The DIT Students' Union is the representative body for all students in the Dublin Institute of Technology. All students within the Institute are automatically members. It aims to represent and defend its student members and their interests at local, national and international levels on matters primarily relating to their education and welfare and to protect and further their rights as citizens. In addition it promotes clubs, societies and other non-academic activities and provides a range of services for its members. As of 2019, Pierre Yimbog is the Union's president.
History
The first record of student forums is in the mid-1950s where Student Representative Councils formed in the various CDVEC Colleges. The Councils discussed and dealt with local issues as best they could, without a formal representational structure in place. Prior to the 1980s, the Student Union had been run, in the main, by elected Sabbatical officers with the back up support of permanent staff; the Union Secretaries. Each of the Colleges had a Student Union 'Site' President, in addition to the Union's secretary. In the early 1980s, DIT students first gained direct representation on the City of DublinVocational Education Committee itself. With the DIT Act of 1992, and the DIT Amendment Act of 1994, the DIT Governing Body membership expanded to include, amongst others, two students. By 2005, student representatives held seats on all relevant central and major local committees, including sub committees of the Governing Body and Academic Council. In addition, staff from the Students' Union have been permitted to sit with the full-time Sabbatical Officers on various committees. In 1985, the Student Union set up a limited company for a number of legal, accounting and corporate governance reasons.
DIT Students' Union post DIT
In 1992 as the Dublin Institute of Technology was formed on a statutory basis. The first "overall" President was elected in March 1993, and their responsibilities included being the chief spokesperson of the DIT Students' Union, co-ordinating the activities of all the 'site' sabbatical officers and being CEO of the organisation.
DITSU Trading Limited
In 1994, the commercial wing of the Students' Union was formally separated from DITSU Limited to form another company, which thereafter solely dealt with the SU shops and staff, and associated matters.
Reform
In autumn 2002, a consortium of independent consultants was engaged to undertake a review of its structures and activities and to develop a strategy for the future development of the organisation. In the summer of 2003 a strategic review was published with 54 recommendations. In January 2004 a number of operational plans were devised around the key areas of the review, and an implementation timetable was agreed. Following widespread consultation, a student referendum was held in March 2004 to ratify the plans including a new Constitution and was passed by a 92.5% majority.
DIT Students' Union post-review
A Student Council made up of Class Representatives from across the College, determines official policy, co-ordinates the work of the sabbatical officers and reviews the activities of the organisation, on a monthly basis. The activities of the Students' Union have been aligned into 6 broad units which are based in the local SU offices across the College:
Academic Affairs
Chief Operations
Communications
Services
Student Affairs
Trading
Re-branding
In 2004 a new website was launched. In addition a comprehensive re-branding was undertaken to coincide with the new website, staffing structure and department structure. A new official SU publication "The Compact" replaced the "DIT Independent" in 2005. Previously the organisation was known by its acronym 'DITSU' but is now more commonly referred to as 'DIT Students' Union'. The website was relaunched again in 2012.
