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Invest in an SU Global Lounge, creating a cultural hub to support community building and a sense of belonging.

Lead Officer: Mercy, PG and International Officer

What is the issue about?

There is currently no dedicated physical space on campus where international students from around the world can come together to meet, build friendships, learn about different cultures, participate in cultural and international activities, and develop a stronger sense of belonging and community at the University of Bath. 

Feedback from TWST highlights a clear opportunity to strengthen the student experience in this area. Students have asked the University to make a commitment to systematically measuring and understanding students’ sense of belonging, enabling targeted action to strengthen associative activity on campus. They have also called for a bespoke programme that responds to the needs of international students and maximises the benefits of being a global and diverse university. 

A Global Lounge directly responds to student priorites. It would create a visible and welcoming home for the University’s diverse international community, while also providing opportunities for the wider student population to engage with different cultures and perspectives. 

What are we asking the University to do?

We are asking the University of Bath and The SU Bath to work together to establish and develop a dedicated Global Lounge that provides a welcoming home for the University’s international and diverse student community. 

We are asking the University to: 

  • Provide an appropriate physical space on campus for the Global Lounge. 

  • Fund the development, design and necessary refurbishment of the space. 

  • Provide dedicated staffing to support the development and ongoing delivery of the Global Lounge. 

  • Provide an appropriate ongoing budget to support the programme of events, activities and initiatives delivered through the Global Lounge, including cultural events, community building activities and opportunities for students to engage with different cultures. 

  • Work in partnership with The SU to ensure the Global Lounge supports the University’s strategic priorities around belonging, student experience, community and internationalisation. 

It is imperative the University let The SU take ownership of the space, day-to-day student-facing operation and programme of the Global Lounge, working closely with the University to develop and deliver a programme shaped by the needs and interests of students. 

What will success look like?

  • A Global Lounge becomes a recognised and well-used home for the University’s international community, while also creating opportunities for the wider student population to connect, build friendships and engage with different cultures. 

  • A Global Lounge that students see as their space: a place to meet people, build friendships, celebrate and learn from different cultures, and feel that they belong at the University of Bath. 

  • Increased sense of belonging, Increased student engagement, A diverse programme, Inclusive participation (space used by both home and international students), Student-led activity, Improved international student experience, and Sustained use of the space 

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