A new strategy for the Students’ Union has been agreed at a recent meeting of the USSU Board of Trustees. The strategy continues the main mission and purpose of the organisation that was set in 2019; that the organisation exists to confront and overcome the barriers to learning at the University of Salford.
There are a wide variety of barriers to learning at Salford, including issues that are under the university’s control (e.g. teaching standards), and others that are not (eg social barriers such as racism or misogyny) and USSU will do what it can to confront these issues, working in partnership with students and university colleagues.
Following some comprehensive research conducted by market research agency Alterline in 2022 the principal barrier to learning at the university of Salford was identified: loneliness, or isolation from the academic community. USSU has therefore chosen to make this our core focus for the organisation over the coming years.
Commenting on the new strategy, Simeon Anyalemechi (2023/24 SU President) said: “this strategy gives the organisation a vital and core purpose for the coming years. Following the pandemic the issue of loneliness has never been clearer, and while there still might be some stigma talking about it we’re eager to be the leaders of confronting and overcoming loneliness at Salford. Around 16% of students say that they are lonely every day, and 33% of students at Salford are not happy with their ability to make friends. The cost-of-living crisis will only add to this”.
Other areas of note in the strategy are a new vision for the organisation, a shared ambition for the SU, and that the organisation will rebrand itself next year.
Our next steps for the strategy includes the establishment of a group looking at the issue of loneliness across the university, and the development of a new student social connection and anti-loneliness strategy.
Read full strategy report