What are the Big Elections? And what's this about a referendum?
These elections are when UWS students choose who their student presidents, school officers, and PGR reps will be for academic year 2025/2026
Students nominate themselves for the position they are interested in, and then all UWS students can vote for their preferred candidates.
The winners will hold these roles for a year - and the president roles are full time and paid so it's really important that you choose the candidates who are best able to represent you.
This year, during elections, we are also asking an important referendum question because we're considering changing the paid roles held by students at UWS to include more students and part time roles, so that those who cannot take a break from their studies also have the opportunity to lead our student democracy. Read more about the proposed changes here.
Find out more below or email elections@uwsunion.org.uk with any specific questions you have!
Big Elections 2025 Timetable
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Session
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What is it?
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Date/Time
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Nominations Open
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You can put your name forwards for election and start your journey!
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Monday 10th February
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Online Drop in Question and Answer Sessions
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Provide you with an opportunity to ask any questions they have about standing for elections. This will be held on Microsoft Teams
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Friday 7th February 11.00 – 12.00
Tuesday 11th February 12.00 – 13:00
Wednesday 12th February – 15:30 – 16:30
Wednesday 9th February 13:00 – 14:00
Thursday 20th February 11:00 – 12:
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Nominations Close
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Deadline for close of nominations for all positions.
All candidates will receive further information and instructions after this date.
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21st February 4pm
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Referendum Info Session
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Information for Yes/No Campaigns for the referendum.
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Tuesday 4th March 15:00 – 16:00
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Candidate Briefing and FAQ MANDATORY
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You must attend this session to have your candidacy approved. This will provide you with an overview of the elections rules and support available to you.
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Wednesday 5th March 11 – 12.30
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Elections Campaigning Workshops
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How to run a campaign: designing materials, reaching voters, using social media and more! This will be held on Mircrosoft Teams.
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Thursday 6th March 13:00 – 14:30
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Manifesto Feedback
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These are 15 minute sessions to provide feedback on your manifestos. Manifestos must be submitted at least 48 hours prior to your booked session. You can also request feedback via. email. E-mail david.devlin@uws.ac.uk to book your session.
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Bookable direct with David Devlin
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Manifesto Deadline
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Upload your manifesto, photo, and any other paperwork for your role by this time or your candidacy will be withdrawn.
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Monday 24th March 9am.
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Video Editing Deadline
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Candidates standing for Student President/VP positions are provided with professional video editing support. Video content must be sent to the video editor no later than the deadline or your video will not be produced in time for voting week.
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TBC
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Voting Opens
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All students are able to vote!
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Tuesday 25th March 9am
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Drop in Voting Week Support Sessions
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Provides candidates with a space to talk about how their campaigns are going and support each other. Links will be send to candidates directly.
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Tuesday 25th March 15.30 – 16.30
Wednesday 26th March 15:30 – 16:30
Thursday 27th March 10:00 – 11:00
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Voting Closes
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Voting is closed! Sit back, relax, and wait for the results night.
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Thursday 27th March 4pm
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Big Elections Results Party
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The results for all positions will be announced at Your Union, UWS Paisley Campus
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Friday 28th March 5pm
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Student President Roles
Student Presidents are the full time student leadership team of the Students' Union. There is one Student President, and three Student Vice Presidents, each with a different area of work.
Student Presidents lead the students’ union after being elected by UWS students, and their main job is to represent students. They work to deliver their election promises and sit on the University Court and Senate – the highest decision making bodies of the university. They are the people who bring the student voice right to the University management.
They are called "sabbatical" officers because they pause their studies for a year or take up the role as they graduate. You cannot continue to study while serving as a Student President - you must talk to your programme leader about deferring your studies for a year.
Student Presidents are paid £24,345 a year and will begin their role on the 23rd June 2025.
There are three* Student President positions so there's a role to suit you and whatever you care about most!
Many UWS meetings are held in person on Scottish campuses so successfully elected Student Presidents must already live in, or move to live in Scotland.
You can read more detail about each of the presidents roles and how each one fits within the union in the executive committee bylaw for the Students' Union.
The main role of all Student Presidents is to advocate for and improve the university experience for students.
FAQs
What do Student Presidents do?
- Identify the issues students experience by listening to students across the university be speaking with them in person or online.
- Work out what needs to be done to improve the lives of students.
- Attend meetings with university managers and join committees and groups across the university to express the views of students.
- Work within these groups so that systems, processes, services, and more can be improved for students.
- Lead projects to improve the lives of students.
- Become a part of the wider student movement, working together with officers and staff from across Scotland and the UK.
- Become a member of the Students’ Union Board of Trustees.
- Work to achieve their manifesto that students voted for.
Would the role suit me?
A Student President role might suit you if:
- You have been at UWS a while and have a good idea of what UWS students need.
- You have already worked with the Students' Union as a student rep, society member, volunteer, or other similar role.
- You are passionate about improving UWS for all students.
- You are graduating in summer 2024 or are happy to take a years break from your studies to fulfil this role.
- You are always up for a challenge!
However, each Student President has a different area of work to focus on so the focus of the day-to-day work will vary for each role!
Role descriptions
President
If you are looking to develop and use your leadership skills, like to have an overview of everything that is happening, and are not afraid of responsibility then this could be the perfect position for you!
The president is the leader of the Students’ Union – this means that they lead the Sabbatical Team, the student reps, and the Union. The president sits on the highest university committees and meets regularly with the senior management.
- The president leads the Students’ Union, and the team of Student Vice Presidents.
- The president, alongside the board of trustees, is responsible for the actions of the students’ union.
- The president represents all student at UWS through attending meetings such as the University Court and Senate, and working in partnership with students, staff, at UWS and the wider student movement locally and nationally.
- The president works strategically, building relationships across UWS and beyond.
- The president is the spokesperson of the Students’ Union and students at UWS.
VP Education
If you are passionate about learning and teaching, and think that the educational experience is central to your university experience, you could be the next VP Education!
The VP Education is concerned with the learning experience of students! This means they work on everything learning and teaching. This includes the resources students have to learn, how they learn and are taught, assessment and feedback, and the guidance and support they receive along the way.
- The VP Education works to improve the learning experience at UWS.
- They work particularly closely with student reps, focussing on improving learning and teaching!
- The VP education works to improve Learning and Teaching, and their concerns may include learning resources, curriculum, and teaching methods.
- The VP Education may be involved in the running of learning and teaching conferences at UWS
- The VP Education can work to empower students to enhance their learning and teaching experience.
VP Welfare and Wellbeing
If you know university can be a tough time for students and want to help ensure students are cared for, why not apply to be the next Welfare and Wellbeing?
The VP Welfare and Wellbeing cares about student wellbeing and mental health. This includes issues with student poverty and housing, as well as improving support for student mental health. These are key issues facing students so it’s important to keep up to date with the latest thinking and research on mental health in universities within this role.
- The VP Welfare and Wellbeing works to improve student welfare and wellbeing at UWS.
- This includes helping to create a better environment for student mental health
- The VP Welfare and Wellbeing works to eliminate financial hardship, homelessness and hunger amongst the student body.
- VP Welfare and Wellbeing works to develop the inclusivity of the Students’ Union and UWS
- VP Welfare and Wellbeing works to ensure that students have good access to the support they need at UWS.
Volunteer Roles
School Officers
There are two school officers per school at UWS, and this is a role you can complete during your studies to gain experience and skills, and an insight into how the university works.
School Officers represent all students within one of the four schools at UWS.
The four schools are:
- Business and Creative Industries
- Computing, Engineering, and Physical Sciences
- Education and Social Science
- Health and Life Sciences
- School Officers work to improve the lives of students who study within their school
- School Officers gather information from divisional reps
- School Officers attend school board meetings and share feedback and student perspective on matters discussed there
- School Officers feedback school board decisions to divisional reps.
- School Officers work together with staff in the school to improve the student experience.?
Post-Graduate Research Roles
What are they?
There are three committees at UWS with spaces specifically for PGR students. These roles are all voluntary roles which can be completed alongside your studies.
On all of these groups, the PGR Representative should:
- Provide a research student perspective on the issues being debated by the university.
- Read committee papers
- Discuss and debate changes that are proposed at UWS
- Talk to fellow PGR students to find out what they think and keep them informed.
- Be a student at UWS until at least Summer 2025
PGR Senate Representative
The PGR Senate Representative will be the PGR voice on the Senate. The Senate is responsible for overall planning, co-ordination, development and supervision of the academic work of the whole University and the elected Full Time Sabbatical officers sit on Senate too. Senate meets 4x a year.
The representatives will be in post for the academic year 2024-2025 so this role is not suitable for anyone who will finish their studies on or before August 2024.
- The representative will provide a research student perspective on the issues being debated by the university.
- Read committee papers
- Discuss and debate changes that are proposed at UWS
- Talk to fellow PGR students to find out what they think and keep them informed.
Doctoral College Board Student Representatives
There are two places for Doctoral Students on the Doctoral College Board. The Doctoral College is responsible for addressing issues related to the doctoral student experience including registration, research studies, progression, and assessment of doctoral students. They also review and monitor the conditions of doctoral candidates.
The representatives will be in post for the academic year 2024-2025 so this role is not suitable for anyone who will finish their studies on or before August 2024.
- The representative will provide a research student perspective on the issues being debated by the university.
- Read committee papers
- Discuss and debate changes that are proposed at UWS
- Talk to fellow PGR students to find out what they think and keep them informed.
Research and Innovation Committee Representatives
There are two places for doctoral students on the Research and Innovation Committee (previously REAC). This committee is responsible for the development of research and enterprise at UWS, and makes recommendations to Senate - one of the highest committees in the University.
The representatives will be in post for the academic year 2024-2025 so this role is not suitable for anyone who will finish their studies on or before August 2024.
- The representative will provide a research student perspective on the issues being debated by the university.
- Read committee papers
- Discuss and debate changes that are proposed at UWS
- Talk to fellow PGR students to find out what they think and keep them informed.
Elections Principles and Rules
A full list of elections principles and rules can be found on our candidates information page.
If you feel that a candidate has broken the rules you can submit a complaint by e-mailing David.Devlin@uws.org.uk stating which rule you think has been broken, and providing any evidence to support this.
Election FAQs
We'll be updating these as the election goes on and we get more questions!
Why should I stand for election?
Any of these positions are an excellent opportunity to:
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Make a Difference – improve UWS for your fellow students by making sure that students are heard!
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Develop Skills – you’ll get an opportunity to attend meetings at a very high level, work in partnership with university staff, and develop your skills for the workplace.
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Get training and support – Whatever role you stand for your Students’ Union will support you to campaign, and if you’re elected your Students’ Union is here to support you in your role.
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Get Paid - if you are successfully elected as a Sabbatical Officer you'll be in a paid role for a year!
Why should I care about the Elections?
We believe that students should be at the heart of everything that happens at UWS – Elections make sure that the student representatives truly represent the views of students, and that the student voice is heard at every level of the university.
Why are there no NUS Conference Roles or Union Chair this time round? We now elect both of these types of roles at different times of the year - NUS Conference Delegates will be elected in September, alongside Course and Divisional Rep Roles. The Union's bylaws have now changed to enable to Union Chair to be elected from membership of Student Council.
How do I nominate myself?
When elections are open you can simply log in to this election page and choose which position to nominate yourself for. Make sure you upload a manifesto to let students know what you stand for and why they should vote for you!
I'm an international student, can I stand for a Student President Position?
Yes you can! If you have any specific questions around visas please contact international student support.
Still have questions? Email elections@uwsunion.org.uk, for more information!
Questions or Complaints
If you have any questions about the election, please contact us by emailing david.devlin@uws.ac.uk. All enquiries are kept in the strictest confidence.
If you would like to make a complaint about the election please download and complete the Elections Complaint Form before sending it to David.
Voting
You will need to log into the website, using your standard log in, to Vote.
If your password is not working - you need to have this reset by ITDS.
Big Election FAQs
Why should I stand for election?
Any of these positions are an excellent opportunity to:
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Make a difference – improve UWS for your fellow students by making sure that students are heard!
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Develop skills – you’ll get an opportunity to attend meetings, work in partnership with university staff, and develop your skills for the workplace.
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Get training and support – Whatever role you stand for your Students’ Union will support you to campaign, and if you’re elected your Students’ Union is here to support you in your role.
Why should I care about the Elections?
We believe that students should be at the heart of everything that happens at UWS – Elections make sure that the student representatives truly represent the views of students, and that the student voice is heard at every level of the university.
How do I nominate myself?
The process for nominating yourself is coming soon, but you won't be able to put yourself forwards until January 2024.
In the past we have had four student presidents. As a response to the current funding challenges in Higher Education and at UWS, and to ensure that we can fully fund the proposed structures and ensure strong staff support for elected students, the Board of Trustees have made the difficult decision to run for one single academic year without a VP Student Development. In the last few years the SU has often had just three Officers working at any given time for various reasons, and the VPSD role was identified as the one which rather than serving a political, representational purpose, existed to support Society Leaders and promote extra-curricular activities to Students. To ensure this work is not lost, it will be taken on by Union Staff.