Our Strategy 2023-2027
Durham will be a better, fairer university because students make it happen.
Our strategy has emerged from listening to students talk and inviting their input on the challenges they have faced over the last few years, what matters to them and what they want their students’ union to be. We heard that the things that matter to students and the issues that impact them aren't new but that the context and perspective of students' experiences have been changing rapidly. This strategy builds on the opportunities generated by how students adapt, challenge and innovate for change in their communities to strengthen the parts of Durham they value most and progress on the problems that impact them.
Our Goals
We’ll bring students across Durham together.
Time at Durham is life-changing. If we make it easier for students to forge connections with each other, we know they’ll build their social capital, challenge and learn from each other and achieve things they will be proud of for the rest of their lives.
Measure of success: 80% of students come together in a community, society or event supported by Durham SU.
Measure of success: 80% of these students say that student-led activities supported by Durham SU helped them feel they belong here.
Measure of success: 50% of these students discover or learn something new.
We’ll build confidence in the purpose and the value of the students’ union.
We’re not like other students’ unions. We don’t expect to be because we’re grounded in our unique collegiate home. We know we have to build a different relationship with students.
Measure of success: 80% of students agree that Durham University needs a collective student representative organisation.
Measure of success: 40% of students agree that Durham SU represents students’ interests on relevant and important things.
Measure of success: 40% of students agree Durham SU represents their academic interests well.
We’ll tackle the big issues that hold students back.
These issues aren’t new; they’re sticky. Student housing. Support for induction and success at Durham. Access to and participation in all the stuff that makes Durham unique. We’re trying to break the cycle and need sustained focus over several years to do that. Our elected Officers will focus on these goals.
Measure of success: 80% of Durham students agree their induction helped them to do well through their time at university.
Measure of success: 80% of student rooms in Durham are affordable and high quality.
Measure of success: Students lead the conversation about access and participation at Durham.
Our thinking and our action
We think ‘student engagement’ shouldn’t be about building a relationship between students and the corporate students’ union but about how the students’ union helps students build a community for themselves, within themselves. Below you can read more about how this shapes the beliefs and assumptions underpinning our strategy, how we do things and see the concrete plans and updates on our strategic work as we do it.
