Tuesday 18-02-2025 - 09:05

At Undeb Bangor, we exist to represent you, but are we structured in the best way to do that?

To ensure we continue to serve students effectively, we are launching a Democracy Review. This will take a close look at how we make decisions, run elections, and campaign on the issues that matter to students. It will also examine whether the roles of our Sabbatical Officers still reflect the needs of students today.

This is the first full review of our officer structure in over 12 years, and we want to make sure our Students' Union is fit for purpose—both now and in the future.

What Will the Review Focus On?

The Democracy Review will explore:

✅ Sabbatical Officer Roles – Are the current roles still relevant? Do they effectively represent students?
✅ Decision-Making Structures – How does the Union make key decisions, and does this process work for students today?
✅ Campaigning and Activism – Are we structured in a way that allows students to drive change on the issues that matter most?

By reviewing these areas, we aim to create a more effective and responsive Students' Union that reflects the way students engage with their Union in 2025 and beyond.

Strengthening the UMCB - Welsh Language President Role

A key part of this review will be looking at the Welsh Language President role and UMCB Governance and how we strengthen the relationship between UMCB and Undeb Bangor.

UMCB became part of the Students’ Union in 2018, but this partnership has not been formally reviewed since then. It’s important that Welsh-speaking students feel fully represented within the Union and that the UMCB/Welsh Language President has the support and governance structure needed to advocate for students effectively.

Through this review, we will consider how this role can evolve to ensure Welsh language and culture remain at the heart of student representation at Bangor.

Why Now?

Students’ needs and expectations are constantly evolving, and we want to ensure that Undeb Bangor continues to be student-led, effective, and future-proofed.

This review will help determine:
🔹 Whether our officer roles are structured correctly to meet the challenges of the coming years.
🔹 If our decision-making processes enable students to influence the Union effectively.
🔹 How we can strengthen Welsh language representation and build a more cohesive relationship with UMCB.

The findings will help us shape the future of the Union, ensuring we remain a strong, democratic, and student-focused organisation.

What Happens Next?

The review is being conducted with support from an independent external consultant, who has experience working with Students' Unions on similar projects and understands Undeb Bangor and our local context.

The results of the review will be shared later this year, with any changes expected to take effect from the 2026/27 academic year.

How to Have Your Say?

If you want to have your say on our democracy review, then please make sure you fill in this survey.

This is a vital step in ensuring Undeb Bangor continues to be a strong voice for students—now and for the future.