Student Strike Wrap-Up – A New Vision for Education
By Naomi Smith, Student Leader
On Wednesday 2nd March, the student movement descended on Bloomsbury, walking out of university classes across the country to call for a new vision of education – an education that is fully-funded, accessible, lifelong and democratised for all students.
What happened on the day?
Students occupied spaces in our very own Torrington Square and neighbouring Woburn Square, where they led and took part in teach-outs covering everything from abolition to the environment and divestment to safety on campus and women’s rights. We even saw some students getting crafty with embroidery hoops in the creative craft studio!
There were representatives from multiple national student-focused campaigns, including People and Planet (including our fantastic Environment and Ethics Officer Guillermo Lluch, who was recently elected as a People and Planet student trustee – congratulations Guillermo!), Not On My Campus, Apartheid Off Campus, and Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS UK).
On the main stage in Torrington Square, we heard from NUS President Larissa Kennedy, NUS VP Higher Education Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, and many others from across the student movement, calling for unity, solidarity and an end to the marketisation of our education. There were speeches from representatives of student campaigns across the country and many expressions of solidarity with students in Ukraine.
What is the student movement asking for?
The purpose of the strike was to bring together students from around the country to reunite after two years of isolation to reimagine the broken higher education system and build the new vision for education we want to see, to share knowledge and celebrate together, and experience education as we want to see it.
It’s no secret that students have been failed by the British government time and time again, so NUS is asking students to start taking matters into their own hands and campaign for an education that is fully-funded, accessible, lifelong and democratised for everyone.
So what does that actually mean in real terms, beyond the catchphrases and soundbites? Let’s break it down – because there’s a lot to unpack here!
We want an education that is…
1. Fully-funded. Even with the student loan system and the government’s new plans for a new lifelong learning fund, the education system in the UK often works in favour of the more affluent, while students from marginalised backgrounds can struggle to pay for tuition, accommodation and other related costs of attending university, such as books, travel and food. And international students pay ridiculously high fees compared to home students, even before factoring the additional costs of flights and visas! This is unsustainable and needs to change. NUS is calling for the government to abolish student fees and introduce a basic student income.
2. Accessible. Everyone should be able to attend a higher education institution, regardless of their personal situation or background. Disability, race, class, etc, should not be a barrier to a university education. What does accessible education look like to you? Here are just a few examples: accessible, step-free buildings with low sensory spaces, hearing loops, sign interpreters, and other easily implemented adjustments. Free language lessons. High quality study support. Free childcare. Investment in digital infrastructure. Accurate video captioning. Extensive mental health support. And more…
3. Lifelong. As we at Birkbeck know better than anyone, age should never be a barrier to study. There are many reasons to what to attend higher education at different points in your life and learning in an environment with a diverse range of age groups can be a huge bonus. The recognition that grades aren’t everything, and that experience and passion can be valid qualifications for university study, should be sector-wide, not exclusive to Birkbeck.
4. Democratic. Universities are made up of students and staff. Students should be involved in deciding what they want to learn – staff can learn from students as well as teaching them. In fact, in the early days of Birkbeck, this was exactly how things worked! Students were an instrumental part of deciding what the curriculum looked like.
And these are just some of the many issues at stake in this campaign. It’s also important for us to realise that these four issues are related to each other in ways that are both utterly simple and incredibly complex, and to act accordingly.
These are the foundations of a ten-year, collaborative, student-led campaign that is just getting underway. We believe that if we work together, we can win real changes to education, celebrating the little victories on our way to a wholesale transformation of the higher education system in the UK.
How can students and staff get involved?
Students:
• Vote in your student union elections! Our election nominations have just closed and soon you’ll be able to vote for next year’s officer team.
• Consider running for a student council position next Autumn or for an officer role next March. This is a brilliant way to get involved with campaigning and to influence the direction of the Union for years to come!
• Attend and bring motions to Student Council. While only elected members can vote, any students can join a council meeting, ask questions, make suggestions and bring motions to the table.
• Become a course rep.
• Attend the Students’ Union AGM. This is a perfect opportunity to fund out more about our work and to hold us to account!
• Keep an eye on our website and socials for more information and opportunities to get involved…
Staff:
• Listen to course reps.
• Talk to your students – what do they want to learn about? How can you adapt your classes/programmes to better reflect student interests? Find or create ways to share best practice with colleagues who are already doing this!
• Decolonise your curriculum. Here’s an inclusive reading list from Birkbeck Library to get you started: https://bbk.libguides.com/c.php?g=689237&p=4939965.
• Invite guest speakers from diverse, marginalised backgrounds. This uplifts their voices and gives your students the opportunity to learn about a wide range of perspectives direct from the source!
• Ask your department questions about accessibility, student voice, curriculum design, etc. Find out what they’re already doing, encourage development of good practices and make suggestions for improvement!
• Get in touch with Student Union reps to learn more about how we can work together. You can find out more about the campaign for a new vision for education here: https://www.nus.org.uk/campaign-hub/new-vision-for-education
