Retrospective on Conference 2024

In case you missed our big event this summer, let’s look back at our 2024 Conference! With over 1,000 students signing up, it has created lasting memories for those who attended and left a substantial impact on the OU Students Association as a whole, establishing itself as a landmark that we can fondly look back on for inspiration, knowledge, & even yoga tips! 

Whilst the day of Conference 2024 may have felt like a whirlwind (packed with inspirational speakers and thought-provoking lessons), every detail was carefully considered over a long period of time prior to the event. This ensured we provided the attendees on the day with the best possible experience, and the feedback after the event has been extraordinary. 96% of attendees were satisfied that the Conference met all or most of their expectations, and 91% of attendees were satisfied with the range of topics covered by our speakers! 

Key highlights of the day include our brilliant star speakers; Chris Packham shared his conflicting love and rage surrounding our environment, and highlighted continual change as vital to help this; Susan Cain discussed the power of introverts in the workplace and as leaders who are often overlooked members, but vital for our teams to thrive; Nick Elston delved into his personal journey with mental health and inspired listeners to harness their own experiences with this as a force for good; and Genuine Mwasha introduced his Charity ‘The Roof of Africa’ and discussed its valuable work in providing education and support to the poorest children in East Africa. 

A list of all speakers from Conference 2024 and recordings of their sessions can be found here. 

Considering the impact of Conference 2024, not only was it open to more students than ever, with 1,828 votes cast on our resolutions overall, but it also marks some key shifts in how we will continue to provide support going forward. Two major decisions that were announced at Conference 2024 based on the votes of OU students are: 

1. Our elected Student team’s name has officially been changed from ‘Central Executive Committee’ to ‘Student Leadership Team’  

1. The OU Students Association will be rebranded to become the OU Student Union (OpenSU) 

These decisions are fundamental for creating and maintaining clarity around the image of our Association, and to help increase awareness of all the services available. A full report of the changes voted on can be found here.

Some other fantastic highlights we can take way from Conference 2024 include: 

• Overwhelmingly, students fed back that attending this Conference made a positive contribution to their overall student experience & they would recommend it to a fellow student! 

• For the majority of attendees, this was the first Conference from our Association they had been to, showing an increase in interest from newer students & raised awareness of our Association. 

• Almost all attendees felt that our business session at the Conference made them more aware of how our Association represents the student voice. 

• Overwhelmingly, attendees felt that the Conference reflected our Association’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity. 

Thanks so much to everyone who attended, took part in, and fed back on Conference 2024. We know there's always room for improvement, and we’re currently examining all of your feedback to make it even better next time. We had a great time and look forward to seeing you at the next one!