Return to Elections

Election Posts

Big Elections 2021

Welcome to our Big Elections! This is where you can nominate yourself, and elect your four full time paid Sabbatical Officers, and UWS' wonderful volunteer School Officers, Union Chair, NUS conference delegates and PGR reps. Nominations run from the 20th of January, until the 2nd of February. Voting Opens on the 2nd of March, and closes on the 5th of March. You can find out more about the elections here: www.sauws.org.uk/vote/about

The polls have closed.

President

The president leads the Students’ Union, and the team of sabbatical officers. The president, alongside the board of trustees, is responsible for the actions of the students’ union, and will represent all student at UWS through attending meetings such as the University Court and Senate, and working in partnership with students, staff, and the wider student movement. Elected candidates will be paid and in training from the 21st June and officially take up post for a year beginning on the 1st of Ju

The President shall:

  1. Be the senior representative of SAUWS and ultimately responsible for the actions of the Students’ Association jointly with the Board.
  2. Chair the SAUWS Executive Committee and the SAUWS Board of Trustees.
  3. Approve the Annual Accounts on behalf of the Board of Trustees, with the Board’s agreement.
  4. Represent members on matters of students support at a local, national and international level.
  5. Provide leadership to the sabbatical team and delegating where appropriate.
  6. Work collaboratively with the Chief Executive to provide strategic leadership of the Association, upholding its vision, mission and values.
  7. Act as the senior spokesperson of the Board of Trustees and Students’ Association as a whole.
  8. Attend meetings of the University Court as the Association’s senior representative.
  9. Attend committees of the University which are designated to the Student President.
  10. Represent the Student Body and their interests to the University Senior Management Team, campus trade unions, University staff and outside agencies.
  11. Work earnestly to eliminate financial hardship, homelessness and hunger amongst the student body.
  12. Conduct research as necessary to inform their decisions
  13. Be familiar with current issues in students’ welfare and rights, and provide materials on such issues to the general student body
  14. Remain committed to the Association’s Equality & Diversity Policy
  15. Lobby and campaign for change and improvement for all students at UWS

 

If you would like more information about the remit, please email elections@uwsunion.org.uk

Back to Top

Vice President Education

The VP Education works to improve the learning experience at UWS. They work particularly closely with student reps, focussing on education of course! The VP education works to improve learning resources, curriculum, and teaching methods among other things. Elected candidates will be paid and in training from the 21st June and officially take up post for a year beginning on the 1st of July.

The Vice-President Education Shall:

  1. Be the primary representative on all matters relating to education and the learning experience.
  2. Be responsible for the Academic Representation of members
  3. Oversee operation of Class Rep system
  4. Represent members on matters of education at a Local, National International level.
  5. Arrange conferences and briefing for educational purposes.
  6. Work with Student Representatives to improve the learning experience
  7. empower students to enhance the quality of their learning & teaching experience
  8. Conduct research as necessary to inform their decisions
  9. Remain committed to the Association’s Equality & Diversity Policy
  10. Campaign for change and improvement in their respective area and campaign for change and improvement for all students at UWS.

If you have any questions about the remit, please email elections@uwsunion.org.uk

 

Back to Top

Vice President of Student Development

The VP Student Development works to improve student lives at UWS outside of the classroom. They work with clubs and societies, and work to develop opportunities for students. This can include volunteering and skills training. Elected candidates will be paid and in training from the 21st June and officially take up post for a year beginning on the 1st of July.

The Vice President of Student Development will:

  1. Be the lead officer on matters of Student Development and Societies.
  2. Work to ensure adequate volunteering opportunities are available for members to enhance their University Experience. 
  3. Work with UWS to develop opportunities for members to improve their post-graduation employability
  4. Work to ensure that members are integrated into the local communities
  5. Work with appropriate staff to build parity of the student experience across UWS campuses. 
  6. Work to develop opportunities for students to study internationally
  7. Work to ensure that International Students are supported during their time at UWS
  8. Campaign for change and improvement in their respective area. 

If you have any questions about the remit, please email elections@uwsunion.org.uk

Back to Top

Vice President of Welfare and Wellbeing

The VP Welfare and Wellbeing works to improve student welfare and wellbeing at UWS. This includes helping to create a better environment for student mental health, and working towards solutions for student poverty. Elected candidates will be paid and in training from the 21st June and officially take up post for a year beginning on the 1st of July.

The Vice President of Welfare and Wellbeing will:

  1. Be the lead officer on matters of Student Welfare, Wellbeing and Equality & Diversity. 
  2. Work earnestly to eliminate financial hardship, homelessness and hunger amongst the student body. 
  3. Be familiar with current issues in students’ welfare and rights
  4. Develop and provide materials on Welfare and Wellbeing issues to the general student body. 
  5. Remain committed to the Association’s Equality & Diversity policy
  6. Work to develop inclusivity in the organisation, ensuring that all students regardless of background feel welcome and involved. 
  7. Develop strategies for the organisation to tackle mental ill health
  8. Campaign for change and improvement in their respective area
  9. Work with the other elected officers and relevant UWS staff to widen access to education.

If you have any questions about the remit, please email elections@uwsunion.org.uk

Back to Top

Union Chair

The Union Chairs role is to hold the Sabbatical Officers to account. Sabbatical Officers are elected by students and for students and as such can only be held accountable by students – led by the Union Chair. The Union Chair can ask questions of the sabbatical officers and sit in on meetings at the Students’ Union. The Union Chair also chairs student council which sets policy for the Students’ Union. The successful candidate will hold this role from June 2021 until May 2022 and must be a UWS St

The Union Chair is elected by all students at UWS to be their voice and to hold the elected officers accountable for the decisions that they make. The position is used to ensure that the Students' Association's decision making processes are as transparent as possible, and to this end the Union Chair is enabled to sit on any committee of the Students' Association which is not discussing reserved business. 

The Constitution requires that the Union Chair performs the following functions:

The Union Chair shall:

  • be responsible for the organisation, promotion and chairing of the Student Voice and General Meetings.
  • liaise with the student body to hold the elected officers to account. 
  • be able to question the elected officers on behalf of members of the Association
  • ensure that the Association’s decision making is open, transparent and democratic. 
  • have the right to attend and observe any meeting held within the Association, but shall not have voting rights, save for any areas of reserved business. 

In addition, the Union Chair also chairs the Student Voice committee, which discusses policies and motions that direct the work of the Students' Association.

Back to Top

Business and Creative Industries School Officers (2 places)

School Officers will bridge the gap between course level reps, and the Sabbatical Officers. School Officers gather information from reps, sit on School Boards, and keep students informed, and work with the Students' Union to improve life for UWS students within their schools. The successful candidates will hold this role from June 2021 until May 2022 and must be UWS students during this time.
Back to Top

Computing, Engineering, and Physical Sciences School Officers (2 places)

School Officers will bridge the gap between course level reps, and the Sabbatical Officers. School Officers gather information from reps, sit on School Boards, and keep students informed, and work with the Students' Union to improve life for UWS students within their schools. The successful candidates will hold this role from June 2021 until May 2022 and must be UWS students during this time.
Back to Top

Education and Social Sciences School Officers (2 places)

School Officers will bridge the gap between course level reps, and the Sabbatical Officers. School Officers gather information from reps, sit on School Boards, and keep students informed, and work with the Students' Union to improve life for UWS students within their schools. The successful candidates will hold this role from June 2021 until May 2022 and must be UWS students during this time.
Back to Top

Health and Life Sciences School Officers (2 places)

School Officers will bridge the gap between course level reps, and the Sabbatical Officers. School Officers gather information from reps, sit on School Boards, and keep students informed, and work with the Students' Union to improve life for UWS students within their schools. The successful candidates will hold this role from June 2021 until May 2022 and must be UWS students during this time.
Back to Top

NUS National Conference Delegation (5 places)

As a member of the National Union of Students, students from UWS are enabled to go to the NUS Conference, where all sorts of matters affecting students are debated and voted upon. NUS conference will be held online from the 6th - 8th of April 2021. The role of a delegate attending NUS UK Conference is to attend all sessions of conference, participate in debates on matters affecting students across the UK and to vote to elect various positions within NUS. A minimum of two places are reserved

NUS Conference Delegation Role Description (2021-22)

 

Every year the National Union of Students (NUS) hold Conferences to bring students together to debate and vote on issues impacting students across the UK and in Scotland.  Your role as a delegate, as part of the Union Delegation Team, is to represent UWS students at the relevant Conference by supporting the development of new ideas to be discussed and voted on at Conference. 

 

You’ll have the opportunity to attend campaign workshops and networking sessions to gain insight into best practice from other Students Unions as well as share our own best practice. 

 

The time commitment of a Conference Delegate is approximately 25 hours from October to March, then full attendance at the relevant Conference (please see below for details)

 

Activities:

Before Conference the team will (between October and December):

  • Participate in training to support your engagement with Conference activities
  • Review policy passed by the Student Council, NUS National Conference and/or NUS Scotland Conference 2021 to identify themes.
  • Propose policy to Student Council for submission to NUS National Conference 2022 and/or NUS Scotland Conference 2022
  • Submit policies passed by Student Council to the relevant conference
  • Vote on the ‘Priority’ ballot as agreed in advance

 

During Conference the team will (dates as below)

  • Attend all conference sessions as required and agreed in advance
  • Speak on proposed policy submitted by the Union as agreed in advance
  • Speak on proposed policy submitted by other Student Unions where the policy would have a detrimental affect on UWS students as agreed in advance
  • Vote in elections

 

After Conference the team will (within 2 weeks of the last day of conference)

  • Vote on final policy areas
  • Provide a summary report to Student Council members on key policies discussed, workshops attended, election results and any other important information from Conference
  • Provide detailed feedback on policies, workshops and networking sessions attended to the Executive Committee or other relevant groups
  • Complete an evaluation survey for the Union on your experience as a delegate

 

 

Key Conference information

  • NUS National Conference will be held at the ACC Liverpool, King's Dock, Port of Liverpool, Liverpool, from Monday 28th March to Wednesday 30th March.
  • NUS Scotland Conference will be held at the Apex Dundee, 1 W Victoria Dock Rd, Dundee, from Tuesday 26th April to Wednesday 27th April.
  • Travel, accommodation and sustenance is provided.
  • Delegates are expected to attend the full conference.
Back to Top

NUS Scotland Conference Delegation (7 places)

Your UWS Students’ Union is part of NUS Scotland, and as such students from UWS are enabled to go to the NUS Conference, where all sorts of matters affecting students are debated and voted upon. As a delegate you have 3 main roles as a NUS Scotland Conference Delegate which includes; voting on policy, voting in elections, voting on reports. A minimum of three places are reserved for self-defining women.

NUS Conference Delegation Role Description (2021-22)

 

Every year the National Union of Students (NUS) hold Conferences to bring students together to debate and vote on issues impacting students across the UK and in Scotland.  Your role as a delegate, as part of the Union Delegation Team, is to represent UWS students at the relevant Conference by supporting the development of new ideas to be discussed and voted on at Conference. 

 

You’ll have the opportunity to attend campaign workshops and networking sessions to gain insight into best practice from other Students Unions as well as share our own best practice. 

 

The time commitment of a Conference Delegate is approximately 25 hours from October to March, then full attendance at the relevant Conference (please see below for details)

 

Activities:

Before Conference the team will (between October and December):

  • Participate in training to support your engagement with Conference activities
  • Review policy passed by the Student Council, NUS National Conference and/or NUS Scotland Conference 2021 to identify themes.
  • Propose policy to Student Council for submission to NUS National Conference 2022 and/or NUS Scotland Conference 2022
  • Submit policies passed by Student Council to the relevant conference
  • Vote on the ‘Priority’ ballot as agreed in advance

 

During Conference the team will (dates as below)

  • Attend all conference sessions as required and agreed in advance
  • Speak on proposed policy submitted by the Union as agreed in advance
  • Speak on proposed policy submitted by other Student Unions where the policy would have a detrimental affect on UWS students as agreed in advance
  • Vote in elections

 

After Conference the team will (within 2 weeks of the last day of conference)

  • Vote on final policy areas
  • Provide a summary report to Student Council members on key policies discussed, workshops attended, election results and any other important information from Conference
  • Provide detailed feedback on policies, workshops and networking sessions attended to the Executive Committee or other relevant groups
  • Complete an evaluation survey for the Union on your experience as a delegate

 

 

Key Conference information

  • NUS National Conference will be held at the ACC Liverpool, King's Dock, Port of Liverpool, Liverpool, from Monday 28th March to Wednesday 30th March.
  • NUS Scotland Conference will be held at the Apex Dundee, 1 W Victoria Dock Rd, Dundee, from Tuesday 26th April to Wednesday 27th April.
  • Travel, accommodation and sustenance is provided.
  • Delegates are expected to attend the full conference.
Back to Top

PGR Senate Representative

The PGR Senate Representative will be the PGR voice on the Senate. The Senate is responsible for overall planning, co-ordination, development and supervision of the academic work of the University and the elected student officers sit on Sentate too. This is an excellent opportunity to sit on one of the highest university committees with senior management; to see how the university works, and to make sure that PGR students are represented at all levels at UWS. Successful candidates will hold th
Back to Top

Research and Enterprise Advisory Committee Members (2 places)

There are two places for doctoral students on the Research and Enterprise Advisory Committee. This committee is responsible for the development of research and enterprise at UWS, and makes recommendations to Senate - one of the highest committees in the University. Successful candidates will hold this position from 1st October 2021 until 30th September 2022.
Back to Top

Doctoral College Board Members (2 places)

There are two positions for Doctoral Students on the Doctoral College Board. The Doctoral College is responsible for addressing issues related to the doctoral student experience including registration, research studies, progression, and assessment of doctoral students. They also review and monitor the conditions of doctoral candidates. Successful candidates will hold this position from 1st October 2020 until 30th September 2021.
Back to Top