Xiaohongshu
Participating in this year's Academic Reps Conference brought me both fulfilling benefits and was a grounding experience. Our Academic Reps duties require us to engage in listening and mediation processes while conducting our advocacy work from behind the scenes.
The presentation I gave through my session "Lost in Translation" showed how people from different linguistic backgrounds and cultural backgrounds face challenges when trying to participate in academic activities which include seminars and feedback sessions and representative meetings. The participation of students in UCL programmes shows that their groups possess extensive diversity but they only choose to represent a limited number of viewpoints.
The workshop required participants to interact with its content. The participants experienced through the short simulation and guided reflection process how people develop self-silencing behavior when they experience social exclusion although they exist in environments that support them. The main point which impressed me the most about the space proved to be that people discovered inclusion requires creating spaces which accept different methods of communication instead of telling people to talk more loudly.
The session started with an energising discussion about which changes Academic Reps should implement because those changes would require minimal effort to achieve. The discussion examined two implementation strategies which included using multichannel feedback methods and implementing clearer communication standards with pre-shared materials. The discussion concentrated on actions which our roles permitted us to complete.
I was particularly struck by the openness and generosity of the participants. Many shared their own experiences of feeling unheard, as well as thoughtful ideas they were already trying within their departments. It was a reminder that the Rep community holds a great deal of collective wisdom, and that creating spaces to share and learn from one another is just as important as representing issues upward.
I am grateful to the Students’ Union team for creating an environment that encourages reflection, creativity, and honest conversations about inclusion. Presenting this session reinforced for me that inclusive leadership does not start with perfect solutions. It starts with listening, designing with intention, and being willing to question assumptions we have all inherited.