Micro-engagement and Rights-Based Activism: Greater impact but requiring less of students’ time?

If people working in student engagement know one thing; a lot of students are time poor and a lot of students are "poor poor". Okay, that's two things but between juggling lectures, assignments, perhaps multiple part-time jobs, engagement in university life often falls to the bottom of the to-do list. And who can blame them? Traditional student activism and volunteering often demand time, energy, and a commitment that a lot of students simply don’t have.

So, if we can’t magically give students more hours in the day or money in their pockets, how do we make the student experience accessible? How do we make engagement more effortless that it fits seamlessly into their already crammed schedules?

Does the answer lie in micro-engagement, digital-first strategies, smarter SU structures and rights-based activism? Essentially, making participation easier, faster, and (dare I say it?) fun. Let’s dig into how Students’ Unions might make this happen.

Micro-Engagement: Doing More by Doing Less

We know that time poverty is real. Expecting students to turn up to hour-long committee meetings or commit to weekly volunteering shifts is perhaps an engagement strategy from a bygone era. Instead, there’s an argument that we need to offer bite-sized, meaningful actions that fit into their day; five minutes here, ten minutes there.

I’ve seen SUs start to crack this by offering:

? Micro-Volunteering – One SU I came across developed “Action Packs,” small at-home tasks like writing postcards for charities, creating digital awareness content, or reviewing policies. Students can participate on their own schedule, without the commitment of full-blown volunteering.

? Digital Action Packs – Imagine a 5-minute activism task dropped straight into a student’s inbox: “Sign this petition,” “Write a tweet,” “Answer this survey.” Zero barriers. Maximum impact.

? "Two-Circle Activism" – Some SUs have started running short, structured discussions on key issues, giving students a chance to participate without the pressure of staying all night.

Why does this work? Because engagement has to compete with coursework, part-time jobs, and scrolling through TikTok. Students will participate when the effort required is less than ignoring it.

Technology: The Ultimate Time-Saver?

A lot of us, students included, live on our phones; so why are some SUs still relying on posters, emails, and printed newsletters? These tend to only work when strategically placed. What if the quickest way to boost engagement is to meet students where they already are.

Some SUs have started embracing:

?? Mobile-First Engagement – A few have developed apps that let students browse activities, sign up, and track involvement on the go. If it’s not mobile-friendly, students won’t use it; simple.

?? AI-Powered Chatbots – I’ve seen SUs experiment with chatbots to answer common questions. Instead of navigating a maze of webpages, a chatbot can instantly respond to “How do I book a society room?” or “When’s the next election?” The technology is getting there people.

???? Virtual Office Hours – Some unions are moving towards digital consultations (via Zoom or Teams), making staff support accessible from a library seat or a sofa and a duvet.

?? Digital Campaigns & Gamification – Can we/should we make activism as addictive (maybe not addictive) as Candy Crush? Time-sensitive challenges, digital leaderboards, and micro-rewards can nudge students to take part without feeling like it's a chore.

Impact? I’ve seen one national student organisation nearly double its supporter base in a year by streamlining digital platforms and reducing barriers to participation. This isn’t just theory; apparently it works. (My research tells me that was NUS on their digital transformation journey)

Governance & Staffing: Less Bureaucracy, More Action

Most SU committees still run like it's 1994. Long meetings, complicated decision-making, and processes that make the DVLA look efficient. But as we know; most students don't have the time, patience, or a traditional double-barrelled surname to navigate these systems. (I know I have a double-barrelled surname but mine is made-up and a few years old!)

So what needs to change?

?? Task-Based Working Groups > Traditional Committees – I’ve seen SUs move away from year-long committees towards short-term, flexible project teams that form when needed and dissolve when done. This lets students contribute without (what can feel like) a lifetime commitment, and you don’t have to keep having meetings for meetings sake.

???? More Student Staff, Less Admin for Volunteers – Some unions are realising that paid student staff can handle administrative tasks for activities, freeing up volunteers to actually focus on making an impact. Think about it: paid student staff could:

?? Manage micro-volunteering logistics

?? Run social media campaigns

?? Create pre-packaged activism content

?? Incentives Beyond ‘Experience’ – Let’s be honest, a LinkedIn badge isn’t always enough. Some SUs are exploring:

?? Small bursaries for SU leaders (we’ve covered paying reps and part time officers before)

?? Free food or event tickets for engagement ?? A time-banking system where volunteering hours = discounts or benefits

End goal? Strip back the time-wasting bureaucracy and get students engaged in ways that fit their lives.

Bridging the Class Gap in Engagement

The hard truth? Students from wealthier backgrounds have more time to engage, it’s an uncomfortable truth that many SU staffers are contemplating currently. They’re less likely to have part-time jobs, more likely to run for election, and can often dominate leadership roles if we’re not careful. The “traditional” engagement model disproportionately benefits those who can afford to show up.

How do we fix it?

?? Inclusion Funds – I’ve seen some unions introduce financial support for students who need help accessing extracurriculars. More SUs could be doing this. Spending ￡30k per year on this instead of funding a new staff member may work wonders.

?? Tracking Who Engages – If SU leadership is 90% middle-class students from the South East, something’s broken. Some unions are now using data to track participation gaps and adjust strategies accordingly. CRMs are being used effectively to track, monitor and plan.

?? Flexible Engagement for Working Students – If a student is juggling shifts at Tesco and coursework, they shouldn’t be locked out of SU life. Offering micro-engagement means they can contribute in small bursts rather than committing to fixed schedules.

??? Advice Appointments outside of Monday-Friday 9-5 - because students are not Dolly Parton.

A Rights-Based Approach: Using Existing Commitments to Drive Change

One of the smartest ways for students to save time while pushing for meaningful change is to use a rights-based approach. Rights-based activism is a strategic approach to social change that leverages existing legal, institutional, and policy commitments to hold governments, organisations, and institutions accountable for delivering the rights and protections they have already agreed to in theory but may not uphold in practice. Instead of spending months convincing a university (or any other campaign target) to agree to a new policy, students can point to what’s already written down and demand action.

Why are we spending so much time time trying to get a ideological agreement on this issue when it already exists in University policy?

Example: The Student Charter and Mental Health Support

Let’s say a university’s Student Charter includes the following commitment:

"The University is committed to ensuring all students have timely access to mental health support and reasonable adjustments to ensure their academic success."

Great, so in theory, students should already have access to well-funded mental health services and flexible academic support when needed. But what if, in practice, students are waiting six months for a counselling appointment and the Uni are not playing ball?

The Campaign: "Mind the Gap – Deliver the Support You Promised"

Instead of spending years lobbying university committees to agree that mental health support is important (they’ve already agreed—it’s in the charter!), students could:

1?? Collect Data: Conduct a student survey on wait times and share testimonials from those struggling to access support.

2?? Use the University's Own Words: Frame the campaign around the university's own commitment—"You said support would be timely, but six months isn’t timely."

3?? Public Accountability: Create a simple dashboard tracking average wait times and progress toward meeting the university’s own commitments.

4?? Leverage Internal Processes: Instead of trying to pass new policies, students could file formal complaints en masse, citing breaches of the existing Student Charter.

5?? Mobilise a Digital Campaign: Encourage students to email the Vice-Chancellor (using pre-written templates) asking, "When will you deliver the support you promised?"

6?? Press for Quick Wins: Since the university has already committed to this in writing, it’s much easier to push for immediate investment in counselling services, reduced wait times, and clearer processes for academic adjustments; without having to negotiate whether or not it should happen.

This may be a basic campaign approach but you get the idea...

Why This Approach Works

? Saves Time: The argument has already been won; it’s just about enforcing it. No need to waste months getting committees to agree that mental health is important.

? Legally & Ethically Strong: Universities are obligated to follow their own policies. A rights-based approach forces them to act on what they’ve already committed to.

? Empowers Students: Instead of feeling like they have to beg for change, students can demand action confidently, knowing they’re simply asking for existing promises to be upheld.

This approach can apply to any area where rights exist in theory but not in practice; whether it’s lecture accessibility, student safety policies, or financial support guarantees. The key is to find the commitments, expose the gaps, and make it easier for decision-makers to deliver on their promises.

Students don’t have time to start from scratch; but with a rights-based approach, they don’t have to.

Imagine if some officers and the student voice team undertook a "University Commitment Audit" for the last five years and compared that to what happens in reality? Wins waiting to be cashed in.

The Future of Student Engagement: It’s Time to Adapt

SUs need to ask themselves: Are we making engagement easy, or just expecting students to "make time" for us? The reality is, students aren’t disengaged - maybe they’re just overwhelmed?

So let’s cut the red tape, use technology wisely, and make participation fit around students’ lives, not the other way around. If we get this right, the SUs of 2025 won’t just be more accessible; they’ll be more relevant, impactful, and genuinely representative of the students it serves.

Otherwise? We’ll just keep seeing the same students turn up to everything, while the rest hit “Mark as Read” on yet another email.

Focus on Building Power: Organising Beyond Election Day

Power isn’t just about turning up on polling day; it should be about organising, mobilising, and making sure student voices are impossible to ignore. I’ve noticed since my return to LinkedIn world that across the UK quite a few Students’ Unions are working with Citizens UK and other grassroots organisations to build long-term student power. And one of the most effective ways to do this? Voter registration.

Why Voter Registration is More Than Just a Box-Ticking Exercise

Getting students registered to vote isn’t just about the act of voting; it’s about creating a foundation for influence. Universities are filled with thousands of students who, if organised, could be a political force to be reckoned with.

?? A registered student is an engaged student – Just getting students on the electoral roll means they’re more likely to participate in democracy, whether it’s through voting, activism, or campaigning.

?? It’s a long-term power move – Once students are registered, they can be mobilised on key issues; whether that’s housing, rent controls, mental health funding, or tuition fees.

?? It forces politicians to take students seriously – Imagine a Students’ Union showing up to a local MP’s office and saying, “We’ve registered 10,000 students—what are you going to do for them?” That’s real leverage.

How Students Can Build Power Through Micro-Actions

Students don’t need to commit hours of their time to make an impact. Here’s how small, strategic micro-actions can build a foundation of power:

? Two-Minute Registration Pushes – Instead of telling students to “go register,” create instant, on-the-spot registration opportunities. One SU I came across had students with iPads walking around campus, getting people signed up in less than two minutes. Simple. Effective.

? Lecture Shoutouts – Getting voter registration onto the start of lectures is a game-changer. If one student in every seminar takes 30 seconds to say, “Hey, has everyone registered to vote?”, thousands of students could be signed up by the end of the week.

? Flatmate Pacts – Every student who registers makes sure at least two of their flatmates do the same. Chain reaction. Exponential growth.

? QR Codes Everywhere - all leading to an easy, one-click voter registration link.

Beyond Registration: Demonstrating Student Power

Once students are organised, they can channel that collective power into action. Here’s how:

?? Show of Strength Demonstrations – When students are mobilised on an issue, visibility is key. Organising mass photo actions, town hall-style events, or high-turnout petitions reminds decision-makers that students are watching and expect action.

?? Campus-Based Power Maps – Some SUs are starting to map out who holds influence on campus and beyond—from university decision-makers to local councillors. Understanding power structures helps target activism more effectively. Power mapping is an essential tool

?? Training Future Leaders – Create the next generation of student organisers. Training sessions, peer mentoring, and leadership workshops ensure that when one group of student leaders graduates, the movement continues.

All of these actions will save time and resources, making campaigning more agile...

The Goal: Making Students an Unignorable Force

Unignorable is a word, right? Never mind...

Students have numbers. They have issues they care about. They just need the structures, networks, and confidence to act on them. By focusing on voter registration, visibility, and collective organising, students can build a power base that lasts beyond one election or campaign.

Reimagining Student Engagement for a New Era

Today’s students are time-poor, financially stretched, and navigating an overwhelming digital world. Traditional models of engagement; lengthy meetings, rigid committee structures, and high-commitment volunteering, are increasingly out of step with the realities of modern student life.

But that doesn’t mean students are disengaged. Far from it. Around the world, we see young people leading movements, using digital tools to create change, and pushing institutions to uphold their commitments. The challenge isn’t that students don’t care - it’s that the systems meant to support their engagement haven’t kept up.

It’s Time for SUs to Evolve, Isn't it?

If we want to stay relevant, we need to stop asking students to fit into outdated models and start building engagement around how students live, work, and communicate today.

That means:

?? Making participation easy and flexible: Micro-volunteering, digital activism, and short-term project groups allow students to engage meaningfully without overcommitting.

?? Leveraging technology to remove friction: AI-powered support, mobile-first engagement, and gamified participation can make student involvement as seamless as ordering a coffee on an app.

?? Using rights-based approaches to drive change faster: Instead of lobbying for new policies, SUs can empower students to demand action on commitments their university has already made. Given the high turnover of officers and staff in SUs is it worth looking into existing policies and decisions to see if they have been implemented?

?? Creating equitable opportunities for all students: If engagement is only accessible to students who can afford the time, then it’s not truly representative. SUs must build structures that work for commuters, working students, and those with caring responsibilities.

?? So, what’s next?

We don’t need more reports telling them students are disengaged. We probably need to act.

That means trialling new models, experimenting with digital-first engagement, and questioning whether every policy, process, and tradition still serves today’s students. A lot of SUs are doing this, more need to start.

?? Ask yourself: If we were building student engagement from scratch today, would we design it the way it currently is?

If the answer is no, it’s time to rethink, rebuild, and reimagine, before we become irrelevant.