The Union of Students at the University of Derby has smashed through national rankings to achieve at top 25 position, following a leap of 47 places last year.
Two years ago, the Union of Students at the University of Derby was sat in 97th position nationally of the WhatUni Student Choice table and last year, leapt a huge 47 places to achieve a top 50 place. This year, the organisation has smashed through the rankings once more to enjoy a place in the top 25 ranked Unions across the country.
These awards are an annual celebration of the best universities and higher education institutions in the UK. Every single award has been voted for by the people that matter most: real students, through the 41,000+ student reviews collected throughout the year.
The Union’s vision outlines a commitment to representation, inclusion and change; something that the University of Derby has supported from day one. The Union actively empowers students to achieve their potential through academic representation, support, skills development and creative opportunities and fosters a strong sense of togetherness throughout all activity.
CEO Vicky Hossack remarked, “We are thrilled to receive the news this week, at the end of what has been a truly remarkable year. We really value the feedback from our students, and it is so encouraging to see the reviews submitted by our students over the last year that show just how much the opportunities provided by the Union foster such a strong sense of community; giving individuals the confidence and opportunities to fulfil their potential. We are committed to continually improve our offering, and work to ensure students have a truly transformative experience – so results like this are really heartening.”
The Union is also proud to have a huge offering of Sports, Societies and Student Led Services opportunities – an area that is incorporated in the student review criteria:
“As well as societies and sports, the Union is always there to offer advice and support on anything from financial worries to concerns about your course and works closely with many other departments within the university. There are lots of opportunities to get involved in a variety of events. The student-led services such as the student media are particularly fantastic. What I like most about the union though is that they genuinely care about the student's and their university experience.” – student feedback
The organisation has had to respond quickly to the changing situation over the past few months and, as always, has been working collaboratively with the University to ensure that student voice is championed at every opportunity. Many important decisions have been made in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and through the engagement and input of student representation the Union have ensured that the needs of students have been at the heart of consultation through this unprecedented period. Student feedback has been gathered across all channels and shared with the University, helping shape the no detriment policy that has been put in place alongside innovative solutions to hosting awards ceremonies, annual general meetings and drop-in sessions online.
Please direct press enquiries to Heather Gunn, Marketing and Communications Manager heather.gunn@derbyunion.co.uk