Working with SUs to develop understanding of key policy and knowledge areas is a core function of our work at Wonkhe SUs – because when SUs know what’s going on, and can understand what’s going on, they can influence what’s going on – in the student interest.
We’re committed to delivering useful, helpful and essential knowledge briefing and policy content, so that SUs can focus resources on local issues.
In-house training – book now
We are now scheduling full day in-house, in-person training into the diary for subscriber SUs. You’ll ideally let us know your ideal dates by Friday May 8th.
Here’s our menu for 2026 – please get in touch now, ideally with a few options for dates so we can schedule our summer touring appropriately. Note we’ll be updating the menu soon but for now let us know the sorts of things you’d like covered.
If your SU has only 1, 2 or 3 sabbatical officers, we’ll be in touch to suggest another SU to pair up with for the day – we think this works better for everyone involved.
SU Essentials 2026
Friday 19 June 2026 – all day online. A one day online event that covers lots of the things that new officers need to know – essentials on the way the sector works, charity law and how to be a successful officer. Register here.
How does student representation work? In this introductory session we’ll look at some of the major theories and models surrounding student representation, advocacy and influence and consider how they might be used by officers and SUs to improve things for students. We’ll also provide an overview of Wonkhe and Wonkhe SUs – who we are, what we do, what we think and how we might help with representing students effectively. Slides and recording to follow.
How the higher education sector works: Higher education in the UK has a “design”, and it’s crucial that officers (and the staff that support them) understand the system in order to influence it. This session gives an overview of how higher education is run, regulated, monitored, influenced and regarded. Slides and recording to follow.
Students’ unions and the law: This session will give new officers (and staff) a grounding in the main legal frameworks that surround students’ unions and will examine grey areas and the regulation that enforces (or, more often, doesn’t enforce) those frameworks. Slides and recording to follow.
What just happened? The last twelve months in context. Over the past year there have been all sorts of things happening in HE that many new officers won’t have been conscious of. This session goes behind the scenes on everything from regulatory change to how the sector has handled major policy shifts – and considers the role of SUs in responding to and shaping those changes. Slides and recording to follow.
How to be an influential and effective SU officer: In the final session of the day we explore some of the models that surround SU officer influence and power, and reflect with some ex-officers on how to make the most of the summer and the year in general. Slides and recording to follow.
The Box Set
Online, on demand: available from 19 June 2026
Our flagship 30+ hour summer online briefing programme will be released as a complete box set on 19 June 2026, the same day as SU Essentials. The box set is crafted to provide the knowledge and context that will help officers hit the ground running with manifesto commitments and university committees. We’ll draw in experts from the SU, higher education and wider sectors and cover everything from generative AI in HE to quality assurance, from how parliament works to all that officers need to know about international and postgraduate students, student housing, student loneliness and belonging, SU governance, university finances, harassment and sexual misconduct, free speech, democracy, cost of living, part–time work, mental health, community organising and local advocacy.
SU Senate Summit
Thursday 10 September 2026, London. At this event for student officers and reps who will be members of their university’s Senate or Academic Board in the year ahead, we’ll look at all the big issues coming up for universities in academic strategy. There will be discussions on the HE policy landscape, transition into higher education, learning in (and for) the real world, quality and regulation, access and participation, complaints and more – as well as an opportunity for officers and reps to build their education network. Booking details to follow.
Essential reading
Every day over the summer we select a couple of Wonkhe blogs or explainers for officers to read – so that by the end of the summer they’re up to speed on all the key contemporary issues facing students, higher education and SUs.
We highlight these via WhatsApp – so we’d encourage early officer sign–up to the system. See links at the bottom of every Friday’s email.
Other summer dates to note
There are plenty of other dates to note, especially if your SU is a member of NUS:
Advance HE Student as Governor, London, 9th September
SU Digital 2026 – Students’ Union Development Week, running online from 11–15 May 2026.
NUS Lead and Change, 28–30 July 2026 (Birmingham).
Citizens UK Community Organising Residential for Students Unions, 4–5 August 2026.
NUS Membership Services Conference 2026, 12–13 August 2026 (Manchester).
