Numbers of university applicants rise but we mustn't be complacent says NUS President

The number of students applying to university has increased this year according to figures released by UCAS. While NUS welcomes the news that more people are becoming involved in education, we are also concerned that the story behind the statistics is highlighted.

NUS President Wes Streeting said “We welcome the overall rise in applications to universities and colleges. It is a positive sign that more people are aspiring to enter higher education.

“However, it must be remembered that these figures include nursing and midwifery statistics for the first time. As many of these applicants traditionally come from lower socio-economic backgrounds, it is impossible to judge the government’s performance on its widening participation agenda.

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Watch NUS’ President on Parliament TV

NUS National President Wes Streeting appeared before the House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee today (Wednesday 9 July) to discuss, among other things, the importance of higher education for the workforce.

You can a recording of the meeting , on the Parliament TV website.

Wes’ appearance comes the day after NUS responded to the Department for Innovations, Universities and Skills’ (DIUS) 'Higher Education at Work, High Skills: High Value consultation which you can download now.

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Wes' comments were also picked up by the guardian.

New NEC takes office

NUS' elected body, the NEC, welcomes in a new cohort of officers (1 July 2008). The fresh faces, elected during NUS' Conference season, and re-elected officers will be spending the next four days at an induction and training session in Coventry.

Details of who holds which position and the aims they have for their Zone/Campaign can be found in the about us section. A podcast from NUS' new President Wes Streeting will be online shortly.

'Campaigner–in–chief' Wes Streeting lays out his vision for NUS

NUS' new President Wes Streeting, who took over the office from Gemma Tumelty on 1 July 2008, has recorded the first in a series of podcasts for students.

Talking about his role as president, Wes said: "My main, overarching priority is to make NUS a more representative and relevant campaigning organisation for the seven million students we represent in both further and higher education. I was elected to be NUS' 'campaigner–in–chief' so over the coming year we'll be rolling out a series of campaigns that I hope students, from both further education and higher education, will see as being relevant to their interests and will want to get involved in."

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Good advice comes straight from horsesmouth.co.uk

NUS is working with horsesmouth, an innovative online mentoring site.

You’ll be able to login to www.horsesmouth.co.uk to give and receive confidential advice, communicating with people all around the UK. Senior NUS staff have enlisted as mentors, and will eventually be joined by other NUS members.

For more details visit www.horsesmouth.co.uk or, to sign up to wear the NUS badge while using horsesmouth, register through the NUS page.