NUS Scotland

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Graphic with a purple background displaying a quote from NUS Scotland President Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan, alongside a picture of her. ‘To say that students are angry would be an understatement. The future of our education system is at risk, and despite students and staff continuously raising the alarm, the Scottish Government has us sleepwalking into a disaster. Cutting college funding by a fifth has had a terrible real world impact. Not only has it endangered the future of our colleges, but it has meant fewer people have been able to experience the life changing benefits of an education.’

Graphic with a purple background displaying a quote from NUS Scotland President Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan, alongside a picture of her. ‘College students are already struggling with woefully inadequate student support that hasn’t kept up with the cost of living; they shouldn’t have to be worrying that their college and their lecturers aren’t receiving enough money either. The Scottish Government talk a big game of wanting to tackle poverty but underfunding colleges, which disproportionately serve disadvantaged communities, is not the way to do that. They need to take immediate action to secure the future of all our colleges and reverse this long term trend of cuts to further education.’

We're angry. Two reports in the last week have shown that the Scottish Government is risking the future of our education system by underfunding our colleges.

www.nus-scotland.org.uk/national_uni...

Of course, this win was only possible after years of campaigning from renters standing together. @living-rent.bsky.social should be proud of this achievement!

Graphic with background of collage of images of students campaigning to fix student housing. Text reads: ‘Win for students: general rent controls passed! But Scotland must go further. No student should be left out in the cold.’ The word cold has an icicle effect dropping from it. The NUS Scotland logo sits in the bottom left.

The Housing Bill passed! This is a win for renters across Scotland, but we must go further.

Real regulation of student accommodation is winnable. We can end exploitative rents, unfair deposits, & unsafe living conditions.

Let’s fight until we fix student housing for good!

A graphic of a computer window sits in front of an image of Gorth Valley College's Alloa campus. Text reads 'Ask the Scottish Government to guarantee the future of Forth Valley College Alloa Campus & support Further Education

Tell the Scottish Government to guarantee the future of the Alloa campus at Forth Valley College!

Use the tool to quickly and easily email Graeme Dey, the Minister for Higher and Further Education www.nus-scotland.org.uk/save_forth_v...

"...The value of having local colleges embedded in their communities cannot be overstated. We call on the Scottish Government to guarantee the future of the Alloa campus. They must work closely with the college administration and ensure that the campus, students' association, and staff's livelihoods are protected. And in the next Scottish Budget there must be a move away from underfunding. Cuts are having a devastating impact and it's time politicians start saying no to austerity in further education." Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan, NUS Scotland President

"Similar to everyone at the College, we are concerned about the current situation facing our learning community, and the potential closure of the College's Alloa Campuses. This campus plays a vital role in providing education and opportunities to students across Clakmannanshire and beyond. While options are being explored for the campus,we will work closely with college staff and management to ensure students are informed, supported, and able to continue their studies. Together, we stand united - with college staff, our leadership team, trade unions and most importantly, our students." - Spokesperson, Forth Valley Students Association

We're calling on the Scottish Government to prevent the closure of Forth Valley College's Alloa campus and to stop underfunding colleges.

Students 🤝 Staff

www.nus-scotland.org.uk/national_stu...

White graphic with black and pink text reading ‘28% of students can't afford transport to classScotland Demands BetterThe March for All of Us – Edinburgh – 25 OctRSVP NOW – Link in Our bio’The NUS Scotland and Scotland Demands Better logos sit at the top of the graphic.

White graphic with black and green text reading ‘More than 1 million in povertyScotland Demands BetterThe March for All of Us – Edinburgh – 25 OctRSVP NOW – Link in Our bio’The NUS Scotland and Scotland Demands Better logos sit at the top of the graphic.

More than a quarter of students unable to afford to get to class and more than a million people living in poverty. Let's demand better!

Join us and thousands of others at the Scotland Demands Better March on Saturday the 25th of October.

RSVP: www.nus-scotland.org.uk/scotland_dem...

White graphic with black and green text reading ‘29% of care experienced students experience homelessness Scotland Demands Better The March for All of Us – Edinburgh – 25 Oct RSVP NOW – NUS.SCOTLAND.ORG.UK/MARCH The NUS Scotland and Scotland Demands Better logos sit at the top of the graphic.

Homelessness is at a crisis point in Scotland, and it's the most disadvantaged who are hit hardest. We need to demand better.

RSVP to join us at the Scotland Demands Better March on the 25th October www.nus-scotland.org.uk/scotland_dem...

White graphic with black and red text reading ‘1 in 6 Further Education students are using foodbanks Scotland Demands Better The March for All of Us – Edinburgh – 25 Oct RSVP NOW – Link in Our bio’ The NUS Scotland and Scotland Demands Better logos sit at the top of the graphic.

White graphic with black and blue text reading ‘861,000 households in fuel poverty Scotland Demands Better The March for All of Us – Edinburgh – 25 Oct RSVP NOW – Link in Our bio’ The NUS Scotland and Scotland Demands Better logos sit at the top of the graphic

White graphic with black and pink text reading ’15,000 children without a home Scotland Demands Better The March for All of Us – Edinburgh – 25 Oct RSVP NOW – Link in Our bio’ The NUS Scotland and Scotland Demands Better logos sit at the top of the graphic.

Poverty has been accepted as a fact of life but it shouldn't be. We can demand better.

RSVP to join us at the Scotland Demands Better March on the 25th October, www.nus-scotland.org.uk/scotland_dem...

A graphic with a white background. Black text reads ‘We’re marching for a better future for Scotland. Join us’ White text on red banners read ‘The march for all of us – Edinburgh – 25 Oct’ ‘RSVP NOW – LINK IN OUR BIO’ The NUS Scotland and Scotland Demand Better Logos are at the top of the graphic. At the bottom are illustrations of protest signs with messages reading ‘Affordable transport now’, ‘Fund care, Fund Education, Fund the NHS’, ‘Liveable Homes now!’, ‘We need real student support’, ‘Fair wages for all’, ‘No cuts to disability benefit’, ‘Fund our public services’

We’re marching on Saturday 25th October to demand better for Scotland.

Too many of us are going hungry, can't afford rent, or can't afford the bus. Let's demand better.

RSVP now to let us know you're coming! www.nus-scotland.org.uk/march

Scotland Demands Better. Scotland's political leaders must Listen and Act. The march for all of us. Edinburgh 25 October. scotland-demands-better.com

We have practical solutions to reduce poverty and inequality, and to create a stable foundation to build a better future. We invite politicians to listen to the thousands of voices that will be raised together at the #ScotlandDemandsBetter march and rally.
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic...

An image of a lecture hall style room at the Strath Union Celtic Connections event, a panel from the student movement including Sai sit at the front.

We're at the Celtic Connections event at @strathunion.bsky.social today looking at connections and shared future of student life both here and in Ireland.

Great to have our President Sai on a panel looking at the challenges student unions and students are facing.

Graphic with a blue background. Text in white and yellow reads 'Cyber Resilience and You! Free Training for all Students. Learn to protect yourself from these threats and more! Public Wifi, Password security, Avoiding Scams, Phising Attacks. student.cyberscotland.com

Supported by the Scottish Government, @cyberscotland.com is offering free cybersecurity training for all students in tertiary education.

Designed to help you navigate cyberthreats relevant to student life, the training is easy to follow and takes less than an hour.

student.cyberscotland.com

An image of the lecture hall in the Royal Societ of Edinburgh. NUS Scotland President Sai is addressing the room from stage where she sits on a panel on the future of Scotland’s tertiary education.

Today, our president Sai is at the @royalsoced.bsky.social conference on the funding of tertiary education in Scotland.

We're excited to contribute, listen, and learn while ensuring that student and apprentice voices and needs are central to the conversation.

Sai appeared on ITV Border last week, advocating for greater support for students and the education sector in Scotland.

She highlighted the challenges facing college and university students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We’re glad that the Scottish Government recognises this and we call for the UK Government to work more constructively with them in this area, or to devolve greater powers to the Scottish Parliament so they may take a fairer approach.

An image of First Minister of Scotland John Swinney MSP and Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan, NUS Scotland President.

We were glad to have Sai join the First Minister for a roundtable on the impact of the UK Government’s Immigration White Paper.

Cuts to the graduate route visa and hostile measures to reduce the number of international students and migrants will damage Scotland’s education sector and communities.

NUS Scotland statement on UK Government’s new immigration plans

Plain text version of above statement:
www.nus-scotland.org.uk/nus_scotland...

Graphic with a purple and dark blue gradient border. Black text on a white background reads: ‘The UK Government’s new immigration plans are inhumane and will hurt international students and Scotland’s education system. Plans to reduce the length of the Graduate Route Visa from 2 years to 18 months will make it harder for students receiving an education in Scotland to put that education to use in a way that benefits us all. It will make international student’s lives harder, deter people from studying in Scotland, and make our education sector and our society less rich.’ Above this sits the NUS Scotland logo in black and purple. In the bottom right corner is an illustration of a hand swiping left and ‘1/4’ to show there are more slides to the post.

Graphic with a purple and dark blue gradient border. Black text on a white background reads: ‘Due to systematic underfunding from governments, Scotland and the rest of the UK’s Higher Education system has sadly become reliant on charging international students extortionate fees to plug the gap. The crisis in tertiary education will not be fixed through exploitation of those coming from abroad but only by our governments recognising the value of education and ensuring public funding to match. Migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and international students didn’t make public transport too expensive, they didn’t make rent unaffordable, they didn’t underfund our NHS, colleges, schools, universities, care homes and other public services. Making life harder for them won’t make anyone else’s life easier and in many cases will do further damage to already strained public services.’ In the bottom right corner is an illustration of a hand swiping left and ‘2/4’ to show there are more slides to the post.

Graphic with a purple and dark blue gradient border. Black text on a white background reads: ‘We call for the UK Government to put an end to the hostile environment and if they are not prepared to do so then we call for them to devolve the relevant powers for Scotland to take its own path and better recognise the needs of students, the education system and our communities.’ Underneath this is the text ‘Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan, NUS Scotland President’, an image of Sai and the NUS logo. In the bottom right corner is an illustration of a hand swiping left and ‘3/4’ to show there are more slides to the post

Graphic with a white border. White text on a purple and dark blue gradient background reads: ‘Oppose the proposed cut to the Graduate Route Visa! Sign the petition linked in our bio to stand with international students.’ In the bottom right corner is ‘4/4’ to show this is the final slide in the post.

The UK Government's immigration white paper is inhumane and will hurt students and the education system.

Join us in opposing the changes to the Graduate Route Visa

www.nus-scotland.org.uk/keep_the_gra...

Student campaigning is paying off! The Housing Committee has voted for positive amendments to the housing bill to regulate student housing.

Let's keep up the momentum and end exploitative practices like guarantor requirements.

Write to your MSP today:

www.nus-scotland.org.uk/write-to-msp...

A graphic from Emily Test. Text reads 'Scotlands first Gender-Based Violence Prevalence in Education Survey is closing soon... Are you... A staff member at a Scottish college or university? A current student at a Scottish college or university? A recent graduate from a Scottish college or university? If you answered yes to any of the above - please spare a few minutes to complete this survey!'

EmilyTest are running the first ever Scotland only survey on gender-based violence (GBV) in tertiary education.

If you are 18+ and a student, recent grad, or staff at a Scottish college or university, please spare a few minutes to complete this survey.

app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/edinburgh/...

Together with NUS Scotland, STUC and all the campus unions, we’re asking the Minister to fix the crisis in Scotland’s education system! #SaveHE #StopTheCuts

Graphic with a blue-black gradient background. Yellow and white text reads ‘Dear Scottish Government Fix this Crisis. Yours sincerely Students & Staff’ In the bottom left an illustration of a hand swiping next to ‘1/3’ indicates further slides in the post.

Graphic with a blue-black gradient background. Yellow and white text reads ‘We’ve written to the Government because Scotland needs: A sustainable funding model not reliant on exploitative fee structures. An end to the hostile environment that is undermining our international students and staff. A real commitment to education as a public good, not a financial burden.’ In the bottom left an illustration of a hand swiping next to ‘2/3’ indicates further slides in the post.

Top of graphic has a blue-black gradient background and yellow text reads ‘Join us by signing the open letter to Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education. Below this in black text against a white background shows a section of the open letter and some signatories, with the logo of their organisation underneath: ‘We are calling on our colleagues, our trade unions, and all those who care about education to stand with us. We refuse to let our universities and colleges be decimated by inaction and political neglect. Education is the backbone of our society. Without it, we all suffer. The time for political platitudes is over—now is the time for action. Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan, President, NUS Scotland Roz Foyer, General Secretary, Scottish Trade Union Congress Jeanette Findlay, President, UCU Scotland Andrea Bradley, General Secretary, EIS Sophie Watson & Fred Bayer, Co-chairs, Scottish HE Committee UNISON Scotland Alison MacLean, Regional Industrial Officer, Unite the Union Scotland’

This morning we’ve sent the Higher and Further Education Minister, Graeme Dey MSP, a letter demanding that the Scottish Government take greater action to address the crises in the Scottish education system.

Want to sign?:
www.nus-scotland.org.uk/letter_to_mi...

Graphic with a purple background. It reads: "We are really shocked by today's Supreme Court decision- which reverses twenty years of understanding on how the law recognises trans men and women with Gender Recognition Certificates. The judgement seems to have totally missed what matters to trans people- - that we are able to live our lives, and be recognised, in line with who we truly are. We will continue working for a world in which trans people can get on with our lives with privacy, dignity and safety. That is something that we all deserve.". The Scottish Trans and Equality Network logos are in the bottom right.

Along with @lgbtiscotland.bsky.social, we've published our reaction to the judgement in the UK Supreme Court today.

There will be more we want to say to trans people directly once we have a chance to catch our breath.

www.equality-network.org/uk-supreme-c...

We'd urge people not to panic - there will be lots of commentary coming out quickly that is likely to deliberately overstate the impact that this decision is going to have on all trans people's lives. We'll say more as soon as we're able to. Please look out for yourselves and each other today 💗🏳️‍⚧️

FWS have won their case against the Scottish Government. We will be reading the judgement as quickly as possible so we can properly understand what the Court has decided today.

Alt text: A graphic with a black background, text in yellow and white with a pink shadow reads ‘GSA says YES to NUS’. The NUS Scotland logo sits in the bottom right.

We are delighted that Glasgow School of Art Student's Association is going to be joining NUS after their students overwhelmingly voted YES to NUS!

We can't wait to see their contributions to the student movement as we all come together to fight for a better funded and fairer education system.

'You're trying to drill a hole in your own ceiling when your neighbour's roof is leaking' 👏

Our president Sai was on the radio last week, defending students and publicly funded education.

Bringing in tuition fees in Scotland to address a crisis happening across the UK makes no sense.

Graphic with a purple background and white text which reads ‘This isn’t unique to the University of Edinburgh. Our education system in Scotland is crumbling, and it’s being allowed to happen. It’s becoming all too common to hear from university or college management that course closures are necessary and staff redundancy schemes unavoidable. Year after year of higher and further education cuts in public funding is taking its toll, including the real terms cuts just passed in the recent Scottish budget. We need to see recognition that education is a public good that enriches our society, and public investment to match. - Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan, NUS Scotland President' An image of Sai framed in a circle frame next to her name. At the very bottom is the NUS Scotland logo and the text 'Fighting for Scotland’s Students, Get Involved: nus-scotland.org.uk'

Planned cuts at Edinburgh University exemplify the growing crisis in education. The government must reverse the trend of falling education funding.

We support @ucuscotland.bsky.social's call for the university to use its significant wealth to protect jobs & courses.

buff.ly/t7lRphH

£6.40 is not enough to live on.
We believe every worker should receive a Real Living Wage and apprentices are workers too.
That's why we support @nusscotland.bsky.social and @nsoapprentices.bsky.social's call for a Real Living Wage for apprentices.
Join the call: www.nsoa.org.uk/living-wage