Paul Greene – End of Year Report - 2013/14. Community Local Community Events Attended a range of community events to encourage local community engagement and collaboration on a range of issues. This included elections, campaigns and general cooperation. Events attended included: • • • • •
The Inchgarth Community Centre AGM The Garthdee Community Council The lease handover event for Ruthrieston Community Centre Meeting with Scottish Youth Council on engaging youth in EU elections Ad hoc meetings with local community centre representatives, MSPs and MSYPs
RGU Community Events I assisted in a range of events put on within the RGU campus, including the promotion of events both organised by the Union and groups of students to assist in the development of the on-campus community. Also attended a range of meetings aimed at creating a more vibrant campus community and lobbied for more student-friendly spaces on campus. Engagement Independence Debates An independence referendum debate was held 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 referendum debate was broadcast live on RGU:Radio and streamed live on RGU:TV. An RGU:Radio independence debate was also organised to encourage an informed debate on campus, and also to target distance learning students and those who could not make it on to campus. Society Engagement Embarked on a range of activities to engage students with societies by working with Edward Pollock to create society start-up meetings at the beginning of the academic term and facilitating the first meetings. I also assisted in helping arrange numerous events during freshers week 2014 and the ‘Give it a go’ week which was aimed at getting students involved societies and extra-curricular activities.
Representation University Committee Representation Represented the Union on a range of committees and events including: The catering management group – working to get a better deal for students on campus, raising awareness of dietary requirement issues and working for a better catering deal and some sponsorship for the Union. The Short-Life working group – This group was set up to discuss the future of the Unions services and facilities. Working alongside Union colleagues, it has achieved a future vision for the Union in Garthdee but much work requires to be done on the interim to achieve adequate services for students. Learning infrastructure Sub-Committee (LISC) – Focus here has been representing the interests of students in University services. A range of other ad-hoc committees and meetings with senior management were also attended. National Representation I attended range of Scottish and UK-wide events led by the National Union of Students (NUS) to represent RGU students. These included NUS Scotland and NUS UK conference, The Gathering, as well as a range of meetings with NUS representatives and Scottish president meetings. At these events, I was able to put forward views on policy of the student movement at a national level. Support Go Green Project Appointed and provided support to the new ‘Go Green’ members of staff who are running environmental projects funded by money (£208,000) which we previously bided for and received from the climate challenge fund. This has included attending meetings on the development of the community allotment and other ad hoc meetings which proved relevant to this project. Communications Support Supported student projects, societies and events by assisting in promotion in publications. This was done through mediums such as ‘Wired’, the weekly Union e-newsletter, and in the Radar Magazine which is released on a bi-monthly basis. This was also achieved via social media and on the Union’s website.
Support also continued ad hoc with students usually with regards to promotion of events, research or society promotion. Support for Striking Staff Released a range of communications in support of striking staff and joined them in the picket line during the campaign for fair pay in the Higher Education Sector. Development Constitution, Regulations and Trustee Board The RGU:Union constitution was revamped, submitted and approved by the Union’s AGM and the RGU board of governors, which 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. The constitution introduced the creation of a trustee board to replace the student association management advisory group (SAMAG) to ensure that the union is appropriately run, in line with interests of students, charity law and the 1994 education act. As part of this process, external trustee opportunities were advertised and 4 external trustees in line with the appropriate skill set were appointed. Student media The student media team has met up, usually on a monthly basis, during term time to discuss how to best develop each student media strand – RGU:Radio, the Radar Magazine and RGU:TV. Radar Magazine • An editor was appointed, information meetings were organised and an editorial team was created. • A successful placement student was recruited to work on graphic design for this magazine and a house brand and design was created for the magazine. • ‘Radar’ Magazine released 4 printed copies in the academic year 2013/14. Various other profile-awareness tasks were completed including setting up a social media presence and sourcing dumpbins and counter stands. RGU:TV • Created a basic brand this year, organised a range of information meetings. • Worked with societies and sports clubs to help make around 8 videos this year.
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RGU:TV has also managed to engage students with existing video content to share. RGU:TV had its first live stream at the RGU Independence Debate.
RGU:Radio • Organised a range of information meetings to attract interested students. • Organised the first RGU:Radio election, where a management team was voted for. • The first live show was aired at the RGU Independence debate, and there was also a separate debate for RGU:Radio. Student Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI) Worked alongside Steve, Paddy, other officers, General Manager and staff to submit a wide range of documentation to achieve the SUEI accreditation for RGU:Union at the Students Union 2014 conference. As part of this, I also took part in a range of interviews during the audit process.