PODCAST · education
Working for Students
by Jim Dickinson
Every week Livia Scott (Wonkhe) and Alan Roberts (Counterculture) chat to SUs around the UK to showcase their projects, activities and initiatives that are making a difference to students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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Membership Services special
This week on Working for Students – live from this year’s Membership Services Conference – we’re looking at what shifting recruitment patterns mean for students’ unions as higher-tariff universities expand, lower-tariff institutions face increasingly difficult choices, and more students look to...
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Student trustees, faculty based voice
This week on Working for Students, Livia speaks to Susan Dosangh, Governance Specialist at the University of Nottingham Students’ Union, about its annual networking and development event for student trustees. They discuss creating a supportive space in which trustees can build confidence,...
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Australia, Data, All-members meetings
This week on Working for Students we’re previewing some of the sessions coming up at the Membership Services Conference. Livia Scott catches up with Andrew Minutillo, Manager, Student Life (Programs and Wellbeing) at ActivateUTS, to hear how students’ unions work in Sydney, how ActivateUTS…
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Renting, community through commercial
This week on Working for Students Liv catches up with Penny Hampden-Turner and Joel Dowson from the Greater Manchester Students Partnership to discuss their vision for happier renting conditions across Greater Manchester. They talk through the partnership’s housing work, the case for more…
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Collaborations special
This week on Working for Students there’s a bumper collaborations special. What does it really take for students' unions to genuinely work together – and what hard questions should boards be asking themselves as costs rise, income falls and institutional instability spreads? Alan caught up with...
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Working for students: Living Black, Pay the Placement, commuters
This week on Working for Students we’re thinking about belonging, inclusion and the student experience – from the work of Living Black at University to what students’ unions can do to build communities that work for all students. We hear about Essex SU’s work on representation, education and...
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Treasure hunting, democratic KPIs, stigma and basic needs
This week on Working for Students Middlesex SU’s, Leanne Lewis explains how a gamified induction treasure hunt is helping students navigate campus, activate their accounts, and build early relationships. We then turn to Anglia Ruskin SU, where Demi Smith challenges the sector’s reliance on…
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Democracy, union unfiltered, AI research
This week on Working for Students, Livia speaks with Ben Sanders from Wrexham Students’ Union about efforts to reclaim the power behind student democracy. Alan catches up with Sarah Waterhouse at Manchester Met Students’ Union to unpack their innovative “Union Unfiltered” platform. And Livia…
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Safe adventures, student representation
This week on Working for Students, we hear from Rosie of Organised Fun on the launch of the Safe Adventures report, exploring how students’ unions can take a more structured, principles-led approach to student group safety – from competence and risk to communication and equipment – while still...
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Ethical banking, liberation, inclusive sport
This week on Working for Students we hear how Durham SU has moved savings out of HSBC as part of a push for more ethical banking, and why that decision could strengthen the case for wider divestment campaigns across higher education. We also look at how Middlesex SU has been building liberation...
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Groups, laundry, academic socs
This week on the show Alan and Livia hear from Cheyenne at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, about using student programme advisors to support clubs and organisations at scale, and how peer-led support can help stretch capacity while building students’ own skills. They also catch up with…
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Elections, events, AI
This week on the show Alan and Livia talk to Nick Smith to work out what election candidates and voters should understand about the realities of sabbatical officer roles, from campaign promises to the slower work of influence and negotiation. Then Kes from MDXSU reflects on building student...
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Neuroinclusive, petitions, FE and HE
This week on Working for Students – the Membership Services Show, we’re exploring how SUs can design services and spaces that genuinely work for the students they represent. Livia and Alan talk to Layna Forbes at Coventry SU, who talks about what it really means to build a neuroinclusive campus....
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Basic needs, fast track data, advice accreditation
This week on Working for Students (the podcast formerly known as the Membership Services Show), Livia and Alan reflect on the year ahead – including the Secret Life of Students event and its focus on the human side of AI – before diving into three interviews. Lexi Baynes from the University of...
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Loneliness, 10 years of MSC
This week on the Membership Services Show Ed Moloney from University of Salford SU shares how they've repositioned themselves as an "anti-loneliness charity" – a strategy that's united everything from their bar to their advice service around tackling what affects 42 per cent of their student...
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Paying part time officers, power
This week on the Membership Services Show Liv catches up with Liz and Nat from Lincoln Students’ Union to explore paying part-time officers. In a sector where volunteer leadership roles often clash with student financial realities, they reflect on how Lincoln SU’s governance review reshaped…
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Safe spaces, student opportunities, joining SUs
This week on the Membership Services Show, Alan and Livia dive deep into the complexities of change management and student engagement across the students' union sector. Ellis Page from Sheffield SU opens up about their controversial decision to restructure liberation committees – including...
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Representation, PGRs, Jim @ MSC
This week on the Membership Services Show, Alan and Liv explore how students' unions are reimagining engagement and support for diverse student communities. Alan speaks with Simon from UWTSD Students' Union about their innovative approach to student voice engagement across multiple campuses and...
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Welcome, strategy
This week on the Membership Services Show, we’re exploring how students’ unions are adapting creatively to rising challenges – from shoestring event budgets to shifting university leadership. Livia visits Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association to hear how a small team pulled off a Welcome Week…
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Welcome and social prescribing, trustee boards, media law
This week on the Membership Services Show Alan and Liv talk to West Chester University, who share how their Division of Student Affairs is drawing on the healthcare concept of social prescribing to reshape “Weeks of Welcome” – a six-week induction period designed to tackle loneliness and foster...
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Officers, community organising, fast track senior leadership
This week on the Membership Services Show Alan and Liv talk to Rachel from Highlands and Islands Students' Association about insights on the pressures officers face within the current sector crisis and how universities can step up to support manifesto delivery. Meanwhile, Tom from Citizens UK...
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Summer, ethical officer support, mergers
This week on the Membership Services Show Liv and Alan kick off officer-induction season with Mack, exploring how the Summer Training Programme helps new sabbatical officers get to grips with their union’s policy environment and institutional context. They also talk to Gary Hughes of Durham SU...
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City partnership, R&D, safer venues
This week on the Membership Services Show Alan catches up with Ghika from the Student Community Partnership in Bath to explore how a unique, city-wide collaboration is improving life for students and residents alike – from managing community tensions and waste to pioneering vape recycling and...
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Fees instalments, student led strategy
This week on the Membership Services Show Alan and Liv talk to Price at Sunderland who's been busy this year lobbying the university to introduce flexible payment plans for international students struggling with the cost of living. They also debate whether it's wise to be student led for studdent...
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Food, student trustees, officer support
This week on the Membership Services Show Podge from Dublin City SU shares how they built their student food pantry from the ground up. Plus Susan from Nottingham SU discusses their comprehensive approach to supporting student trustees, and Aisling from Mary I SU reflects on her year as a...
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Food security, student festivals, influencing and organising
This week Livia and Alan talk to Leeds Beckett SU about complementing their community organizing focus with public affairs strategies to improve their influence beyond university settings. Plus Jim reports from Poland about Juvenalia, a festival where students take over the city, and Alan speaks...
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Elections, spaces, representation
This week on the Membership Services Show, Livia and Alan talk to Dublin City University about how they reimagined their elections after failing to meet quorum, shifting from traditional campaigning to a more career-focused approach that attracted diverse candidates. Plus, Rosie from Organized…
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Food, skills, charity week
This week on the Membership Services Show Livia and Alan explore essential needs and skills development. Steph from the University of New South Wales explains their "checkpoint" program, delivering nutritionally balanced meals and education to support student wellbeing. Plus Darcy from Students'...
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Policy, Portugal, commuters, academic reps
This week on the Membership Services Show Alan and Livia talk policy books, with Ed from Salford SU explaining how they're making sure students know what their SU thinks about things. Plus Sean from Sheffield SU shares insights into their use of students in faculty voice coordinator roles, and…
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Elections, AI, gaming, international officers
This week on the Membership Services Show Alan and Livia talk AI, UCL SU shares insights into their Leadership Race, which saw record engagement, UMass Lowell discuss the development of their gaming zone and the NUS Charity discusses their research on international sabbatical officers. With…
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Swap shop, AI, SU quality
This week on the Membership Services Show, Eve from Hallam SU shares the story behind their new fabric Swap Shop – a community-led initiative offering art and design students free access to essential materials like fabric, clay, and canvases. Callum from Arts SU introduces “Art or Algorithm” – a...
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PGRs, students in advice
This week on the Membership Services Show Livia and Alan talk to Ugne from the doctoral chapter of KTH Students Union in Stockholm about their groundbreaking work connecting PhD students with labour unions – addressing the unique challenges postgraduate researchers face as both students and…
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Basic needs, education quality, innovative governance
This week on the Membership Services Show Livia Scott and Alan talk to Goldsmiths SU about their creative Photovoice methodology for improving student voice and governance – using photography to reimagine feedback processes and develop actionable solutions for increasing engagement with…
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Open sourcing, becoming a CEO, officer accountability
This week on the Membership Services Show, Alan and Livia explore new approaches to SU strategy and accountability. Alex Harden-Way from UCB Guild shares how the principles of "open source" can be used to grow transparency and community engagement in SU, opening up data and processes to encourage...
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Student nights, policy agendas, basic needs
This week on the Membership Services Show, Alan and Livia explore the power of collaboration in student events. Josh from South Bank SU and Dan from Sunderland SU in London share how they’ve built a cooperative model for events, from freshers to Halloween and beyond. By joining forces, they’ve...
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Speak weeks, Community leaders, City Assemblies
This week on the Membership Services Show, Livia and Alan explore how SUs are evolving their representation and engagement models. Steph from UCLan SU shares the success of their revitalised Speak Weeks, with a creative twist on traditional engagement. Caroline from Bath Spa SU discusses their...
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SU Elections special
This week on the Membership Services Show, Livia and Alan dive into SU elections. Charlotte from NUS Charity shares insights on election trends, including rising turnout and the growing number of international student candidates. Mack discusses evolving officer structures, the impact of AI on...
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SUmmit, Prague’s Kampus, community organising
This week on the Membership Services Show Livia talks to Bath SU about revamping its student council into a Student SUmmit to increase accountability and policy-making impact. Plus Alan catches up with Josef from Campus Hybernská in Prague - a collaboration between Charles University and the city...
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Council, international mentoring, commuters
This week on the Membership Services Show Livia talks to Edinburgh Napier SU about redesigning its student council to boost engagement and influence. Plus, Alan talks to ELTE SU in Budapest about its mentor training program for international students, and Livia talks to Royal Holloway SU about...
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New venue, SU elections, Spring Day
The Membership Services Show - where we discuss practice in SUs - is back for a second season. This week Alan talks to St Mary’s SU in Twickenham where against the odds, they’ve just launched a new venue - we talk how and why. Plus Livia and Alan field a question on what’s happening this year in…
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Christmas special
In this special festive edition of the Membership Services Show, Alan and Livia have insights from the ACUI conference in the United States, innovative approaches like free grab-and-go breakfasts and sip-and-sketch events, and discuss the role of smaller, daytime activities in boosting student...
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Post-conference special
This week in our final episode of the season, Alan and Livia reflect on Membership Services Conference 2024 with a particular focus on on the plenaries - OfS' John Blake discussing students as consumers, a panel of sector reps discussing student experience, plus a panel on student rights where…
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Pre-conference special
In this pre-conference special Alan and Livia discuss the big themes set to emerge from this year's event. With Alan, Livia and Rhiannon Roberts, CEO at Man Met SU. There’s more detail about Membership Services Conference - Wednesday 14th to Thursday 15th August 2024 at The Union MMU here. Hosted...
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Abandoning risk assessment, officer support
This week on the Membership Services Show we talk to Organised Fun! about abandoning society risk assessments. Plus we chat to Birmingham Guild and Coole Insight about officer support. There’s more detail about Membership Services Conference - Wednesday 14th to Thursday 15th August 2024 at The...
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International community, community organising, SU from scratch
This week on the Membership Services Show Livia talks to Arden SU about creating an SU from scratch, Alan talks to Man Met SU about its International student community, and Livia talks to Citizens UK about the community organising work it's been doing at Aston. There’s more detail about…
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Rep conversations, turnaround, departmental committees
This week on the Membership Services Show Alan talks to the University of Nottingham SU about the changes they’ve made to course rep conversations. Plus Livia talks to UCA SU about turnaround, and Loughborough SU about their move to departmental committees. There’s more detail about Membership...
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Consent classes, tenancy rights, committee training
This week on the show Alan and Livia talk to Strathclyde SU about the tenancy rights workshops they've been running. Plus Students' Union UCL has been running consent workshops, and the University of Nottingham SU has been training up its society committees. More about Membership Services...
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Participation bursaries, gender-based violence, PTOs
This week on the Membership Services Show Alan talks to Newcastle University SU about its bursaries for participation, SOAS SU about the way it’s tackling issues around sexual and gender based violence, and the University of Nottingham SU about the way it supports Part-Time Officers. There’s more...
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Working class students, SU strategy, research
This week on the Membership Services Show Alan and Livia talk to Newcastle University SU about working class student representation, Leeds Beckett SU about its work on strategy, and the University of Manchester SU about research. There’s more detail about Membership Services Conference…
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Gender expression, data in advice, social policy
This week on the Membership Services Show (which will be online at lunchtime on Friday) Alan talks to Bournemouth SU about data and dashboards in advice, UCL about their gender expression fund and UEA SU about social policy. Registration for the 9th Membership Services Conference is open. Taking...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Every week Livia Scott (Wonkhe) and Alan Roberts (Counterculture) chat to SUs around the UK to showcase their projects, activities and initiatives that are making a difference to students.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
Jim Dickinson
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Working for Students have?
Working for Students currently has 52 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Working for Students about?
Every week Livia Scott (Wonkhe) and Alan Roberts (Counterculture) chat to SUs around the UK to showcase their projects, activities and initiatives that are making a difference to students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How often does Working for Students release new episodes?
Working for Students has 52 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Working for Students?
You can listen to Working for Students on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Working for Students?
Working for Students is created and hosted by Jim Dickinson.
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