USWSU Change Week 2023

University of South Wales Students' Union

Outcomes Report

What is Change Week?

Change Week is an opportunity to take the ideas from the student body, big or small, and develop them to present to senior staff in the University.

In previous years, students have used Change Week to make real differences in the wider student experience at USW. This has included getting microwaves installed on campus, lowering the prices of printing, and developing better funding opportunities for student-led societies.

For 2023, Change Week focused on developing policy proposals and calls to action that were passed by the student body at the Annual General Meeting. This allowed for proactive action to work towards delivering on the student mandate.

Change Week 2023 was successful in developing what the student body wanted, into tangible actions for the rest of the academic year and beyond.

How Does Change Week Work

MONDAY - WEDNESDAY Feedback and data collection

Each day, officers and students will work on one of the three calls to action proposals. From meetings with the University to collecting student feedback, volunteers will work to get as much information as possible.

THURSDAY Feedback discussion and pitch planning

Using the feedback collected in the first half of the week, students and officers will discuss their findings to put together plans based on the aims of the proposals.

FRIDAY Pitch to the University

Using the research and preparation from the previous day. Officers and students will present their proposals to senior members of university to help put in place. 2023-

Taking the work forward

Once a plan forward has been agreed upon by the University, the SU will publish the next steps and will continue work on the finalised proposals. The SU will provide. regular updates on the ongoing work

University of South Wales Students’ Union Change Week 2023

USWSU Change Week Outcomes

 In total there were 674 individual responses from students on USWSU pulse surveys.

 All Call-to-Action Policies (proposals worked on for Change Week) were approved and mandated by the Student body at the Annual General Meeting on the 26th January 2023: there were over 140 students in attendance.

The three Call to Action Policy proposals were submitted by Students’ Union officers. They were:

Rat Extermination: Cheryl Chingosho, Chair of Student Council

Home Rugby Pitch: Jamal Abdilahi, Activities VP, Acting President

International Accommodation: Athena Paschou, International Students Officer

Based on the subject area of each proposal, the following University staff members were present for the presentation of proposals for Change Week:

 Head of Sport

 Head of Accommodation Operations

 Associate Director of Internationalisation and Admissions

 Director of Estates and Facilities

Panel Outcomes: Home Rugby Pitch

Overall Comments:

The Head of Sport responded really positively to the proposal and noted that he is in total support of helping the Students’ Union in working on this. He also noted that any development will need to reach BUCS standards and that this also needs to be factored into plans.

The Director of Estates and Facilities also responded positively to the proposal, stating that while current budget does not offer an immediate ‘Yes’ to the building of the pitch, he feels a working group to assess the viability and development needs of a home rugby pitch is an appropriate action. He did pose a few questions in terms of what additional needs there would be to develop a pitch from the current grass pitch available and suggested that a breakdown of the cost of playing at Sardis and how financial costs can be re-invested into the University would be an appropriate next step.

Short Term Outcomes

 The Students’ Union, through the Activities VP, to work alongside the Head of Sport to report on the appetite of a home rugby pitch. Report to also include:

o a financial outline consisting of cost spent at Sardis road for fixtures.

o scoping the time frame for recovering costs for a home rugby pitch

o additional features (floodlights, spectator stand etc.)

Medium Term Outcomes

 Form a working group to include key stakeholders from the University, Union, and community to begin considering the feasibility and development of a home Rugby pitch.

Long Term Outcomes

 Develop a home rugby pitch at the Sport Park, to include the necessary facilities based on the results of the working group.

Rat Extermination

Overall Comments:

The Head of Accommodation Operations thanked the student for raising concerns and noted that in terms of actions around refuse collection, there is a lack of awareness from students in terms of how to properly dispose of their waste. This is important as it helps the University determine how regular waste pickup should occur. Information will be sent to students in Halls to remind them of how to properly use the refuse sites. She also noted that where incidents of rats in accommodation flats were noted, Accommodation Services were quick to resolve it and that students could use Planon to report any potential sightings for the University to act on. Moreover, the recent railway works may have displaced rodents, which may have caused more frequent sightings.

The Director of Estates and Facilities also noted that there is a procedure in place for the management and extermination of rats. However, less aggressive measures are favoured to ensure any issues are dealt with. He also commended the presentation, saying that there was a lot of information which could be learnt from in how communication and action is dealt with. On a wider local authority perspective, they commented that members of the University has a good working relationship with the Council and that it is happy to have a wider dialogue on how discourse with the Council can be held.

Short Term Outcomes

 Communication will be sent out to students in accommodation on how to properly handle waste.

 Re-affirming the use of Planon to students to report rat sightings on campus.

Medium Term Outcomes

 The Union and the University to engage in dialogue on ways in which issues of cleanliness and rodents are tackled by RCTCBC in the wider Treforest area.

Long Term Outcomes

 Communication on proper waste handling and use of Planon to be circulated annually to maintain awareness.

International Accommodation Overall Comments:

The Associate Director of Internationalisation and Admissions thanked the proposer for raising issues and feedback surrounding accommodation. She noted that the University is acutely aware of this and, that while there are plenty of resources surrounding student living and accommodation available and sent to students, there may be the obstacle of how this is communicated -noting that the use of emails may not potentially be the best method of communicating information. She also reassured that Educational Agents are provided proper information and that work is already underway to ensure they are compliant with frameworks. However, it was also noted that should a student raise a concern over the conduct of and information provided by an Education Agent, the University will be proactive in investigating the matter and removing the Education Agent if necessary. Another challenge in terms of long-term planning, is that it needs to include current political discourse to ensure it is sustainable. She thanked the Students’ Union for their support and work in helping students who view the SU as a safe place when dealing with accommodation issues.

The Head of Accommodation Operations noted that international students are offered guaranteed accommodation, if they are single students without any dependents. However, there is a timeframe in which this offer is valid, and most students only begin considering accommodation in the short period before travelling to the UK. Moreover, international students who sign up for University accommodation, but later find accommodation suitable for their dependents, have been allowed to be released from their contract with the University. She also noted that. where able, Accommodation Services have worked to help students with dependents to find accommodation in the private sector, but the current market across the UK makes this difficult.

Short Term Outcomes

 The Associate Director of Internationalisation and Admissions to evaluate how information is communicated to prospective international students to ensure that it is conveyed effectively.

 The International Students Officer to meet with the Digital International Officer to provide insights on how the website can be better improved to centralise information on the international student experience.

Medium Term Outcomes

 Work is underway in converting some of the accommodation suitable for students with families, as the need arises.

 Consideration of how international students can be more involved in engaging with the University, either through Students’ Union representatives or elsewhere, on the issues they face.

Long Term Outcomes

 The Students’ Union to consider how they can assist in lobbying the local authority for the development of more fit to purpose accommodation.

University of South Wales Students’ Union

Change Week 2023

University of South Wales Students’ Union

Change Week 2023