What is the issue conference is looking at? 

Reviewing our position on Scottish Independence 

Which Students’ Unions have been involved in proposing? 

NUS Scotland President 

What’s the issue and how does it affect students? 

The constitutional question around Scotland’s future has dominated Scottish politics for years now. By 2024, it will have been 10 years since NUS Scotland conference decided to take a neutral position on Scottish Independence. This position is therefore long overdue revisiting. 

This is a divisive issue and, as a high-profile and influential organisation, the impacts of any position we take could be wide-reaching. 

What changes would we like to see in society to change this? 

NUS Scotland should undertake a piece of work to explore potential outcomes that different constitutional set-ups for Scotland could have on education policy, as well as the wider issues that NUS Scotland campaigns on. This work should then be presented to next year's conference and should help inform a debate on NUS Scotland's position on the matter to be held at NUS Scotland Conference 2024. 

Impact Assessment 

How does it impact FE students / Apprentices?   

The consideration of NUS Scotland's position on Scottish independence would require an exploration of policy currently reserved to the UK Parliament that impact FE students and apprentices, including rules relating to social security benefits and employment laws such as minimum wage legislation. 

How does it impact on International Students, Postgraduate Students, Part Time and Mature Students? 

Impacts on these groups of students should be considered as part of this work. The consideration of NUS Scotland's position on Scottish independence could require an exploration of policy currently reserved to the UK Parliament that impact these groups of students. This would include: social security benefits, employment law, equalities law, and immigration rules.   

How does it impact on black, disabled, LGBT+, trans and women students? 

Liberation issues should be considered as part of this work. The consideration of NUS Scotland's position on Scottish independence could require an exploration of policy currently reserved to the UK Parliament that impact these groups of students. This would include: social security benefits, employment law, equalities law, and immigration rules. It could also require consideration of how our position on the issue would interact with existing and future liberation work.   

Does this apply across the UK or specifically in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? 

This will determine a clear position for NUS Scotland. Self-determination is an important principle of NUS and we would expect our position to be respected by the rest of NUS UK. Impacts on students in the rest of the UK should be considered as part of this work.