Hundreds of students equipped with skills to lead at Activities Training Conference

Hundreds of student leaders were equipped with the skills to lead DSU's more than 160 student groups this week.

Derrick

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Hundreds of student leaders were equipped with the skills to lead De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU)’s more than 160 student groups this week.

Close to 300 De Montfort University (DMU) students, elected as committee members of our sports clubs and societies in our Elections in March, packed out the Activities Training Conference in Hugh Aston on Wednesday.

Running under the theme of ‘developing a more inclusive university experience’, students learned about the key skills they will need as leaders over the next 12 months, from gaining and maintaining the number of members in their group, to building inclusivity and teamwork and supporting one another.

Sessions were delivered by in-house experts at DSU as well as DMUsport and The Mandala Project.

Derrick Mensah, VP Student Activities at DSU, spoke in his keynote speech about the importance committee members play in making life at university an unforgettable experience.

“Everyone deserves a great university experience,” he said. “And the students sitting in this room are the key.

“You are the most engaged people on campus, and [new] students will remember the first conversation they have at university this September.

“Make it a good one.”

The room was packed for Derrick's opening keynote, focusing on developing a more inclusive student experience.

Stacey Elouise Sellers, incoming chair of the Cinema Society, said: “I’m looking forward to meeting with the new committee, all of our new members, and holding some great cinema trips and events to get everyone engaged and experience the cinema culture.”

Students were also joined by outgoing committee members from this academic year, who have already experienced being a student leader, and were on hand to deliver vital advice to their incoming counterparts.

Rochea Dyer, outgoing chair of Cheerleading, said: “Fight for your society! It should be something that is close to your heart, and you are leading it now.

“You’ve got to go the extra mile to make sure that you are the driving force behind your society.”

Meanwhile, Alex Serna, outgoing social secretary from the Music Society, explained: “Don’t be afraid to ask other people to take on some of the load if you’re finding it difficult.

“Use the skills of other people on your committee.”

Students at the Activities Training Conference also had the first look at our new Student Leaders’ HQ, which brings together all of the resources committee members need in one place for the first time ever.

A simpler, more accessible, interface has been designed to place important information – from health and safety to room booking – at the fingertips of our latest committee members.

The new committee of our Dance Society were among the groups who attended our Activities Training Conference.

The conference comes as students choose the remaining committee members for their sports clubs and societies.

Nominations for our Student Group Elections are now…OPEN! This is your chance to choose the students to #PowerYourUnion and lead your student group in 2018/19.

If your sports club or society hasn’t yet chosen a full committee for next year, there’s the chance to nominate yourself for each student leader position – although choose wisely, as you can only put yourself forward for one position per student group.

Nominations for the Student Group Elections close on Monday 23 April at 11:59pm.