Hi guys!
Welcome back! I hope you had a good Christmas break and are energetic and ready for the new semester. In the new year 2010 I wish you all the success with your studies and careers and hope that you will be able to balance both as well as your personal life very well.
For me and the whole NSA the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010 were very productive. Our Constitution Review process is progressing well and (what is especially important) is still on time. I want to thank all of you who took part in either questionnaire or the focus groups. Your help is extremely valuable to us. You can find more info about the Constitution Review here http://www.napierstudents.com/news/crag.php
I also want to thank all 1192 students who took part in our NSA Space Questionnaire and many more who support our campaign for more adequate NSA facilities. Most of you believe that current NSA facilities are too small and in a bad location. The full results of the questionnaire will be available to view on NSA website shortly. On the basis of the info from the questionnaire I have prepared a presentation that will be used to lobby the University for a better Students’ Association space.
Our ‘I love my Tutor/ PDT’ awards are now over. The winners and runners up are:
I Love My Tutor
Winner: Sara Wasson, Culture Media and Society
Runners Up: Shuna Marr, Tourism Management
Andy Moffat, Business and Accountancy

I Love My PDT:
Winner of PDT category: Jacqui Charlton, Adult Nursing
Runners Up: Maggie Chapman, BA Social Sciences
Gwenne McIntosh, Mental Health Nursing

Thank you all for nominating your favourite tutors and PDTs so keenly. I have to say, it was an amazing experience. It’s brilliant to do something for the first time and see how it grows and evolves. I hope that the awards will become a regular event in our University calendar. I also hope that the next edition will be even bigger and better as a result of a learning experience. I am so happy to know that there is good practice at Edinburgh Napier and that we can improve students’ experience by disseminating it. I am also happy that the awards proved to be very important for the academic staff themselves. We received many e- mails thanking the students for the nominations- it’s a great morale booster! I also hope that in the future academic staff will go to great length to be nominated for the award, which means that enhancing student experience will become a focus.
Announcing the winners however doesn’t mean that this chapter is closed till next year. Oh, no. Brace yourself dear academic staff champions as you will be used to promote good practice within Edinburgh Napier University. We would like to set some workshops for the academic staff where our winners could say what is it about their teaching or mentoring style that students recognised as outstanding. We already contributed to the Business School Rapid Improvement Event on feedback and our report from the awards will be used in improving PDT scheme.
Again guys I wish you all the best in this semester and remember stay in touch with your Students’ Association!

Kasia

A lot has happened since my first blog message.
I finalised my rep meetings now. Hope that those who came have enjoyed them and feel more informed and empowered.
Congratulations to all those who graduated on 12th November! Well done! Hope you’ll keep in touch with NSA and inform us about your successes. I would like to think that NSA had an input into your academic and non- academic experience at Edinburgh Napier.
Thanks to all those who came to the student Senate on 17th of November and supported our motions, especially Constitution Review Proposal. We wouldn’t make it without you. We have now sent a questionnaire to all students asking them for their input into the review. Please fill it in and tell your friends. You have a chance to shape the future of NSA (and you can win £50 Tesco voucher too). Closing day 4th December.
Another questionnaire was sent on 11th and 17th of November to all students asking about what they perceive as desirable NSA space. Up to date we received around 1000 responses! Thank you to all who committed some time to filling it in. Those of you who have not yet managed to do this, please find some time before the closing day on 30th November.
On 18th of November you had a chance to experience Swedish culture in all its beauty. During our Swedish Day we had Swedish food in canteens, stalls with info on culture and Erasmus exchange. We moved to the NSA Bar at 7 pm for some Schnapps and Swedish buffet. We danced around the maypole, sang songs and had amazing time! Party finished at Shanghai 3am Thanks to my lovely Swedish girls Josefin, Sabina, Mia and Julia and a Polish girl Dorota for enormous amount of work they put in organising this event. Also thank you to our sponsors Visit Sweden and IKEA.

Your NSA Executive gathered on 19th November to plan a day of action against re- introduction of fees in Scotland. We came up with some pretty good ideas. You will hear from us soon when we finalise our plans.

Remember about NSA staff awards ‘I love my Tutor/PDT’ – launch day on 30th November. We will be on Craiglockhart and Merchiston campus to tell you more about them and you can also pick up your nomination forms from there. Nomination forms will also be available on NSA website and from every campus reception. Nominations will close on 11th of December. Thank you to all the volunteers and NSA executive for making this day happen.

We have also advertised our newly formed Student Activities Working Group. 30 students have put their names forward to help organise NSA events!! And they say students are apathetic! I know that Veritas has got even bigger interest and students want to help writing articles, etc. Go Napier, go Napier! If you want to get engaged please let me know k.bylinska@napier.ac.uk

I think that’s all for now.
Till next time.

Kasia

Hi everybody,

This blog is a new thing that I decided to do as means of keeping you updated and involved in what is happening in NSA, NUS, University, Scotland, UK and wider.

I went to NUS Scotland Council on 7/11. Please read below a short press release that summarises what happened.

Students denounce Scottish Defence League and reject return of tuition fees

Student leaders from across Scotland have voted unanimously to support the Scotland United rally against the Scottish Defence League on 14 November. NUS Scotland Council, held in Glasgow yesterday, also reiterated students' opposition to tuition fees in Scotland.

After an impassioned address from human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, coordinator of the rally, the Council agreed "to support the counterdemonstration which is being held on 14 November 2009". Mr Anwar had also highlighted the strong links between the SDL and the BNP. The Council reiterated that Scottish students believed "that the BNP are a racist and fascist organisation" and called on NUS Scotland "to increase the priority of campaigning against the BNP and the SDL/EDL".

Also, in response to recent calls for a review of university funding, students rejected the idea that any such review should focus on money for principals and instead must prioritise putting cash into students' pockets. The motion noted these calls and, while ruling out tuition fees, agreed that NUS Scotland must engage with any review, researching alternative models for funding which ensured equal access to higher education in Scotland by putting students' needs at the forefront of the debate.

Liam Burns, NUS Scotland President, said:

"It is no surprise that student leaders are united against the racist and fascist rhetoric of organisations like the BNP and Scottish Defence League. These people have no place in a multicultural Scotland, and students across Scotland are happy to support the Scotland United rally on 14 November.

"We have also answered the irrational calls from the likes of Lord Sutherland to charge students to fund universities. With students legislated to live below the poverty line, and college bursary funds at breaking point, students in colleges and universities across Scotland are being let down by the current funding system. Fixing that system must be the priority."

Ends

For more information contact Lindsay Cunningham, Campaigns and Communications Officer on 07980 845 639

Notes:

* Motions debated are available at http://resource.nusonline.co.uk/media/resource/nusscot_council09_13compmotions[1].pdf

* Council is NUS Scotland's first democratic event of the academic year, with over 75 student representatives from across Scotland's colleges and universities debating priorities for Scotland's students.
* NUS Scotland Council took place on Saturday 7 November 2009 at Glasgow Caledonian University.
* The Scotland United rally will take place on Saturday 14 November at Glasgow Green at 1200.


Hope you like the blog idea.


Kasia