It’s been another busy week in USI HQ, with the process of crossover now fully underway as our delegation returned this week from the 72nd Board Meeting of the European Students’ Union. The highlights include:

 

  • The President met with representative from the Consular Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss collaborations and how best to support students being safe while abroad. If you are travelling this summer download the TravelWise app, which has up to date travel information and consular advice for over 200 countries.

 

  • The President and the VP Campaigns presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on the Banded Hours Bill, and the impact “If and When” contracts have on students. See statement here.

 

  • On Tuesday, the VP Welfare met with the HSE and presented the evaluation report of the #SHAG17 campaign held in February. The evaluation is a process in a long-term partnership with the HSE in promoting sexual health at third-level

 

  • USI has been accepted as a partner in the Healthy Ireland framework and will be part of the new network initiative. This will be launched in Dublin Castle next Thursday.

 

  • The Vice President for Campaigns met with SIPTU to discuss workers’ rights, Early Education and began plans for the next academic year.

 

  • USI have are now in the finals for 3 awards at the Social Media Awards Ireland for: Best Non-Profit/Organisation Twitter account,  Best Business Twitter Campaign and Zero Budget Social Media Campaign. See the full list of nominations here.
  • The VP Academic Affairs and the National Student Engagement Coordinator have been preparing for the next phase of the National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP) roll-out. They have also been planning a study visit for Armenian students involved in the ESPAQ project, aimed at increasing the participation of students in quality assurance.

 

  • The VP Equality & Citizenship has been working with BelongTo and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to organise regional consultations for the LGBTI+ Youth Strategy, which will be the first of it’s kind in the world. IT Sligo Students’ Union hosted the Sligo consultation on Wednesday 10th May, and the next consultations are Dublin (Saturday 13th), Galway (Tuesday 16th), Waterford (Wednesday 17th) and Dundalk (Thursday 18th). If you would like to register for any of these events, please contact Síona on equality@usi.ie asap if you are LGBTI+ and are between 15-24.

 

  • The VP Equality has partnered with Amnesty International on a ‘sit out’ event organised for next Wednesday 17th of May, on the day of Ibrahim’s 23rd proposed trial date. Please contact equality@usi.ie for more info on how to take part.