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What is a Democracy Review?

Since the summer NTSU has been working with third party consultants and higher education experts to complete a comprehensive review of its democratic structure. The review includes all levels of NTSU’s representation systems and will encompass elections, student meetings and our equality and diversity networks. This will determine how we channel student voice and how we get you involved in the decisions we make.

What has the SU done so far?

NTSU has spent the last year collecting feedback from various stakeholders of the Union to find the perceived strengths and weaknesses in the Union’s democratic structure and determining what our members want from its representation system. This feedback was gathered from several meetings with NTU and NTSU staff, current and former NTSU officers and NTSU trustees. As we moved into September time, we switched our attention to student feedback collecting over 200 survey responses and running a number of focus groups involving 70 students across each of our campuses. 

Since Christmas our work has shifted. Now with initial ideas and feedback on how our democracy needs to be changed we have been working with our consultant to come up with new ways that we can engage our students in democracy. These ideas focused on making our democratic structures more accessible and shifting our working patterns meaning we will come to you, our members, in spaces that are familiar to you rather than asking you to come to us.

These methods, based on the New Public Service model have now been tested with various stakeholders including NTSU Staff, NTSU Exec Officers and Student Reps. Alongside this, NTSU presented a work in progress structure at Course Rep Assembles as well as Term 2 Union Meeting. So far feedback has been positive, and a proposed set of policies have been written up to be voted on at NTSU’s Term 3 Union Meeting.

How can I get involved in the Democracy Review?

The new proposals along with the current by-laws can be viewed on the NTSU website. Now we need to hear from you! So, what can you do? NTSU’s Term 3 Union Meeting will take place on the 29th of April. At this meeting we will be presenting the proposed by-laws to be voted on — we need you to give your opinion and vote whether you want these policies to be put in place next academic year.