Student Activities Development January 2010 1. Introduction Taking part in extra-curricular activities is something that is synonymous with student life at University. We have been arguing for a long time that this should be no different at University of the Arts London. Students here are not that different, and freshers arriving each year are increasingly looking for experiences to compliment their educational endeavours; not so much extra-curricular as co-curricular. The purpose of this report is to share how participation in sports clubs and societies plays an important part in the life of an ever increasing number of UAL students and for University staff to recognise this as an important aspect of the UAL Student Experience.
2. Strategic Aims 2009/10 sees year 1 of our 5 year strategy for growing membership and student involvement in sport clubs, society groups, student-led events & exhibitions and volunteering programmes. Our Vision: By 2014, we will have developed University and sector-wide respected student activities that are truly student-led and that involve at least 1/3 of the student body. Participating students will benefit in terms of their personal health and wellbeing, personal development, and a deep sense of community. Our Goals: (1) Pioneer new ways of engaging significantly increased numbers of students in pan-University activities. (2) Dramatically increase access to facilities for students involved in student activities. (3) Exploit the cutting edge of new technologies in the promotion of, running of, support of, and development of student activities. (4) That the benefits and importance of large, well funded and well supported student activities will be recognised by all stakeholders
3. Membership Growth So far this year we can count 1801 individual memberships of the Sports & Societies Federation, 718 of which are Sports Club Memberships, we’ve given over 400 students support in exhibiting, curating and running events, and we’ve trained 137 students as Buddies. 1801 is close to doubling last years total, as was that the year before lasts, with increased support and resource for students setting up new activities, this trend is set to continue. We now boast 59 clubs and groups, which is up from under 15 in 2004/05: Another Education is Possible, Afro Caribbean Society, Arts Student Radio, Basketball (Mens), Basketball (Womens), Bowling, Break-Dance, Burlesque Society, Capoeira Society, Cheerleading, Chinese Society, Christian Union, Creative Writing Society, Culinary Society, Curation & Exhibitions, Dance and Ballet, Drama Society, Entrepreneurship Society, Fashion Society, Film Society, Football (Mens), Football (Womens), Hip Hop Dance Society, Hockey (Mens), Hockey (Womens), Hong Kong Society, House Dancing, Indian Cultural Society, Islamic Society, Japanese Society, Jewish Society, Jive Society, Korean Society, Labour Students Society, Liberal Students Society, Life Drawing Society, Manga Anime & Games Society, Marxist Society, Music Society, Netball, Pakistan Society, Palestine Solidarity Network, People & Planet, SUARTS REPORTS | STUDENT ACTIVITIES DEVELOPMENT | JAN 2010
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Photography Society, RAG Society, Rock Society, Rugby (Mens), Rugby (Womens), Ski & Snowboarding, Socialist Workers Student Society, Stop the war, Surf, Taiwanese Society, Conservative Students Society, Ultimate Frisbee, Wing Chun Kung Fu Club, Yoga. Graph 1: Increasing Individual Membership Numbers 2003/04 - 2009/10 2003/04 2000
2004/05
1500
2005/06
1000
2006/07
500
2007/08
0
2008/09 Number of individual memberships
200910
4. Sports Successes 2009/10 Our sports teams have made a successful start to the 09/10 BUCS season (British University and College Sport), with some impressive victories against Universities with a much older sporting culture. From the 61 results, we have recorded 26 victories (43%), 33 defeats (54%) and 2 draws (3%). The teams with the highest winning percentage are Women's Hockey and Netball 2's, beating the opposition on no less than 83% of the times that they have played. 18th November 2009 was the most successful day for UAL Sport, with 80% of teams winning, including a walkover victory for the brand new Women's Basketball team. Non competitive sports that have achieved high standards include Surf and Ski & Snowboard, who have both planned successful trips away from London, Ultimate Frisbee and Cheerleading, who have maintained high standards in terms of engaging with their membership. The Ski & Snowboard Trip in December 2009 took over 150 UAL students to France, complimenting regular local activities throughout the year. The graph below show the most popular sports in terms of membership numbers, although it’s worth noting these 5 clubs have been running for at least 3 years demonstrating that clubs develop over time. Graph 2: Top Five Competitive Sports Memberships
120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Basketball
Cheerleading
Football (Mens)
Hockey
Netball
5. Society Developments Each year of our strategy, sees us focus on one particular area of activity, this year it is the turn of Music & Performance. With this in mind we have been support the set up of Arts Student Radio, Drama Society, Theatre Goers Society, UAL Choir, Orchestra Society, Band Soc, Rock Soc and an ever increasing number of SUARTS REPORTS | STUDENT ACTIVITIES DEVELOPMENT | JAN 2010
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Dance-related societies. Collectively, dance societies are proving to be the most popular, with a huge and active membership – the newest group, Hip Hop Dance meets on Wednesdays at 6pm – which leaves Jive, Breakdance, Cheerleading, House Dancing, Kung-Fu and Ballet to the Activities Studio floor a working over at other times. UAL Yoga Society continues to go from strength to strength, with over 40 members regularly attending sessions on Monday and Tuesday evenings and brand new meditation lessons planned for 2010! The graph below shows the most popular societies in terms of memberships, all of these 5 with the exception of Dance & Ballet are only 1 year old, showing how great the demand is for what they offer. It also shows that the discipline related societies are among the most sought after, offering members networking opportunities not available to other students. Graph 3: Top-Five Society Memberships
200 150 100 50 0 Dance & Ballet
Fashion
Life Drawing
Photography
Yoga
The brand new UAL Culinary Society have enjoyed a successful first term including three delicious outings to London restaurants. Plans are already afoot for 2010 including a university-wide charity ‘Come Dine With Me’ competition. 2009 saw the set up of the UAL Indian Cultural Society, whose membership has grown rapidly since their inception in late October. ICS are one of our liveliest societies, having already organised a Diwali Party, a Bollywood Film showing and Indian Karaoke nights.
6. Student Led Events & Exhibitions Our new staff role of Student Events & Exhibitions Coordinator has already become a valued resource for a large number of students across the University. So far this year, 21 student-led exhibitions have been booked into our gallery spaces at CSM and LCC with a further 87 applications & expressions of interest. We have begun to work more with external organisations and exhibition venues, with 6 confirmed external exhibitions and over 300 students submitting work for external exhibiting and curation opportunities. In last term alone, no less than 27 groups of students were helped to organise events from large parties to small film screenings in a broad range of venues both across UAL and externally.
7. Summary Over the coming years, we will keep you updated with our successes in achieving our targets for growth and we ask for your support and recognition in ensuring the student experience at UAL is as good as our next best competitors both academically and recreationally. We ask that you endorse our achievements so far, collectively recognising that support for this area should increase and when opportunities present themselves; advocate the importance of increasing co-curricular opportunities at UAL. Helen Gimber, Students’ Union President James Burden, Activities & Volunteering Officer See www.suarts.org/sportsandsocs and www.suarts.org/showcaseyourwork for more info SUARTS REPORTS | STUDENT ACTIVITIES DEVELOPMENT | JAN 2010
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