HEFCE chief executive Alan Langlands delivered the first keynote speech at Students’ Unions 2013 at the University of Manchester.

Guy Stepney, representation and communications manager at Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union, writes about a workshop on how students’ unions can impact retention.

Joe Oliver, research officer at Sheffield University, presented powerful research findings on the value of international students.

Future First director Jake Hayman has called on the Students’ Union 2013 delegates to help him change the world.

Future First director Jake Hayman writes about the Back to School Week campaign.

Rima Amin, vice president of activities and development at City University London Students’ Union, writes about a session hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association on union leadership programmes: supporting our leading volunteers.

Catherine McGrath and Jacqui Lawton of the University of Huddersfield Students’ Union led an informative and interactive session on collaborative membership engagement work.

Speakers from NUS chaired a lively workshop discussing the levels of participation in university clubs and societies.

Elizabeth Bone, NUS, and Ruth Soetendorp presented the details of the new research report Student attitudes towards intellectual property.

NUS vice president for higher education Rachel Wenstone and NUS head of higher education research and policy Debbie McVittie talked #SU13 delegates through an in-depth analysis on the state of systems which are designed to help people through their student journey.