Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p1

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1 Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p1

2 2020 Vision is the strategic plan for Sheffield Hallam Students Union over the next five years. It sets out our aspirations for the Students Union up to 2020 and defines what the impact of realising these ambitions will mean for our students Vision was developed in consultation with our students and our strategic plan is built on feedback about what they want and need from their Students Union. Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p2

3 Students now live and experience increasingly complex lives during their time studying at university. inevitably their course demands are high. this is coupled with the need to finance their time at university and prepare themselves with the extracurricular skills and experiences to equip them for their futures. Students are now in more need of support and opportunity than ever before. a new Government has now been formed at a point where the future direction of Higher education is unclear, making it our time and place as a Students Union to ensure that students at Sheffield Hallam are supported but also heard and represented at every level. We will achieve our aspirations through the delivery of five key priorities that form the foundations of the strategy. each priority has a number of accompanying themes which further indicate how we will deliver for our students across a range of areas. representing students of Sheffield Hallam will continue to be a key focus for the Students Union, and this is reflected in our desire to inspire students to engage with democracy, strengthen our student representation structure and amplify the voice of students at institutional, local and national levels. providing a range of opportunities is an integral part of maximising the experience that our students have while at university, in order to carry them through and beyond their studies. We want to play a central role in the lives of students and will do this through facilitating activities which are student-led, in order to prepare students for their futures. a sense of belonging is fundamental to a students time at university, with students finding themselves part of a number of communities in and out of study. in doing this, we will develop a supportive and inclusive Students Union environment by putting the happiness and wellbeing of students at the forefront of our thinking. We will also build student communities and provide services which support the lives of students at Sheffield Hallam. How we connect with our students is crucial to shaping perceptions of the Students Union. this means communicating in a way that is engaging and involving, with a strong focus on the continually developing digital environment. We also want to understand more about what our students want and use this to develop and improve the services that we offer. to support our plans over the next five years we must develop and grow as a Students Union for the benefit of our students. We will do this by being financially sustainable, developing a high performance culture amongst our people, demonstrating our impact and forming beneficial partnerships. the physical presence of the Students Union is key to this and we will invest in creating appealing and welcoming spaces for students. in the last five years we have operated against a backdrop of turbulent times - economically, politically and socially. although it is likely that the next five years will also bring continuing instability and uncertainty, we are confident that as a Students Union we can overcome these challenges and prosper for the benefit of our students. We are excited about delivering 2020 Vision and look forward to witnessing the impact that it has on students at Sheffield Hallam. gail stephens Chief executive emily Connor President 2014/15 Alex Pettifer Chair, trustee Board Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p3

4 Mission, purpose, culture and values Our mission Sheffield Hallam Students Union: Being the difference in students lives Our purpose Sheffield Hallam Students Union represents the 35,000 students who study at the University. We do this by: promoting the interests and welfare of students at Sheffield Hallam University during their studies, representing, supporting and advising students. providing social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities, services and opportunities for the personal development of our students. Being the recognised representative channel between students, the University and other external bodies. Our culture We are a dynamic and agile organisation, led by and for the students at Sheffield Hallam University. Our student focus and collective commitment to our core values ensures that together we deliver excellent and innovative services and opportunities for all our students. Our values Passionate about students Supportive Proud and bold Open-minded Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p4

5 aspirations as part of our development of 2020 Vision, we have produced a set of aspirations that we want to achieve over the next five years. these are ambitious and challenging goals, however we are confident that we can realise these aims for the benefit of our students. our aspirations for 2020 Vision are: to be the recognised representative voice for students at Sheffield Hallam to have a responsive and meaningful interactive presence with our students to be known as an outstanding Students Union For engagement with the Students Union to be second nature for all our students to create a network of strong and effective partnerships which deliver for our students We will achieve our aspirations through the delivery of identified priorities and accompanying themes. these are shown over the page and are detailed further throughout, together with supporting evidence and the outcomes that students will see as a result. Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p5

6 Priority 1: Representing We will represent you to ensure your voice is heard and together we will make positive changes for students Themes: inspiring students to engage with democracy and ensuring that our democratic structures and processes are transparent and accessible Strengthening our student representation structure from course level upwards empowering our elected student Officers and Representatives to achieve their full potential amplifying the voice of students through effective feedback Priority 2: Providing opportunities We will provide exciting opportunities so you can get the most from your Sheffield Hallam experience, both now and in the future Themes: enriching students experience through the Students Union s student-led programme of activities investing in helping students prepare for the future putting the Students Union at the heart of students lives Priority 3: Belonging We will work with you to build student communities and support you during your time at Sheffield Hallam Themes: prioritising students happiness and wellbeing Building communities providing excellent services to support students, enabling them to live the student life they deserve Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p6

7 Priority 4: ConneCting We will embrace new methods of communication and technology to connect with you and respond to your evolving needs themes: communicating, connecting and engaging with our students developing our digital capabilities Uniting our members with the Students Union s values Utilising student insight to drive improvements Priority 5: developing & growing We will work with our stakeholders and partners to develop and grow the Students Union for all our students themes: ensuring the future of the Students Union by building our financial sustainability recognising and empowering our people and delivering a high performance culture investing in our premises and creating better spaces for students Building strong partnerships celebrating our successes and raising awareness of our impact on students Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p7

8 Priority 1: REPRESENTING We will represent you to ensure your voice is heard and together we will make positive changes for students THEMES Inspiring students to engage with democracy and ensuring that our democratic structures and processes are transparent and accessible Sheffield Hallam Students Union is the recognised representative body for our students. As a Students Union, we will embrace our collective responsibility to introduce students to the concept of democracy that will stay with them throughout their lives. We will focus on educating and encouraging students to participate in all levels democratic activity, from voting to standing for sabbatical office. Our transparent and inclusive democratic processes will encourage the involvement of all students, including more marginalised student groups, and ensure that our Students Union accurately reflects the student body. We will ensure that we deliver free and fair elections and referenda on issues of importance affecting students at Sheffield Hallam. We will administer highly effective student-led governance structures and will support our student officers, councillors, trustees and representatives to carry out their responsibilities. Strengthening our student representation structure from course level upwards As a Students Union we are committed to academic representation and campaigning. Working with partners in the University, we will build a model of student representation that will be recognised for its excellence and good practice within the sector. We will provide timely and accessible training materials, events and conferences for student representatives at all levels. We will support all our Reps to develop their skills and expertise and we will celebrate their achievements through accreditation and public recognition of the impact that they have made. We will build strong channels of communication between course and departmental Reps and the Students Union s elected Officers and Faculty Academic Reps. Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p8

9 empowering our elected student officers and representatives to achieve their full potential We will support our elected student officers and representatives to understand the significant responsibility of student leadership and elected representation. We will work with all our elected representatives, sabbatical and part-time, to fulfil their manifesto intentions as well their personal objectives. We will assist them to campaign on issues that are of importance to the student population through empowering them to actively listen to students and represent them. amplifying the voice of students through effective feedback We will encourage all our students to voice their opinions on their University experience and demonstrate how their views have shaped improvement. We will use our extensive research capabilities and adopt innovative approaches to gather student generated opinion that will complement national feedback. Using our robust and accountable feedback mechanisms, we will support students to feed through to the University and the Students Union informally and formally through their respective governance arrangements. WHat StUdentS told US of students believe that the Students Union and a team of elected officers should represent students views to the University to improve educational experiences. i enjoyed being a rep and being able to help other students have their voices heard 92% of Student reps would recommend being a Student rep to a friend it s a great way to make the most at your time at Hallam, as well as make the most of what is provided on your course WHat StUdentS Will See Highly effective, accountable and mandated elected student officers and representatives a structured system of course representation recognised for its excellence, consistently delivered across all courses excellent support and development for students with representational responsibilities exciting opportunities to engage with democratic activity at all levels 25% of students engaged with the Students Union s elections all electoral positions contested by at least five students Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p9

10 Priority 2: PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES We will provide exciting opportunities so you can get the most from your Sheffield Hallam experience, both now and in the future THEMES Enriching students experience through the Students Union s student-led programme of activities We will develop a programme of activities which is distinct and diverse and which appeals to the broad range of our students. By being forward thinking and flexible, we will identify best practice and maximise opportunities, making sure it is easy for students to engage with us. We will work with students to understand the ways in which we can support them to set up societies, volunteering opportunities and activities which appeal to their interests. Working with partners in the University we will develop an inclusive programme of sports opportunities which maximises the potential of all our sports teams under the umbrella of Team Sheffield Hallam. We will also work with students to ensure they have the skills and training to develop and lead their clubs and societies. Finally, we will commit to finding a permanent home for student media. Investing in helping students prepare for the future Our students tell us they want our support in helping them prepare for life after University. Working with colleagues in the University, we will reinvigorate our student employability programme, developing our student focused skills training and reinventing our skills award. We will also continue our focus on supporting students with social enterprise start-ups and maximising opportunities for students to experience alternative career paths. We will expand our volunteering opportunities for students which are both project based and with our local and regional partners. Additionally, we will continue to identify opportunities for students to take part in opportunities outside of the UK. Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p10

11 putting the Students Union at the heart of students lives Students tell us that coming to their Students Union is important to them. We will use our building to be the hub for their social experiences at Sheffield Hallam. through our services and partnerships we will provide and signpost students to wide ranging events and opportunities to maximise their time at Sheffield Hallam. We will also use the building as the base from which to reach out to students in their communities and we will make sure that our services and activities are accessible to all our students. We will develop our presence in our dedicated space at collegiate crescent, providing services, activities and opportunities for students based at this campus. WHat StUdentS told US More than two-thirds of students feel that the Students Union should support a range of societies and sports opportunities the volunteering opportunities on offer at Sheffield Hallam are great 70% of students want the Students Union to help them gain skills and experiences which will make them more employable for the future, and provide development opportunities the All i Want for Christmas project highlighted the importance of funding and support for sports clubs WHat StUdentS Will See an excellent programme of activities, which is sector leading and recognised for its high standards and innovation an excellent support and development system for the student leaders of clubs and societies 10% of students gaining the Students Union s accredited skills award activities and opportunities which lead to personal development and enhanced skills an engaging events programme which has broad appeal and caters for the needs of all excellent levels of engagement through our services 40% of students taking part in our activities and events Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p11

12 Priority 3: BELONGINg We will work with you to build student communities and support you during your time at Sheffield Hallam THEMES Prioritising students happiness and wellbeing We will embrace the diversity of our students by creating a safe and welcoming environment, focused around an ever evolving range of first class services. We will be a home from home for all our students, making sure that they know that the Students Union is their space to seek support, express their views, study, relax, celebrate, enjoy life and get the most from their time at Sheffield Hallam. We will welcome international students to the Students Union, as well as introduce them to all that is best about this city and its region. Working closely with our elected Liberation Reps, clubs and societies we will actively promote inclusion, challenging and changing attitudes. Building communities We recognise that our students are an important part of the fabric of the city. We will therefore develop platforms for students to be active in their communities during their time at Sheffield Hallam. Mindful of the impact students have on the city, we will increase our focus on student-led sustainability initiatives. We will prioritise inclusion, cohesion and a sense of community throughout our work and take great pride in celebrating the contribution that our students make to this great city. We will reach out to our students, taking the Students Union to them. We will support students to build their own communities and develop their sense of belonging. Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p12

13 providing excellent services to support students, enabling them to live the student life they deserve We will work to enhance and continuously improve our quality accredited advice Service, across both campuses. Using customer focused techniques and our knowledge of our students, we will know that the advice and information expertise we offer addresses the concerns and issues of our ever changing student population. We will ensure that we offer flexible advice and information provision at a time and location that suits the diversity of our students and their mode of study. We will assist our elected officers and representatives to promote the welfare of all our students through their campaigning activities. We will work in partnership with the University to ensure delivery of the initiatives and services which support the needs of our students WHat StUdentS told US 76% of students feel that providing support and advice should be part of the Students Union i believe the Students Union works very hard to support and encourage students by always offering help and support if it were to be ever needed 74% of students believe that the Students Union should provide opportunities for students to socialise, together with a range of events and entertainment WHat StUdentS Will See a welcoming and safe Students Union that enables students to celebrate who they are an inspiring environment that is home for all our students a mobile and versatile Students Union accessible to students in their communities a city that welcomes students and celebrates the impact that they have a responsive advice Service tailored to the needs of our diverse students the support given during first week lectures is useful as it gives students a place to go if they have issues academically Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p13

14 Priority 4: CONNECTINg We will embrace new methods of communication and technology to connect with you and respond to your evolving needs THEMES Communicating, connecting and engaging with our students Effective communications are key to making a positive connection with our students. We will increase engagement by gaining an improved understanding of our students, and we will use this to deliver messages in ways that engage and excite them. We will connect better with our students through more targeted communications to improve the overall relevance of our interactions. We will also increase our knowledge of our students to shape, define and tailor our communications using a multichannel approach. Developing our digital capabilities By 2020 many of our students will be digital natives having grown up immersed in a digital world. We will commit to the continuing development of an effective online presence and utilise our digital channels to their full capacity to connect with the maximum number of students. We will expand the virtual experience that students have with our services and ensure we are digitally agile to respond to the needs of our students. We will do this by exploring the best ways to inform, engage and interact with our members, both on and off campus. We will also maximise and promote the digital communication channels available to students, so they can choose the most appropriate options for them. Uniting our members with the Students Union values We believe it is vital that students identify with what Sheffield Hallam Students Union stands for and have a strong understanding and awareness of who we are and what we do. We will continue to raise the profile of the Students Union, drive awareness and build a positive reputation amongst our students, communicating our achievements through multiple channels. We will unite our members via strong brand values that students are proud to associate with through their involvement with us. We will promote the Students Union as being genuinely passionate about students, open-minded, proud and bold, and supportive. Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p14

15 Utilising student insight to drive improvements Understanding what students want and need from their Students Union is crucial to driving service changes that make a positive difference to their experience at Sheffield Hallam. We will use robust research mechanisms to listen to and learn about our students so we can shape our activities and services for the better. We will gather quality feedback to help us design and implement relevant improvements that increase students satisfaction with their Students Union. We will also gain insight into what influences students in their decision making process to understand what motivates their involvement with the Students Union. WHat StUdentS told US Facebook youtube and twitter are the top 3 social media channels used by students WHat StUdentS Will See effective student communications which are specific, targeted and engaging interaction with more students via the expansion of digital communications involved students who know what we do and are proud to associate with our values increased understanding of students wants and needs to improve our services 85% of students use Facebook and around half use youtube and twitter Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p15

16 Priority 5: Developing & growing We will work with our stakeholders and partners to develop and grow the Students Union for all our students THEMES Ensuring the future of the Students Union by building our financial sustainability We will ensure our financial stability by agreeing a five year funding plan with the University, which will allow us to deliver our ambitious strategic vision. We will continue to seek out additional funding streams to support specific projects and initiatives. We will also work with student groups to identify and achieve fundraising and sponsorship opportunities for their clubs and societies. Finally, we will ensure that we maximise opportunities to generate commercial revenue through the provision of excellent services and events. Recognising and empowering our people and delivering a high performance culture Our people are at the heart of Sheffield Hallam Students Union, and over the next five years we will prioritise the stretch, development and wellbeing of all our staff. We will continue our commitment to a high performance culture where the strengths and talents of everyone are recognised and we are all encouraged to realise our personal and professional goals. We will commit to supporting and developing the hundreds of students who work or volunteer with us and who are vital to the success of the Students Union. Investing in our premises and creating better spaces for students The HUBS is quite literally the hub of the Students Union. We will work with our partners in the University to develop and implement a long-term plan for the future of the Students Union s premises which delivers short-term improvements to meet the immediate needs of our students, but also ensures the future development of our premises to that we can respond to the continually evolving expectations of our students. In doing this we will prioritise our commitment to our work on environmental and sustainability initiatives. We will also use our physical spaces at both City and Collegiate Campuses as a springboard to reach out to students in their communities. Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p16

17 Building strong partnerships Sheffield Hallam Students Union is proud to have a strong history of working in partnership with the University. We will continue to prioritise developing and strengthening key relationships, building a culture of robust and respectful partnership working, which maximises our strengths, and at the same time recognises and celebrates our differences. Building on our reputation within the city, regionally and nationally, we will seek out new partnerships which support the delivery of our Strategic Vision. additionally, we will continue to grow our collaborations with other Students Unions locally and regionally, and nationally with the national Union of Students. celebrating our successes and raising awareness of our impact on students at Sheffield Hallam Students Union we are passionate about everything we do with students to make sure they get the most from their time at Sheffield Hallam. We will take every opportunity to showcase and celebrate all of our achievements, as we develop a culture of pride in our work and the impact of Sheffield Hallam Students Union. We will use our brand to build our reputation and raise awareness of everything that we do. We will make sure we prioritise demonstrating our positive impact on students lives at Sheffield Hallam. We will recognise and celebrate all the successes that our students achieve with us. WHat StUdentS Will See Financial viability and a secure future an innovative 24/7 Students Union building which works flexibly to maximise student involvement increased presence at collegiate crescent campus a highly motivated staff team delivering excellent services, activities and opportunities for students recognition as an exceptional Students Union, regularly winning awards and improving our satisfaction scores robust and meaningful partnerships with the University and in the city WHat StUdentS told US only Just 39% 27% of students like the Students Union building of students feel that the Students Union building provides first-class facilities of students would like the Students Union to work in partnership with other groups and organisations Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p17

18 THANK YOU We would like to thank everyone involved in the development of 2020 Vision, especially students, staff and Alterline. We are looking forward to delivering for our students over the next five years. Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p18

19 Sheffield Hallam Students Union Strategic Vision p19

20 Sheffield Sheffield Hallam Hallam Students Students Union, the Union HUBS, Strategic Paternoster Vision Row, Sheffield, p20 S1 2QQ.