Aberdeen University Students' Association
Encyclopedia
Aberdeen University Students' Association (often referred to as AUSA) is the students' association of the University of Aberdeen
, an ancient university
in the city of Aberdeen
in north east Scotland
. It organises recreational activities; provides welfare and employment services for students; promotes equality and diversity of students; advancement of education; and provide facilities and support for student societies.
(SRC). While this remains the official name of the body created by the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889
, the Students' Association has opted to generally use the term Students' Association Council to describe it.
This follows significant structural changes to the Students' Association which began in the late 1990s. Previously, within AUSA there were four bodies with distinct identities and management: the SRC (based at Luthuli House, located next to King's College, and supporting activities including educational support, welfare, political campaigning, and societies); the Students' Union (in the form of a prize-winning social venue at Broad Street in the city centre, including two bars, two night clubs, games facilities, shops, and offices); the Athletics Association (based at the Butchart Recreation Centre, Old Aberdeen); and Debater (somewhat analogous to a debating society, and based with the SRC in Luthuli House).
The Aberdeen Students' Charities Campaign – which also included the Robert Gordon University
, Northern College (subsequently merged into Aberdeen University), and Aberdeen College
– was also based in the SRC building at Luthuli House. Periodically the National Union of Students Scotland
North of Scotland Area ("NUSNOS") office was also housed at the SRC building.
(and around the corner from the old SRC venue of Luthuli House). The AUSA Sports Union and the President for Sport, formerly based at Butchart, are now based in the Aberdeen Sports Village.
Due to financial pressures, AUSA's chief students' union building (located on Broad Street near Marischal College
in the city centre) was forced to close in early 2004. The Union Bar, a far smaller, single bar without nightclub facilities, was subsequently opened in nearby Littlejohn Street. This bar was itself forced to close due to financial pressures in November 2008 leaving the University without any Union nightlife facility.
, the Gaudie, is affiliated with the AUSA. Published fortnightly during the academic terms, it is recognised as one of the oldest student newspapers in Scotland.
The SRC introduced one of the first ever student association websites in 1994.
Aberdeen Student Radio is also affiliated with AUSA. The internet-based broadcaster is Aberdeen's first student radio station in ten years. Previously, short-term Restricted Service Licenses had been granted to the University's first student radio station, Slick FM, in the mid-1990s; this had enabled broadcasts to be made to the whole city over FM radio, but only for a few weeks each year.
positions for which any student may stand. An annual election takes place in April for the following year's committee. There are also a number of non-sabbatical positions, which are again students elected on a yearly basis, by a series of election campaigns.
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, an ancient university
Ancient university
Ancient university is a term used to describe seven medieval and renaissance universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland that exist today. Six of those universities are currently located in the United Kingdom and one in the Republic of Ireland...
in the city of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
in north east Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It organises recreational activities; provides welfare and employment services for students; promotes equality and diversity of students; advancement of education; and provide facilities and support for student societies.
Services
AUSA organises its services over a number of sites alongside the co-ordination of fifty-eight sports clubs or ninety nine teams run by the AUSA Sports Union and one hundred and twenty affiliated student societies run by the AUSA Societies Union. It also runs events such as Freshers' Week, the Graduation ball, the annual Sports Blues Ball, Superteams, the largest university sports event in Scotland and the annual Torcher Parade, the largest student torch-lit parade in Europe. This parade is just one part of the annual Aberdeen Students' Charities Campaign. This campaign itself grew out of the Student Show, an annual theatrical and musical enterprise that began in Aberdeen in 1921 with the aim of raising money for charitable causes.Structure and history
Representation is carried on, in common with the other ancient universities in Scotland, by a Students' Representative CouncilStudents' Representative Council
A Students' Representative Council represents student interests in the government of a university, school or other educational institution. Generally the SRC forms part of a broader Students' Association which may include other functions such as societies, entertainments and sports Universities...
(SRC). While this remains the official name of the body created by the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889
Ancient university governance in Scotland
The ancient university governance structure in Scotland is the organisational system imposed by the Universities Acts, a series of Acts of Parliament enacted between 1858 and 1966. The Acts applied to what were termed the 'older universities': the University of St Andrews, the University of...
, the Students' Association has opted to generally use the term Students' Association Council to describe it.
This follows significant structural changes to the Students' Association which began in the late 1990s. Previously, within AUSA there were four bodies with distinct identities and management: the SRC (based at Luthuli House, located next to King's College, and supporting activities including educational support, welfare, political campaigning, and societies); the Students' Union (in the form of a prize-winning social venue at Broad Street in the city centre, including two bars, two night clubs, games facilities, shops, and offices); the Athletics Association (based at the Butchart Recreation Centre, Old Aberdeen); and Debater (somewhat analogous to a debating society, and based with the SRC in Luthuli House).
The Aberdeen Students' Charities Campaign – which also included the Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University is located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Building on over 250 years involvement in education, it was granted university status in 1992. Robert Gordon University currently has approximately 16,407 students at its two campuses at Garthdee and the City Centre, studying on over 145...
, Northern College (subsequently merged into Aberdeen University), and Aberdeen College
Aberdeen College
Aberdeen College is the largest further education college in Scotland. It was formed from the amalgamation of the former Aberdeen Technical College, Aberdeen College of Commerce and Clinterty Agricultural College....
– was also based in the SRC building at Luthuli House. Periodically the National Union of Students Scotland
National Union of Students Scotland
The National Union of Students Scotland is an autonomous body within the National Union of Students. It is the national representative body of 530,000 students studying in further and higher education in Scotland and was formed following the merger of NUS in Scotland with the Scottish Union of...
North of Scotland Area ("NUSNOS") office was also housed at the SRC building.
Current structure
To replace the former independent bodies, newly formed committees and structures with new names were created. The bodies all form part of the Students' Association Council.Sites
The AUSA is primarily based at the Butchart Centre, the former sports centre and now a more general student space located in the Old Aberdeen "campus" area near King's CollegeKing's College, Aberdeen
King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen...
(and around the corner from the old SRC venue of Luthuli House). The AUSA Sports Union and the President for Sport, formerly based at Butchart, are now based in the Aberdeen Sports Village.
Due to financial pressures, AUSA's chief students' union building (located on Broad Street near Marischal College
Marischal College
Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
in the city centre) was forced to close in early 2004. The Union Bar, a far smaller, single bar without nightclub facilities, was subsequently opened in nearby Littlejohn Street. This bar was itself forced to close due to financial pressures in November 2008 leaving the University without any Union nightlife facility.
Media
The University's student newspaperStudent newspaper
A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....
, the Gaudie, is affiliated with the AUSA. Published fortnightly during the academic terms, it is recognised as one of the oldest student newspapers in Scotland.
The SRC introduced one of the first ever student association websites in 1994.
Aberdeen Student Radio is also affiliated with AUSA. The internet-based broadcaster is Aberdeen's first student radio station in ten years. Previously, short-term Restricted Service Licenses had been granted to the University's first student radio station, Slick FM, in the mid-1990s; this had enabled broadcasts to be made to the whole city over FM radio, but only for a few weeks each year.
The Executive Committee
The executive positions within AUSA are one-year sabbaticalSabbatical officer
A sabbatical officer is a full-time officer elected by the members of a students' union , commonly at a higher education establishment such as a university...
positions for which any student may stand. An annual election takes place in April for the following year's committee. There are also a number of non-sabbatical positions, which are again students elected on a yearly basis, by a series of election campaigns.