Be led by students

Ensure that students shape all our services and activities.

We aim to achieve this between 2012 and 2016 by:

• Having a better understanding and utilisation of our traditional democratic structures and our more direct impact methods, utilising both effectively and appropriately.
• Increasing student participation in our services, development and operations.
• Increasing the involvement of currently under-represented groups in our organisational structures and our methods of gathering student opinion.
• Providing guidance and support to help students organise large scale events and collaborative initiatives also encouraging student enterprise.

Engage in representation

Have strong student engagement in an effective Students' Union led representation system across The University.

We aim to achieve this between 2012 and 2016 by:

• Reviewing and developing the connection between Departmental Societies, Students' Union Councillors and Course Reps, in order to develop a clear relationship on course and academic representation.
• Refocusing our Representation and Democracy department to be student facing. We will create an open space for students: a highly visible representation support service within the Students' Union
• Ensuring there is a focus on evidence based representation, including utilising internal information, to provide research and policy advice to Officers and representatives.
• Reviewing, understanding and developing student representation with regards to broader University services including for example: Sport, Accommodation, Libraries, CiCS, etc.

Develop global perspectives

Create an environment that enables our students to benefit from intercultural experiences, enjoy international friendships and develop their global understanding.

We aim to achieve this between 2012 and 2016 by:

• Recognising and developing our civic engagement with home and international students in the local community.
• Working closely with The University on the internationalisation strategy.
• Removing barriers for integration between home and international students by encouraging international students to engage with departmental societies and home students to engage with national societies.
• Reinvigorating our services and events to enable students to develop their cultural agility and experience alternative cultures.

Expand and enhance opportunities

Resource opportunities for all students, supporting and encouraging them to have memorable experiences and develop their skills.

We aim to achieve this between 2012 and 2016 by:

• Increasing the training that is available for students and enabling the transfer of knowledge, skills and support from peer to peer.
• Facilitating and encouraging collaboration between student groups, enabling students to work together to create more student-led events and initiatives.
• Providing more resources to allow the development of student groups; ensuring staff are accessible and open to new ideas and are able to support and mentor students in the development of new events and initiatives.
• Reviewing the space allocations within our buildings and assessing and planing for future student needs.

Providing guidance and support

Provide exceptional support that meets the diverse needs of our students through relevant services, partnerships and expertise.

We aim to achieve this between 2012 and 2016 by:

• Investigating and implementing more methods of support, for example by introducing peer support, which would develop student skills whilst increasing support services.
• Improving signposting of support services to better communicate the support available to students.
• Utilising and sharing skills and knowledge across departments.
• Ensuring, through research and environmental scanning, we monitor and respond to students' changing support needs as the Higher Education landscape changes.
• Embedding well-being, support and guidance into our members' interactions with every aspect of the Students' Union; for example through sport, healthy eating and responsible drinking.

Deliver services for students

Deliver relevant, efficient, good value services that enhance the student experience.

We aim to achieve this between 2012 and 2016 by:

• Considering all the services in our building, the impact they have on our students and the value for money they offer our members.
• Ensuring that our services enhance the student experience whilst generating funds, where appropriate, to be invested back into the Students' Union
• Considering ways of developing new services that add value to the student experience at Sheffield.
• Considering partnership opportunities to develop new and existing services in order to enhance the offer of the Students' Union and better cater for the diverse needs of our members.