteering hours done by students on the VFS programme.
We ran a number of campaigns and events this year with notable successes. Our dodgeball tournament during Freshers Week was one of the best fresher-based sports events we have ever had. There were approximately 100 people there on the day; we were greatly supported by RGU: RAG who provided a BBQ. We also ran a Movember campaign with RAG, it helped raise awareness of cancer, mental wellbeing and general health and University groups raised a significant amount of money.
RGU students & alumni compete at Commonwealth Games Two current students and two alumni took part in the Commonwealth Games. Andrew McGovern (swimming), Rebecca Bee (rhythmic gymnastics), Hannah Miley (swimming) and Leigh Fawcett (women’s hockey) flew the flag for RGU.
Finance Summary Union Review
Expenditure
The review this year is being produced somewhat earlier than last year and in a background of significant change. As a result the following is based on indicative figures which may differ once the final accounts are produced and in view of this the provision of detailed analysis would not be appropriate. However in broad terms the overall performance and the reasons for this are unlikely to change significantly
Total expenditure this year is £591K which is £17K less than the budget. The main contributor to this was legal professional and accounting costs which were almost £6K under budget along with savings in Utility and Cleaning Costs of £2K each.
Income Overall Income was £593K and £20k over budget. In addition to the budgeted support of £355k additional funding was provided by the University. This matched the shortfall in income from trading resulting from the rundown of the bar and café and disruption due to the relocation of the shop. Despite these problems trading income was £38K, and this together with miscellaneous income which at £42K was £37K over budget due to the negotiation of partnerships and other initiatives by the Union .
Summary This has been another difficult year due to the closure of the bar and café, and the support of the University in this has been vital. Going forward however we are optimistic that the main challenges have now been faced and a more stable financial position can be achieved.
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Student Media Student Media has seen great progress this year, with Radar Magazine, RGU:Radio and RGU:TV all building strong teams of volunteers in order to produce engaging content aimed at RGU students. Radar Magazine recruited a placement student to work on the graphic design and layouts of the publication, whilst also implementing a house brand and style. 4 copies were produced during the 2013/14 academic year, and distributed throughout the campus and around the city centre. Interviews were secured with high profile sporting and music figures, and a number of regular features were also introduced. Various other awareness campaigns were completed throughout the year, with the aim of raising the profile of the magazine. Social media accounts were introduced, dump bins and counter stands were also purchased and placed in high traffic areas of the campus. RGU:TV built links with societies and sports clubs to create a number of ‘on demand’ promotional videos, as well as producing its first live stream as the team broadcast the Union’s Independence Debate online. RGU:Radio also continues to grow, with a new management team chosen in the station’s first ever election. The RGU Independence Debate was also broadcast live, and the station hosted its own separate debate.
NE RADAR MAGAZI ISSUE 03 FEB/MAR 2014 RGUUNION.CO.UK
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