City College Plymouth’s Student Union President receives landslide victory as new NUS Vice President

Shane Chowen, City College Plymouth's SU President, has been elected as the National Union of Students' Vice President for Further Education (VPFE), with an 88% majority of the vote.

The National Union of Students (NUS) is the biggest student representative organisation in the world representing over seven million students in further and higher education from affiliated students' unions. His role as VPFE is to lead the National Union's work with further education, developing FE unions, leading campaigns on their behalf and ensuring the NUS is supporting unions and their officers effectively.

His winning manifesto included; defending the educational system by lobbying Government to change its policy, so that everyone has the right to re-skill at work, putting an end to the FE financial fiasco, by making sure all students have the right financial assistance, and ensuring the learners' voice isn't drowned out by college managers.

Shane already has experience of dealing with ministers, having been appointed by the Government last year to sit on the National Learner Panel, a reference group set up to consult with learners in further education about their views on FE policies, initiatives and proposals across England.

Viv Gillespie, Principal at City College Plymouth, commented: "Shane has consistently shown strength, determination and passion for representing our students in further education. I'm sure his new post will see him delivering for every student in the country."

Shane Chowan, commented: "When I became the SU President at City College Plymouth, I transformed the Union into a representative and strong Union, committed to delivering for its members.

"As VPFE I will ensure the NUS are supporting students' on issues that matter to them, from the classroom to the cabinet room."