Conferences and Training Programme 2007-2008
The Ideas Behind Unipol Training
Residential student accommodation provision continues to develop and change at an ever faster pace and Unipol's training is designed to enable those who attend to:
• be aware of up and coming issues and trends
• keep ahead of necessary changes
• identify and share good practice
• contribute their views and experiences in a continuing dialogue.
As a national charity specialising in student housing, and as the main trainer in the niche area of student accommodation, Unipol is in a unique position to look at the entire accommodation sector:
• large private (and often national) suppliers
• educational establishments and
• smaller landlords with off street properties often catering to returning students.
In the 2006-2007 year Unipol had 1,131 delegates from 277 different organisations attending some 31 conferences. There were also 9 in house training events and many organisations joined the "Unipol Friends" scheme which pays a subscription and then offers discounted conference rates.
Unipol training aims to bring together the inter-relationships between different suppliers of student housing in the interests of achieving high quality housing standards.
Our courses have a reputation for bringing together those with different skills and different perspectives within the sector, allowing for better understanding of the whole student housing process.
Unipol training has a reputation for being customer focused and we place a priority on encouraging and maintaining high quality outputs from accommodation suppliers and ensuring the even deployment of policies and services across an entire portfolio.
Unipol’s programme builds upon the successful, but simple, formula of encouraging the inter change of ideas, identifying emerging trends and building on best practice. Many events are only possible because of the willingness of those in the sector to share their experiences with others and our events are normally lively because of active delegate participation.
The Forthcoming Year
2007 and 2008 will see several important new areas for those in student accommodation to tackle particularly:
o the increasing importance of student care, no matter who is providing the accommodation, in the context of issues about retention, anti-social behaviour and mental health o the growth of regulation with the Housing Act 2004 beginning to settle down and its provisions affecting students for the first time with the Housing Health and Safety Ratings System (HHSRS), licensing for the private sector, the deposit protection scheme (and how the disputes system will actually work) and the operation and development of the Approved Codes of Practice for Educational Establishments
o further regulation as Energy Performance Certificates are introduced and the licensing Statutory Instruments undergo amendment
o the changing higher education market which brings with it fluctuations in intake and an increase in risk for student accommodation providers with many suppliers swinging between voids and excess demand from year to year - can these risks be accounted for and how are they to be mitigated?
o the need to keep up to speed with the legal requirements of being a first class accommodation provider: the unfair terms of trade, the Housing Act, tenancies, distance selling and the implementation of the new legislation relating to disability all remind us about the importance of relevant and understandable legal training in these areas.
New Courses and Policy Issues
Student Care
One of the main focuses this year is in student care: dealing with the day to day issues that ensure student accommodation runs smoothly and those living in it have a positive experience. This issue has been broken down into a number of themes that explore and are designed to help in this area:
There are a number of one day courses on anti social behaviour, the best use of on site services (residential staff, wardens, reception and security staff and using students), the uses ands abuses of student disciplinary procedures and using mediation to intervene in tenant support.
In addition to this Unipol and NUS will be looking jointly at how crime and security can be tackled to benefit students and will be undertaking a new seminar on how to identify and tackle bullying, an increasing problem in the "hot house" atmosphere of student residential accommodation.
There is also a new fuller two day training course on how best to use mediation in student accommodation for those interested in exploring this area in greater depth. We are fortunate to compliment Unipol's own in-house expert, Sarah McDonald with that of Christopher Tucker from the University of Sussex, an acknowledged expert in the field to lead these sessions.
Another new one day event will look at how to offer effective tenancy support in cluster flats, now the most common form of student allocated accommodation.
Emergent Trends and Issues
The demand and supply of student accommodation now varies between high levels of surplus and areas where there is still a shortage. Many institutions have, or continue, to expand their first year direct allocations so that all those who want a place in hall can have one. This is being undertaken at a time of increasing fluctuation in the higher education market and risk of voids caused by unpredictability is increasing.
A new one day seminar for senior staff will seek to explore where real risks are and look at how they can be managed. Particular attention will be paid to underwrite and nominations arrangements where voids can easily occur.
Another new seminar will look at what students want, measuring satisfaction and using those results for continual improvement. A variety of surveying methods will be looked at and users will explain the strengths and weaknesses of their own approaches and what action they took in areas of concern.
A new one day event will look at how the institution can intervene in the private sector housing market to ensure that its returning students have a good housing experience. Many will recall that after a good year in allocated accommodation subsequent years may not be quite as simple. How can the student experience be improved across all years in residence?
Unipol will also run a two day policy and strategy seminar bringing together the main players in the sector to project future needs, problems and services that should be provided. This seminar gets consistently good feedback with last year's event being rated as excellent by most of those present. The event also provides an excellent networking opportunity for senior staff.
Unipol is also running a one day conference with the Charted Institute of Environmental Health Officers looking at how the Housing Act 2004 is affecting students throughout England and Wales. What effect has licensing had? Is increased regulation creating better housing conditions or a mound of paperwork from the good landlords with the bad landlords untouched? This will be a major conference, held to launch a joint Unipol/NUS report on what the Housing Act has achieved and where it needs to go to deliver the goods for students.
Practical Housing Management
Unipol is increasing the training it provides to those at the coal-face of providing student housing: housing management staff.
The popular Getting Started in Student Housing Management has been updated and is now run three times a year so there should always be a date that is convenient for new staff to attend.
After a number of requests, a new two day course Student Housing Management: Further Skills for Experienced Housing Mangers is being run as a refresher course for those already involved and experienced in student housing. The event will look at a variety of housing management models and ask delegates to suggest how their current system measures up to these models. Delegates also get an opportunity to assess a student complex for management and will learn the techniques to undertake a full assessment of a management system and how to apply that knowledge productively.
A new one day course will look at how to manage the issues that arise from either a building that comes on late, or one that just makes the deadline but where there are inevitable teething problems. The day will look at what information can be given to tenants, how to be transparent, realistic and clear, when compensation is (and is not) appropriate and how to deal with the contractor, developer, user contractual obligations and actually get problems solved.
A further specialist one day course will look at "welcoming" techniques and schemes and methods of initial meeting, greeting and socialisation between tenants.
A new one day course will look at the options and practicalities of introducing sustainable practices into residences: is introducing recycling, changing to low energy light bulbs and raising awareness of energy consumption really that easy? The day will look at examples of good practice that have worked and explored some of the pitfalls on the way to success.
A number of one day courses will concentrate on essential skills and techniques that form the basis of good housing management : how to inspect a house, how to ensure efficient rent collection and understanding risk assessment in student housing.
Tenancy Deposit Protection
This is the first full year for tenancy deposit protection and Unipol will be running two low cost conferences on how to raise awareness with students about TDP, how the different schemes work administratively and how the Dispute Resolution Procedure s actually working in its first year and what can be expected of it. This will be an important event for all those advising students in the area of housing rights.
Legal
Unipol’s commitment to looking at the law as it applies specifically to student tenants and property providers continues. The legal aspects of distance selling with on line applications is examined, as are issues relating to housing students under the age of 18. Unfair terms and how they affect students is updated in response to the latest findings.
Unipol’s Essential and Advanced Housing Rights courses have been updated to take account of unfair terms and the Housing Act 2004 and provide two three day rigorous, but enjoyable courses that are designed to give participants in-depth knowledge and understanding of the housing rights field.
We are fortunate to retain the expert knowledge of both Hilary Crook (solicitor) and John Martin (barrister) to lead these sessions.
Health and Safety
The Housing Health and Safety Ratings system is explored in a one day event and a three day seminar allows delegates to really understand student housing standards, looking at management, condition and HHSRS issues with visits to properties and hands on work.
Accreditation, the Government Approved Codes of Practice and ANUK
Accreditation in student accommodation is once again being seen as an important part of maintaining quality in student housing, particularly for returning students. A one day course will look at why accreditation is important and how it can be developed.
Two major one day conferences will look at the Approved Codes of Practice (both the UUK and ANUK Codes) and look at how those Codes can, and are, being used to improve accountability and standards in institutionally provided accommodation. Self assessment, verification and audit will all be examined as will the concept of continual improvement. Those involved in the writing and development of both Codes will be actively involved in leading delegates.
Unipol is pleased to maintain its association with the Accreditation Network UK and will organise their next annual conference in London. This is the premier event of the year for all of those involved in accreditation and provides an excellent networking opportunity. ANUK always needs more members and membership details can be found on their website www.anuk.org.uk which gives access to specialist information and the informative, and substantial, regular newsletters (as well as a big discount on the conference cost).
In House Training
A rapidly growing area of Unipol's training is the provision of dedicated events to inform, motivate and involve those involved in the area of student housing. Unipol has a wide range of trainers and has over 25 modules that can be tweaked and adapted to fit your needs either on your own premises or at a dedicated venue. Training can involve group work, team building exercises and case work examples highlighting issues. Last year, modules about student care, the training of student wardens and on site staff, the Housing Act and the HHSRS were particularly popular.
For further information see the In House Training webpages or contact conferences@unipol.leeds.ac.uk
Friends of Unipol Training Discount Scheme
The Friends of Unipol Training Discount Scheme rewards regular delegates with a 15% discount and a priority booking system. Last year 38 organisations joined as Friends. For further information, please see the Friends of Unipol Training Discount Scheme pages.
Conclusion
Unipol appreciates the diversity that exists within the higher education system and in student accommodation: there is no "one size fits all" set of solutions or procedures within this diverse sector. Unipol aims to set out options, give clear and understandable examples of good practice and aims to help you in deciding what is best within your system. No one doubts our commitment to promoting the best in student housing and no one doubts our delegates' commitment to continual improvement.
Thank you for your continuing support of our programme and we look forward to seeing you this year at an event. If you feel there are issues we should be covering, or you need further information about, please do not hesitate to contact us on conferences@unipol.leeds.ac.uk
Have a good academic year.
Please keep in touch, we will be pleased to answer any further questions you may have. Unipol Student Homes, 155-157 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 3ED, Telephone: 0113 243 0169, option four for conferences, Fax: 0113 234 3549