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Higher Education blogs

Pride Month: Celebrating LGBTQ+ employees at Unite Students

For Pride Month 2021, we speak to two of our LGBTQ+ employees about their very different experiences of coming out, what Pride means to them, and working for Unite Students.

The importance of community to an LGBTQ+ student

A student shares his experience of being an LGBTQ+ commuter student: living at home with his parents, finding acceptance from his university peers, and the importance of community and belonging.

Student voice: What students think of our climate change survey findings

We recently shared the findings of our student survey on climate change; now, we speak to students about their thoughts on the findings, and what they're doing to be more environmentally sustainable.

Students want more action on climate change from higher education

Unite Students shares the findings of our latest student survey on climate change, which students consider to be the most urgent challenge facing society in 2021.

Becoming an anti-racist university

Making the transition to be an anti-racist organisation takes time, research, reflection, and honesty. Mhairi Taylor takes us through the University of Glasgow's journey to achieve this.

Accommodation Matters S02E03: Race and Inclusion in Higher Education

The latest episode of our Accommodation Matters podcast explores how the sector has responded to the murder of George Floyd and last year's Black Lives Matter protests.

A Day In The Life Of… a Housekeeping Team Leader

Meet Joanna Radomska, Housekeeping Team Leader for Sheffield, and find out her insights into life as a Unite Students housekeeper both before and during the pandemic.

Leading by example: Inclusive leadership in student accommodation

Frankie O'Connell explains the importance of inclusive leadership, how to achieve it, and how it benefits the wellbeing of employees and students.

Round-up: Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

To highlight Unite Students' organisational commitment to mental health, we ran a week of dedicated coverage for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 - summarised here.

What next? Supporting student mental health through the summer

After a challenging year, Unite Students shares how it's helping students with their mental health on top of its usual service provision.

Does student accommodation meet the needs of Black students?

Unite Students and Halpin Partnership are working on groundbreaking new research on the Black student experience - Jenny Shaw explains why.

How to support Chinese students’ mental health

Bernadette Cochonat explains the factors shaping Chinese students' attitudes towards mental health and how to effectively support them through these.

Supporting employee wellbeing at Unite Students

Victoria Simmons shares how she's worked with her team to support their mental health during the pandemic, and how a happy team benefits the students who live with us.

How our ambassadors brought students together in a pandemic

Unite Students is recognising Mental Health Awareness Week with a full week of dedicated coverage. First up, we hear from two student ambassadors about the support they've provided to fellow students during Covid.

The future of student accommodation: Integrated, flexible, sustainable

Paul Sweeney, podcast guest and Chief Strategy Officer at Unite Students, shares just a taster of some of Unite Students’ priorities for the future.

Accommodation Matters S02E02: The Future of Higher Education

Our latest episode of our Accommodation Matters podcast considers what the future of Higher Education might look like for universities and accommodation providers alike.

The university of the future?

After a tumultuous year, it's more important than ever to consider the future of Higher Education; Alister Wilson takes us through some of the factors that might shape this future.

The stars of Unite Students during the Covid-19 pandemic

We share our recent Stars awards finalists, who have dedicated themselves to caring for students and keeping them safe during Covid.

Net-Zero Carbon: Start with ‘Why?’

The University of Nottingham's Andy Nolan explains the move towards net-zero carbon targets in the Higher Education sector, and why it's important.

COVID-19 Update: Updated Safety and Wellbeing Measures – 21st April 2021

Unite Students shares its plans to maintain the safety of students and staff into the summer, and further steps to respond to some of the current challenges.

What has the pandemic taught us about achieving net zero?

James Tiernan looks at the lessons that Higher Education can take from Covid-19 in achieving net zero carbon targets.

Sustainability: What students want from the Higher Education sector

Jade Monroe from SOS-UK shares what students want from the Higher Education sector on sustainability, and how that aligns with universities' plans to become more sustainable.

A Day In The Life Of… a Service and Safety Assistant

We introduce the people working to make students' accommodation experience the best it can be at Unite Students.

Unite Students: A more sustainable place to live

Unite Students has announced new sustainability commitments. While we are no strangers to reducing our impact on the environment and supporting students’ wellbeing and access to higher education, the past few years’ focus on environmental and social issues has strengthened our resolve to do more.

Accommodation Matters podcast: New series

The new season of Accommodation Matters kicks off with an episode on environmental sustainability and what it means for universities, students and accommodation providers.

All students deserve to experience the full benefits of university life

Unite Students CEO Richard Smith shares his thoughts on the importance of a full university experience for students.

One year on from start of first lockdown: What we’ve learned

With today marking a year since the first UK national lockdown was announced, we look back over the last 12 months at how Unite Students has responded to the pandemic and what we've learned from it.

Sarah Everard: Supporting students to speak up

The circumstances surrounding Sarah Everard's disappearance and death have evoked many difficult feelings. Unite Students is listening - here's what we do to support students.

How Unite Students has supported students through the Covid pandemic

Students share details of some of the support they've received from Unite Students during lockdown.

Interview: How does Unite Students support Chinese students moving to the UK?

Hattie Zhao has led Unite Students' China office since 2015 - here, she shares how we help and support students along their journey.

Helping students to flourish academically while studying remotely

With students' bedrooms increasingly becoming classrooms, Unite Students pilots a webinar series to provide academic support.

COVID-19 Update: Rent Discount – 5th March 2021

Find out more about Unite Students' March rent discount extension and student eligibility here.

Going further: Creating a joined-up approach to student mental health

On University Mental Health Day, Unite Students shares its collaborative and robust approach to student mental health.

The impact of Covid-19 on student wellbeing

Unite Students's latest student survey lays bare some stark findings on the impact of the past 12 months on students' mental health and wellbeing.

What does an international student’s journey look like?

Bernadette Cochonat shares the challenges and milestones in an international student's journey to the UK.

Why positive Town and Gown relationships are important

Tatjana Walker shares how universities and accommodation providers can benefit from positive town and gown relationships.

Building a remote community – what we have learned and what there is still to learn

Jenny Shaw highlights the importance of community to the student experience, and how this has been safely facilitated during the pandemic.

How mental health became important to Higher Education

The Higher Education sector's approach to mental health has improved rapidly in the last decade - here's how Unite Students have contributed to that effort.

COVID-19 Update: Rent Discount – 3rd February 2021

Find out more about Unite Students' February rent discount extension and student eligibility here.

Leapskills: Supporting the transition to Higher Education

Vicki Fry shares the benefits of Leapskills, a free toolkit offering young people an insight into the student experience.

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