Our Union Awards take place on an annual basis and have now reached their eleventh outing. This year’s Union Awards is taking place on Wednesday 15th May and they are a chance for us to formally recognise the achievements of our active members and staff who have inspired us all throughout the course of the academic year and beyond.
Nominations for these awards are now open and this is your opportunity to recognise those who have made an incredibly positive contribution to the student experience during the 2019/20 academic year or beyond.
In order to make the shortlist, nominees for these awards must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Through their work have had a demonstrable impact on the student experience of their peers.
- Have enhanced the reputation of the Students’ Union through their commitment, dedication and professionalism.
- Enabled the Students’ Union to achieve or exceed one of more of its strategic objectives.
- Demonstrated innovation in extending the range of opportunities and services available through the Students’ Union.
- Created positive change within the Students’ Union, University or local community.
Shortlisting for all of the categories awarded at the event is conducted by the Union Awards Panel, which is made up of:
Holly Wheeler, Student Trustee
Ruth Gunstone, External Trustee
Tao Warburton, President, Bucks Students’ Union
Christina Demetriou, Vice President Student Involvement, Bucks Students’ Union
Brooke Pilbeam, Vice President Education and Welfare Elect, Bucks Students’ Union
Mark Sweeney, Student Experience Manager, Bucks Students’ Union
Tristan Tipping, Chief Executive Officer, Bucks Students’ Union
Matthew Kitching, Membership Services Manager, Bucks Students’ Union
In cases where a member of the judging panel is shortlisted for an award, the judge will be asked to leave the room so all candidates can be considered fairly.
The categories and the shortlist for the year’s Union Awards can be found below:
Society Committee Member of the Year
RAG Charity Fundraiser of the Year
Sport for Fun Ambassador of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Media Contributor of the Year
Society of the Year
Professional Service Employee Partner of the Year
Academic Staff Partner of the Year
Campaigner of the Year
Student Rep of the Year
Membership Services Student Staff Member of the Year
Commercial Services Student Staff Member of the Year
Student Leadership Award
Union Fellowship
Union Fellowship is an award which the Sabbatical Officers of the Students’ Union shall bestow on an annual basis, to a member of the student or graduate community of Buckinghamshire New University. The recipient must have displayed an outstanding degree of commitment, initiative and positive impact over a minimum of three years, during their life at the University. This award is the pinnacle of our recognition of student or alumni contribution.
There will be a maximum of one winner per academic year unless there are exceptional circumstances, their name shall be displayed on honours boards within the Students’ Union venue.
Last year’s winner was Megan Staples and Tom Mepham
Honorary Life Membership
Honorary Life membership will be bestowed to those individuals who have dedicated a minimum of five years exceptional contribution, or service, to the furtherance of our Students’ Union. The names of Honorary Life members will be displayed on honours boards within the Students’ Union venue.
It is not expected that these awards will simply be given annually but rather when candidates fill the necessary requirements. Recipients need not have studied at Buckinghamshire New University.
Last year’s recipients of Honorary Life Membership were Greg Pike and Ian Hunter. We also have the Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards which form part of our Union Awards.
For the Excellence in Learning and Teaching Awards we have three different categories and these are as follows:
Excellence and Innovation in Student Learning Support
Demonstrating Excellence in Academic Leadership
Excellence and Innovation in Learning and Teaching Practice
In order to be nominated in these awards, individuals must meet the following criteria
1. Enhancing the student learning experience. For example: by arousing curiosity to stimulate and inspire learning, organising and presenting resources cogently and imaginatively, recognising and supporting diversity of student learning needs, drawing on relevant research, scholarship and professional practice and engaging with and contributing to established literature or building your own evidence base for future publication.
2. Raising the profile of excellence and support for student learning within the University and beyond if appropriate. For example: by contributing to the development and leadership of colleagues in promoting student learning contribution to departmental/ faculty/ University/ national initiatives to facilitate student learning, and/ or support towards meaningful and positive change with respect to pedagogic practice, policy and/ or procedure.
3. Developing excellence - the nominees’ commitment to his / her ongoing professional development with regard to teaching and learning and/ or learning support. For example evidence of the ongoing review and enhancement of individual practice, engagement in scholarly activity and professional development activities, the review and enhancement of individual practice and contribution to improvements in the student learning, teaching and assessment experience.