The University of South Wales Students' Union has successfully secured Quality Students' Union Part A verification from NUS Charity!
The University of South Wales Students' Union has successfully secured Quality Students' Union Part A verification from NUS Charity!
What is Quality Students' Union?
Quality Students' Union (QSU) is a framework that helps students' unions achieve their full potential. It helps collect and share good practice across the movement, turning it into useful advice, guidance and tools so unions can help their members be the best they can be.
QSU has two parts. Part A helps unions make sure they are compliant with their statutory obligations. Part B helps unions work to best practice, recognising where they are and showing how they can improve. Unions that complete the framework can gain accreditation, which verifies their performance and lets them use the Quality Students' Union branding. The framework is undertaken every three years, and NUS Charity revises it on the same cycle so that it stays up to date and reflects best practice across the student movement.
Meeting the criteria
Part A involved submitting detailed evidence across a wide range of areas, including strategy, financial sustainability, governance, health and safety, liberation and EDI, democracy, people, communications, participation, review and evaluation, and impact. USWSU met the required criteria in every one of them.
What does this mean for students?
Working towards full QSU status means:
- A students' union that is professional, respected, reliable and impactful, working for the benefit of students and the wider University community
- A culture of inclusion, learning and self-development, with staff supported to reach their full potential
- A union that contributes fully to student life and success through experiences, enrichment, quality enhancement and retention
- A visible and independent demonstration of our quality standards to prospective students, current students and our wider stakeholders
- Assurance, trust and confidence for the University in our quality, standards, governance and overall effectiveness
What's next?
This is a significant milestone and reflects the progress we have made collectively as an organisation in recent years.
The next step is Part B. Preparation will begin in the New Year, with the aim of progressing through the full accreditation process during Autumn 2027/Winter 2028.
For now, it's a moment to celebrate. Achieving Part A verification is a really positive endorsement of the organisation we are building together, and another important step forward for USWSU and the students we represent.
Well done to everyone involved!