External Campaigns and Projects
Voice Your Vote
The Edinburgh Council Elections were held last Thursday 3rd May. Labour came out the largest party with 20 seats, followed by the SNP with 18, the Conservatives 11, the Greens 6 and the Liberal Democrats 3. Labour don't have a clear majority though so negotiations are taking place just now about possible coalitions. You can find out who was elected in your area here.
The Edinburgh Student Forum put together a manifesto outlining what they want the city's councillors to deliver for them. You can read it here: www.voiceyourvote.co.uk
Fair Housing Campaign
EUSA launched its Fair Housing Campaign in February which aims to improve private renting for students. There is a simple check list for students when looking for a new flat and a housing charter which asks landlords and agencies to commit to a set of standards. So far four local agencies have signed up to the charter. Fine out more here.
Edinburgh students lobby University for vets bus
A EUSA campaign for free transport to take vet students to the Easter Bush campus has been successful. The Principal has promised to recommend to the University that some form of free transport provision for vet students be introduced. On 12 March over 500 Edinburgh University students signed a petition calling for the University to provide a free bus for vet students and staff. Students took the public bus from Easter Bush on Monday 12
th March and met with Dai Hounsell, Vice Principal Academic Enhancement, at the University’s Old College to present him with the petition.
Edinburgh students call for course work funding
Students at the University of Edinburgh on Thursday 15th March filled in jumbo sized receipts of what they have to pay for course materials to highlight the hidden costs of studying. One vet student had paid £1668 on course costs over a four year period and still had one year left to study. The receipts will be presented to the Principal to show the University how unfair the extra costs are and to call for course specific bursary support from the University.
Protecting colleges in Scotland
The Scottish Government has reversed the £11m proposed cut to colleges following pressure from students. It is putting back nearly £20m into college funding; £11.4m for bursaries to support vulnerable students, plus a further £8m. The NUS campaign, Our Future Our Fight, led to over 80,000 emails being sent to MSPs to stop the college cut. Students from across Scotland were involved in the campaign including students from EUSA who have been supporting their local Edinburgh colleges.
Find out more
Students against fees
On 23rd November 2011 in Edinburgh students marched against the rise in tuition fees for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland studying in Scotland. They also lobbied their local MSP and attended the Scottish Parliament Education Committee to pressurise MSPs to put a stop on the proposals going ahead.
The Committee aproved the proposals but watch out for action in the spring as the issue will come up again then with new legislation proposals.
"No matter where you are from, no matter where you study - NO to £9,000 fees".
Find out more about the march.
Previous Campaigns
Reclaim Your Voice
As a result of this campaign over 85% of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament have committed to no tuition fees in Scotland, protecting graduate numbers and improving student support.
Find out more about Reclaim Your Voice
Demo 2010
The National Student Demo in London against cuts to education was our first big campaign of 2010/11.
EUSA joined thousands of other students in the protest against the looming cuts to education.