Students' Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI)

Anglia Ruskin Students' Union has been awarded a silver award by the Students' Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI). This makes the Union amongst the very best in the UK.

The Students' Union Evaluation Initiative, or SUEI as it is more commonly known, is a two year self assessment model aimed to question the in depth workings of a Students' Union. It concentrates on providing outcomes, increasing connections and measuring the impact on students. The model is endorsed by the National Union of Students, the Association of Managers in Students' Unions, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, the Equality Challenge Unit and the Scottish government.

So far, 51 students' unions across the country have embarked on this quality assessment model and until last week only 11 Unions had been accredited. It was last Wednesday that the team at Anglia Ruskin Students' Union received the call; they had been awarded with a silver standard SUEI award. This brings the total SUEI award count to 17, comprising 1 gold, 4 silver and 12 bronze awards and makes Anglia Ruskin Students' Union the first million+, multi-site union to have achieved the silver standard.

The recent success adds to a number of other accolades awarded in the last 12 months. In 2009 the Union won two national awards for their campaign work, came third in the NUS Higher Education Students' Union of the Year. Since then, the Union has been nominated again for the NUS HE Students' Union of the Year award 2010, has been recognised by Investors in People and scored highly in the Community Legal Service Quality Mark with over 30 areas of good practice being highlighted. The number of students filling out their annual student survey has increased from 168 in 2008 to 1,843 in 2010 and the number of students voting in the SU election has increased by over 100%.

The Union is delighted with this achievement and will continue to work hard for students; over the summer the process will begin all over again in the form of SUEI 2. But it doesn't stop there. Next Thursday the Union will be travelling to Warwick to find out the results for the NUS Students' Union of the Year Award. They have tough competition from Exeter Students' Union and Northumbria Students' Union but after all the hard work; can they bring home the gold?

Email Lisa Pool (Vice-President Communications Officer) or call on 01223 460008 ext 5654. Visit Anglia Ruskin Students' Union website for further information about the work of the Students' Union.