NUS-USI Democracy

How Democracy will happen at NUS-USI Assembly 2026

Purpose

The democracy element of the Assembly will give students and students’ unions a direct role in deciding the priorities that will shape NUS-USI’s campaigning in the run-up to the Northern Ireland Assembly and local Council Election in 2027 and provide focus on our campaigning for the next two years. 

Rather than arriving at the Assembly with a set of predetermined priorities, the process will begin with listening to students across Northern Ireland and will culminate in Assembly attendees democratically agreeing the five key calls to action that will form the focus of our election campaigning and manifesto asks ( to be released in February 2027) 

 

Before the Assembly: Listening to our students 

Between 8th October and 31st October we will gather student views through two complementary engagement methods. 

1. What Students Think (WST) Survey

Based on what our members have informed us as a priority for them in this coming year, the What Students Think Survey will include the following sections: 

  • Cost of Living and Financial Support
  • Work and Pay
  • Transport
  • Housing
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • Climate/ Sustainability
  • International Students
  • Liberation
  • RSE
  • Ending Violence against Women and Girls
  • Irish and Ulster Scots Language 

A survey will be promoted across further and higher education, asking students about their experiences, concerns and priorities across the range of key themes. The survey will provide quantitative evidence of the issues affecting students and identify the areas students most want decision-makers to act on.  We will create a range of resources for members to increase engagement with their students and we will also offer campus visits and promote on our socials as well as through our supporters on nationbuilder.   

2. What Students Think Workshops

Alongside the survey, facilitated workshops will give students the opportunity to explore these issues in greater depth, share their experiences and discuss what meaningful change would look like.  Our aim is to create a template resource so members can carry these out on their own campuses with us requesting feedback from participants and facilitators.  The workshops will provide qualitative insight and help ensure that the final recommendations reflect students’ lived experiences as well as survey data.  We will offer assisted facilitation for those members who do not have the time to carry out the workshop but want to have their members voices heard. 

 

At the Assembly: Turning Evidence into Recommendations 

By the Assembly, the findings from the survey and workshops will be brought together and presented to attendees.  Delegates will then take part in facilitated sessions focused on each priority area. They will: 

  1. review what students have told us;

  2. discuss the key findings and recurring themes;

  3. consider what change students want to see;

  4. develop clear and achievable recommendations; and

  5. identify potential calls to action for the next Northern Ireland Assembly. 

Please note: members are encouraged to submit additional priorities when registering to attend the Member Assembly. 

This ensures that Assembly discussions begin with evidence gathered directly from students rather than starting with a blank page or focusing solely on what each delegate believes to be the biggest priority for Northern Ireland students. 

 

Letting Democracy take its course

Attendees will have the opportunity to consider the proposed calls to action before taking part in a democratic vote.  The five calls to action receiving the strongest support from conference will become NUS-USI’s five priority asks in the run-up to the 2027 Northern Ireland Assembly Election and will be the headliners in our Student Manifesto. Members will be informed of the outcome via email and we will update them in our December membership meeting taking place on Wednesday 2nd December.