Doin’ it for themselves: how empowering and supporting students’ unions is key to tackling challenges facing students

Abstract

This article explores major challenges facing students, such as mental health, financial hardship and employability. It suggests that well supported and appropriately funded students’ unions can play a vital role in improving the experience of students. Their work can be crucial in ensuring students have influence on university decision making, it can help improve mental and physical wellbeing, support enhanced employability, and contribute to a stronger sense of belonging and community. It recommends that universities should support students’ unions, by providing more training, support and funding, and enabling them to take on increased responsibilities for extracurricular activity and providing more campus services. This could make a significant difference in improving the experience of students.