Purpose

The NUS Scotland Assembly will give student officers and delegates a direct role in shaping the work of their national union. Across two days, members will explore what NUS Scotland must deliver, what it should prioritise within its available capacity, what an effective national union should look like, and how it can support campaigning across Scotland. 

The programme will combine information, discussion, accountability and practical action. It will ensure members understand NUS Scotland’s responsibilities and constraints, feel ownership over its priorities, contribute to its future development, hold the NUS Scotland President accountable, reframe education around students and the public good, and leave ready to take part in national campaigns. 

Before the Assembly

Insights have gathered from members over recent months will be brought together to shape the Assembly workshops. In advance of the event, NUS Scotland will: 

• summarise what members have said about the role, priorities and value of their national union; 

• prepare a clear overview of essential responsibilities, including officer roles, committees and existing commitments; 

• set out realistic staff and officer capacity so discussions are transparent about choices and trade-offs; 

• invite delegates to submit questions for the NUS Scotland President, including through an anonymous route; and 

• identify current and emerging campaign issues that delegates may wish to develop at the Assembly. 

At the Assembly

Day 1: Understanding NUS Scotland and Shaping Its Priorities 

Plan of Work: NUS Scotland will explain the work it is required to deliver, including role responsibilities, committees and existing commitments, alongside the priorities it would like to pursue. Officers and delegates will then discuss what should be prioritised, using member impact, urgency, deliverability and national added value to guide the conversation. (Use WST to demonstrate student opinion, officers to vote on NUS campaigns/ plan of work, campaigns on day 2 also voted on) 

National Union: How Can We Deliver? Drawing on recent member engagement, delegates will explore what Scotland’s national union should look like, which functions add most value nationally, what should remain locally led and how NUS Scotland should communicate and be accountable. The findings will feed into the wider work on ensuring NUS Scotland meets the needs of its membership. 

Ask Me Anything: Officers and delegates will be able to question the NUS Scotland President about the role, priorities, decisions and work of the national union. Questions can be submitted in advance, during the session or anonymously. Answers, commitments and any required follow-up will be recorded. 

Day 2: Reframing Education and Building Campaigns 

Education Framework: Delegates will examine how the marketisation of education affects students, staff, access, learning, support and decision-making. They will then develop principles and language for an alternative approach in which colleges and universities are understood as a public good and organised around what matters to students. 

Campaigns: Breakout Groups: Officers and delegates will work on issues affecting students across Scotland, either by developing new campaigns or contributing to existing ones. Each group will identify the problem, desired change, decision-makers, audiences, allies, actions, risks and measures of progress. Groups will agree a first action, named leads and the support they need from NUS Scotland. 

Turning Discussion into Member-Led Outcomes 

At the end of the two days, delegates will have produced: 

• prioritised recommendations for NUS Scotland’s Plan of Work, with clear reasons and recognition of capacity; 

• member-defined principles for what NUS Scotland should deliver and how it should work with students’ unions; 

• a record of questions, answers and commitments from the NUS Scotland President; 

• a draft education framework and shared language for education centred on students and the public good; and 

• practical campaign plans with goals, actions, named leads and support requirements. 

How Members Will Shape the Outcome 

Each session will make clear whether delegates are being asked to advise, prioritise, develop proposals or make a decision. Facilitators will record areas of agreement, differing views, actions, owners and deadlines. NUS Scotland will explain where legal, governance or capacity requirements limit what can be changed, so that participation is meaningful and expectations are clear.