Wonkhe SUs is a subscription service for students’ unions designed to keep SU officers and staff in the loop.
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.
Our range of services are aimed at saving time and improving the effectiveness of student representation, campaigning and policy work.
Minimum twice weekly policy briefings and beginner’s guides on key issues in higher education, plus access to our archive of over 500 briefings on key issues and research findings on students and SUs – as well as access to our quarterly policy update sent to subscribing universities.
A thirty hour plus online summer programme of sessions, and entitlement to a day’s in-house training for officers and/or staff on policy analysis, influencing, policy development and problem solving.
As well as access to the Wonkhe Daily email briefing, you receive a bespoke weekly email for SUs featuring the latest developments, news coverage, analysis and opportunities for SUs – as well as news from around the network.
Access to our WhatsApp news and policy alerts and group chat.
Weekly interactive sessions on issues SUs will be discussing with institutions as well as an invitation to a monthly Wonkhe Live event.
Team Wonkhe on call, offering advice and support with your representation and policy issues and regular catch ups.
Wonkhe hosts events all year round – online and offline – and Wonkhe SUs subscribers receive discounts to each, including our festival of higher education: Wonkfest.
Every year there’s exclusive projects, roundtables and events to get involved in – from research projects into the student experience to the annual study tour to learn about how other countries do student representation (extra cost).
What is Wonkhe SUs?
A subscription service for students’ unions that is designed to save officers and staff time, and improve the effectiveness of student representation, campaigning and policy work.
We do this through a mixture of expert briefings, emails, alerts, online briefings, training and special projects.
Representing students effectively is tough when policy is complex, confusing and constantly changing. We know that officers and staff that understand the environment are more effective, and get more done. We help with that.
We think the challenges on students and students’ unions are increasing, and require rapid, creative thinking. We provide and facilitate that too.
Why should you subscribe?
At Wonkhe we love students’ unions. Many of us began our careers in students’ unions. We think the UK students’ union system is unrivalled around the world and makes UK higher education better.
We see work with students’ unions as an investment in our mission to improve higher education policymaking, provide a platform unheard and diverse voices, and an opportunity to support the sector’s wider talent pipeline.
We’re not a representative body – we don’t seek to speak on behalf of students or students’ unions. That’s your job, along with your National Union. We’re also not a campaigning body – you’ll never see a national demonstration or a lobby of parliament.
We’re not democratic and we’re non-partisan. That doesn’t mean you won’t hear professional opinions from the team and doesn’t mean we won’t involve SUs and students in our work – but we won’t take a policy position or have an elected committee.
How do you keep us up-to-date?
As well as strict higher education policy, we have an interest in and expertise in wider areas that apply to HE – like equality and diversity, governance and charity law, and freedom of speech.
We know you are busy – so we’ll do the reading so you don’t have to, distilling the essentials and helping you lead and deliver for your students in the process.
When you are as familiar with the issues as your university’s senior team, you’re more effective.
We’re up to date – in the sector we’re relied upon for our quality and timely analysis so we like to stay nimble and be responsive. We keep our operation lean, our partnerships wide and don’t get bogged down by bureaucracy or layers of complexity.
What does a Wonkhe SUs subscription cost?
£4,100 + £410 VAT
A discounted rate is available for SUs st Guild HE providers – drop us an email
Wait, there’s more?
As well as our subscription, we will also:
Run bespoke events and seminars aimed specifically at students’ union officers and staff.
Provide access to bespoke opt-in projects on key contemporary policy issues raised in manifestos and strategies.
Organise collective projects to offer student research that has an impact locally and nationally.
Offer specific services, both in house and with leading partners, to develop your policy and representation work and thinking.
Run practitioner forums for key management and policy staff with access to key sector bodies.
Contribute the latest thinking to student movement and HE events.
We’ll also help you respond to consultations, understand the local implications or national issues, and identify opportunities to apply for funding.