Collaboration, co-creation, culture, and community

‘Strategy’ – it’s a word we hardly heard as students; unless it was the strategy for a pub crawl to enable all players to attend for as long as possible. That instantly changed when we were elected as Executive Officers at the Students’ Union. Strategy is one of Higher Education’s buzzwords. It gets thrown around a lot, often admittedly as a reason why something hasn’t happened. However, replace this word with ‘Manchester 2035,’ and now we’re cooking with gas.

Since the word ‘strategy’ and ‘Manchester 2035’ began to interchangeably creep into more and more conversations we were having with the University, the key word used to encapsulate it is ‘opportunity.’ An opportunity to fix issues which affect the student experience; both day-to-day and bigger picture. Whether that’s delays in students getting their feedback back on time, mould in student accommodation, or the old chestnut of parking, it seemed like a breath of fresh air had been pumped into the way we go about things.

The Students’ Union has been engaged at every stage. From the initial conversations, to us working in complete partnership with the University Executive on creating the strategy with student experience and voice at the forefront, this multi-year process is something we’re passionate about co-creating, and crucially, delivering on. While we do sometimes have the odd realisation that we’re currently shaping a University whose future students are currently just seven years old, Manchester 2035 has the potential to deliver a sector-leading teaching, learning, and research experience and environment.

Over October and November, we partnered with the Future Leaders programme to co-chair the 10 student workshops, and spoke at all 12 of the staff workshops hosted by the University Executive. In fact, it got to the point where we were able to deliver our spiels while pacing down Oxford Road, iced latte in one hand and stuffed tote bag in the other. Our spiels – or more precisely, imaginations of the future – focused on enhancing and advancing the student experience. We spoke about expanding the bursary provision so that as many students can access the University regardless of their background, how AI can transform modern-day education by rethinking how students learn, and how we interact with the world around us in an informed, ethical way while championing EDI.

We became so immersed in the workshops (and various committee meetings) that we almost forgot the bigger picture. So, here are some cool stats to remind us how far we’ve come; 5,515 colleagues, students, alumni and local community members got involved in 22 workshops with more than 2,869 online ideas and comments submitted. As if that wasn’t enough, the Manchester 2035 website has gone global – with 138 countries reached and 14,013 webpage views.

Numbers aside we love an acronym around here. ‘CCCC’ arguably isn’t the catchiest, but let’s stick with it. Our vision for 2035 centres around the 4 ‘Cs’: collaboration, co-creation, culture, and community. Imagine a university where all staff and students know how to navigate the Samuel Alexander building, where Eduroam doesn’t randomly stop working and where students get paid on-time for their part time work…Hang on, this isn’t very ambitious is it… There are things we need to fix in 2025; never mind waiting until 2035! Let’s get cracking.

Students told us that the expansion of student numbers must go hand-in-hand with expanded mental health provision. Many students debated what it means to be truly socially responsible, and how the University can shape the future of not only the local community but the North West too. In several workshops, students queried how the University would straddle the line of political influence and responsibility if it were to become a local and national powerhouse of innovation and teaching. And of course, money was often at the forefront of these conversations; as it often is in many students’ minds given the soaring costs they’ve borne the brunt of.

The Students’ Union has been involved every step of the way. We’ve been working side-by-side with University leaders, making sure student experience is at the heart of this long-term strategy. We’re excited to be part of building this together and making sure it actually delivers for students.

Every student has a different experience here. 48,000 students means 40,000 unique experiences, so every time you dip your hand in that melting pot, you pull out something new. This paints a complex picture of life here as a student, and makes the role of the Students’ Union that much more important. The 2035 strategy is an opportunity to truly co-create something which provides every student with a consistent, top-notch experience which is full of opportunities, fulfilment and belonging, regardless of their background and circumstances.

Written by Lexie Baynes (Union Affairs Officer) and Katie Jackson (Faculty of Humanities Officer) at the University of Manchester Students’ Union.

Find out more about the Manchester 2035 strategy.