The Pound in Your Pocket campaign is focussing on the experience of students studying in England, who are eligible to receive support. For all other students, there are a number of other campaigns which you can be a part of. Remember, no matter what you decide to be a part of, you are able to make a difference in the world around you. Looking for inspiration? You can be the change!

International Overseas Students

If you are studying in England and from a country outside the European Union, the NUS International Students Campaign has launched the International Student Fees toolkit. This toolkit aims to help students campaign for fairer fees for international students.

Students studying in:

Northern Ireland – Defend EMA

NUS-USI believes that the EMA is a sound investment of public funds, ensuring that those students who are at the highest risk of ending up in the dole queue have the opportunity to reach their potential by staying in education.

The EMA provides much-needed cash for those students from the most deprived backgrounds to enable them to stay in school or college beyond the age of 16. EMA pays for travel, for lunch and for books and materials. It enables those students to work fewer hours in part-time jobs, allowing them to focus on their studies.

It is crucial that students have their say as EMA comes under review in Northern Ireland during 2012. The Defend EMA campaign will ensure the student voice is heard through conducting independent research, keeping students and the public up to date on political developments and coordinating actions to ensure that Assembly members are made fully aware of the importance of EMA and help them to make the right decisions during the review.

You can sign up to DefendEMA.org.uk and write to your MLA.

Scotland – Our Future Our Fight

The Scottish Government is proposing a cut of over 20% to colleges across Scotland over the next three years. This comes on top of a 10% cut last year which has already led to increased class sizes, reduced teaching hours, course closures and over 1,000 staff losing their jobs.

We are petitioning the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament to:

• protect the budget for college student support at 2011/12 levels;
• stop any cuts to college places;
• protect college teaching quality;
• and to protect local access – college campuses must stay open with a wide choice of courses.

This is Our Future and it is Our Fight. Sign the petition now at ourfutureourfight.org

Wales

With university and college mergers on the agenda in Wales, NUS Wales working with its members on how the future of education mightlook. Having recently saved the EMA and strengthened the role of student governors in FE, this momentum is a real opportunity to ensure that students in Wales can be a part of its future.

 For news and updates, go here and be a part of the conversation.