Irish Second–Level Students' Union

Irish Second-Level Students' Union Aontas na Mac Leinn Iarbhunscoile

President	Jane Maria Hayes-Nally
Founded	August 2008
Website
www.issu.ie

The Irish Second–Level Students' Union (ISSU) is Ireland's national umbrella body for second-level students working through the student council network in all second-level schools. ISSU connects, and represents, post-primary school students nationwide. Providing a structured platform through which students can voice their views.

ISSU's work has three main strands: it aims to provide training, guidance and advice to empower students and equip them with the vital skills needed to become actively involved in the decision-making processes in their own school communities; and it aims to work in partnership with other organisations to bring the views of secondary school students to the attention of local and national policy-makers, as well as the media, in relation to educational issues. And our third and final aim to provide services to the membership of ISSU on the principal that control of those services lies with the membership.

ISSU was founded in August 2008, from the remains of the Union of Secondary Students (USS). It is member of the Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU) and the National Youth Council of Ireland.

During September 2009, ISSU modified its name from the Irish Secondary Students' Union to the Irish Second–Level Students' Union to encompass all Irish Post Primary Schools equally.

In October 2009, ISSU launched the ISSU Scholar Card - a unique student card for second-level students' aged between 12–18. The national rollout of the card began in November 2009.

ISSU's aims

To provide training and aid the development of second-level school Student Councils, in conjunction with relevant bodies.
To develop policies on issues affecting Irish second-level students and bring the needs and rights of students to the attention of the relevant authorities.
To provide a transparent, democratic and reliable organisation.
To work in collaboration with other educational institutions and bodies both in Ireland, and Europe.
To work closely with education curriculum policy makers and teachers’ unions to continually develop a transparent, fair and modern education system.
To give Students a structured platform through which the voice of the Irish second-level student will be heard.

Structure

Monitoring and Advisory Committee (MAC) – The MAC acts as the backbone of the organisation. This committee oversees the work of ISSU, provides guidance to the National Student Executive, and provides advice on the finances of the organisation. This Committee is composed of representatives from Ireland's leading education & youth Organisations, past ISSU officers and is chaired by the ISSU General Secretary.

National Student Executive (NSE) – The National Student Executive (NSE) look after the day-to-day running of the organisation. Led by the ISSU President, the NSE comprises various officers elected at the ISSU AGM to look after various aspects of Student Life - Deputy President (Campaigns and Communications), Education, Welfare, Equality, Oifigeach na Gaeilge, International Officer, Student Council Support Officer, Secretary, Public Relations Officer and Honorary President.

National Council – The National Council provides a link from the National Student Executive to the ground-roots level of the organisation, linking students via their Regional Council of Schools officer to the ISSU National Council and National Student Executive. Each region elects an ISSU Regional Council of Schools Officer. The National Council is chaired by the ISSU Student Council Support Officer who also sits on the ISSU National Student Executive and acts as the link between the two. There are 5 ISSU regional council regions - Munster Area, Leinster Area, Connaught Area, Ulster area and the greater Dublin Area. |}

Current National Student Executive

Current NSE
Position	Name
President	Jane Maria Grace Hayes Nally
Honorary President	Rob O'Donnell
Deputy President	Cárthach Ó'Faoláin
Education Officer	David Boyce
Welfare and Equality Officer	Joe Mee
Campaigns and Communications Officer	Chloe Griffin
International Officer	Ellen O'Rourke
Student Council Support Officer	Kate Lehane
Secretary	Alex Fogarty
Oifigeach na Gaeilge	Liam Morris

Presidents of ISSU

Past Presidents
Years of office	Name
Incumbent	Jane-Maria Hayes-Nally
2015-2016	Rob O'Donnell
2014-2015	Craig McHugh
2013-2014	Mark Caffrey
2012-2013	Dylan Grace
Founding President	Leanne Caulfield

External links

Students' Unions in Ireland

Republic of Ireland universities	Dublin City University NUI, Galway NUI, Maynooth Trinity College, Dublin University College Cork University College Dublin University of Limerick

Northern Ireland universities	Queen's University Belfast University of Ulster

Other unions	Dublin Institute of Technology Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art and Design (IADT)

National unions	NUS-USI Union of Students in Ireland Irish Second–Level Students' Union

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, March 25, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.