Student leaders from Belfast, Derry and Coleraine were in Westminster today for an NUS-USI lobby on housing. Really glad to meet them along with Colum Eastwood to talk about how we can support their work and students generally

Fantastic to meet with Student Campaigners from NUS-USI today in Westminster to discuss housing issues, accommodation, and renters rights. Always happy to work with these leaders, particularly around supporting the growing number of young people studying at Magee in Derry.

Quick round up of some of the things I’ve been working on over the last couple of weeks as South Belfast & Mid Down MP

💀 Share your #StudentHousingHorrorStory this Halloween! 👻 😈 Dodgy landlords? 😱 Mouldy flats? 💸 Extortionate rents? Send us your stories & help us #FixStudentHousing! ✍️ nus-usi.org/your-student-h…

just a drop in the ocean of an absolutely jam-packed October💧 ✍️Over 2,500 #FixStudentHousing petition signatures ✍️Launch of our NI-wide Student Housing Survey ✍️Lobbying meetings with all major parties in NI at Stormont & Westminster nus-usi.org ⚡⚡

Economy Minister Conor Murphy today met with newly appointed NUS-USI President Ben, along with Corrine Heaney and Andrew McAnallen During the meeting a range of issues were discussed including: the pivotal role apprenticeships play in creating Good Jobs and bolstering

This Must Be The Space 📍 We’ve partnered with Belfast Exposed Photography Gallery for an exclusive event for PR, advertising, marketing, & events pros on Thurs 28 Nov, 9:30AM – 1PM 📚 🎭 Explore groundbreaking arts orgs 🌆 Discover unique event spaces shorturl.at/aOmg8

Pleased to meet with Ben Friel, President of the National Union of Students (NUS-USI) and Andrew McAnallen, Campaigns and Influencing Consultant today in Stormont. A constructive chat on a range of key issues facing our students and apprentices with the need for greater support.

We are seeking enthusiastic new committee members to join our 2024/25 committee! As a committee member, you'll play a key role in building a supportive community, sharing your expertise with others, and gaining leadership experience. Want to find out more? Drop us a message 📩

NUS-USI President Ben Friel had a productive meeting today with Leader of the Opposition, Matthew O'Toole MLA, discussing rejoining the Erasmus+ programme 🌍 and much needed reform of the EMA scheme, to put more money back into students' pockets 🪙 The SDLP Matthew O'Toole

Positive meeting with DUP Education committee member Peter Martin MLA this morning, discussing our campaigns and the need to increase FE student support. #StudentVoice #NUSUSI #StudentRepresentation #NI #NorthernIreland #Stormont #EMA #FE

Great meeting with Ulster Unionist Party Education spokesperson Colin Crawford, talking about our campaign to increase EMA student support. 📈🪙 #StudentVoice #NUSUSI #StudentRepresentation #NI #NorthernIreland #Stormont #EMA #FE

BIG NEWS 📢 NI Students set to receive significant 20% INCREASE to student maintenance loans! 📢 FULL STORY 🗞️nus-usi.org/ni_students_se… @economy_NI

🙌🚨"Today is a good day": NI students to get 20% more in maintenance loans. 🎤✅️Chief Reporter James was at Queen's University Belfast 🎓 and spoke to Economy Minister Conor Murphy and President of NUS-USI Ben Friel. ❗️💰From 2025/26, maximum maintenance loan support to full-time

NI student maintenance loans increasing to help with living costs belfastlive.co.uk/news/northern-…

Thank you to NUS-USI for flagging the dire need to increase ‘Educational Maintenance Allowance’ (EMA) to support our students and the financial pressures that they face. I’ve asked the Education Minister to touch on any details or discussions he has had with the Economy

Missed our meeting this week? Catch up at niassembly.tv to watch Members hear from Communities NI Fuel Poverty Strategy and from NUS-USI regarding their Student Rent and Affordability Report.

🚨🎓NEW: Significant uplift in uni tuition fees would be a "disgrace" with some students already "using food banks." 🎤Chief Reporter James speaking to NUS-USI President Ben Friel. ✍️It comes after university chiefs in Northern Ireland have jointly called on

Leaders of our five universities and university colleges have called for student tuition fees to rise by more than £1,000 a year. They have written to the leaders of the main political parties asking for the increase. Our Education Correspondent Robbie Meredith has the story.

Despite Sinn Féin’s repeated promises not to raise tuition fees, the Economy Minister refused to rule out an increase in the Assembly today. In the South, they call for free tuition - in the North, they consider hiking fees. The SDLP will hold them to their word.