Here are questions for all candidates running for the position of Welfare and International Officer:
2. What experience do you have that makes you suitable for the role?
3. How will you engage with the full range of students at UCL and support those groups typically overlooked?
4. What will you do to support the work of the Disabled Students' Network, who recently released a highly publicized report detailing institutionalized disability discrimination at UCL?
5. Individual questions to Iulia, Kevin, Qaisar, Qiandai and Yasmeen.
1. What are your priorities to address in terms of the well-being and equality of all students at UCL?
Iulia: Equality and well-being are definitely the main priorities for me as a Welfare and International officer. My priority would be to create a safe space for everyone at UCL. I would work closely with my colleagues and part-time officers to ensure all of your voices are heard and considered. My priorities would be to provide better and culture-specific mental health support for students as well as better and more rapid services for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. I will make sure that students with English as a second language are supported and included into UCL community.
Kevin: My biggest aim is the safety and wellbeing of our students. I just want to be able to see the Food Standards Agency rating and for them all to be displayed properly. Did you know that in 2015 Phineas was rated 4/5? Print Room Café in 2017 was 3/5. If you drink at SOAS that’s your own fault. Let’s get something basic right first and descale those coffee machines! Clean up the pint lines!
Qaisar:
Qiandai: I think it would be effective to know what students need first and then resolve the problems correspondingly with efficient communication between the students and the departments; making efforts to include students from different cultural backgrounds.
- I will work on our supporting system and increase mental health services for our students as an addition to the online portal. - I will make existing students support information more accessible and visible on campus and related websites. - I will ensure that sabbatical officers are available to students as well, me personally, I will reply to your emails if you have any queries.Yasmeen: I aim to address and shift away from the drinking culture at UCL to ensure all students feel comfortable and have access to the same opportunities without having to compromise on personal or religious values. I also feel that International Students need to have more representation and support as they make up almost half of the student population. I aim to work with the Education Officer to ensure all faculties are providing sufficient academic support for international students so that they’re not at an academic disadvantage and don’t feel drained by their degrees.
2. What experience do you have that makes you suitable for the role?
Iulia: I have been working as a Student Life Mentor and I know how hard a transition to University life can be, especially if you come from overseas. As I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology, I am trained to listen to peoples’ needs and support them, but most importantly, I feel the power to get things changed according to the students’ needs. This position would allow me to do so. Being an international student with a disability allows me to connect more with current UCL students and stuff as I am a current MASIE program course Rep at UCL.
Kevin: My experience is extensive in dealing with students and solving problems in a cost-effective manner. I’ve got so much experience that you would be shocked. Believe me.
Qaisar:
Qiandai:-- Experience of working as a student representative for our course equipped me with a perspective of how to solve problems efficiently in a university. Rather than offering unrealistic promises, I provide practical solutions.
- I have a passion for exploring different cultures and countries. Experiences in various societies have provided me with a broader mind of accepting and understanding a variety of cultures.
- Support and care from adorable people I met has given me the courage and motivation of keeping UCL accessible and welcoming to everyone. I will always be open to your ideas, opinions and emotions.
Yasmeen: I’ve been an active member of the Student Union during my time here at UCL. I’m currently the president of a society and have been involved in many initiatives across campus and across universities. This means I know how to work with a range of people in order to deliver the best outcome, and that which the people want. I’m also a soon-to-be Psychology graduate who wants to work in and improve the welfare and wellbeing field, so the work I’ll be doing as WIO is genuine and sincere, coming from a place of legitimate concern for our students.
3. How will you engage with the full range of students at UCL and support those groups typically overlooked?
Iulia: UCL is undoubtedly a large institution with a diverse community of students; almost half of us are international. Students may belong to more than one social group at a time. To ensure that everyone is included it is essential for all sabbatical officers to work together with each other as well as with their part-time colleagues to gather the fullest possible feedback, because issues and groups often overlap. I will engage with students using different means of communication both online and offline. I will make sure that the communication is accessible for everyone and will provide alternative format if needed.
Kevin: I’m “mature” postgraduate student. I’ve worked with pensioners and school leavers and really, what you need to do is create an inclusive environment for all students. Underrepresented groups, such as ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ+ students, disabled and mature, and unheard groups such as international, commuters, distance learners, parents and carers, and students who have been in care… the list goes on. I will work with the Access Team (or whatever they’re called) and get these students heard, seen and read!
Qaisar:
Qiandai:- Build focus groups with students from our diverse community, reporting relatively detailed issues regularly.
- Increasing students’ sense of belonging and community through less formal events, for example treasure hunts on campus.
- Make existing support and report portals easier to use.
Yasmeen: I aim to set up an online platform (similar to Unitu) which will enable students to report their concerns about UCL. This will be monitored by all sabbatical officers, part-time officers and faculty reps so that all concerns can be viewed in one place and multiple people can work together on resolving issues and providing support. It will be regularly monitored and updated so that students know their concerns are being taken seriously and action is being taken. Concerns will be categorised so that the right people are able to see them and work on them together.
4. What will you do to support the work of the Disabled Students' Network, who recently released a highly publicised report detailing institutionalised disability discrimination at UCL?
Iulia: The report shows that there is a lot of miscommunication between students and the institution. Students do not feel supported enough. I will work closely with the Disabled Students’ Network and the Disabled Students’ Officer to ensure that I have all up-to-date information. First, a better training of UCL staff should be conducted on how to behave and act. We need to enhance and speed up the Disabled Student Advice service. I would conduct a survey of SEND students to find which adjustments THEY find actually useful and implement them rather than everything available to save resources time and money.
Kevin: Firstly, student liberation networks are vital to the development of marginalised and often invisible groups. Claiming to be diverse and inclusive should not be a tick box exercise by the university. Secondly, I’m very aware of the practices that of Non-Disclosure Agreements as a tool to save money from not having to build something like a ramp. Only when the institution is named and shamed by the media do they react. I shudder to think what non-able staff must experience whilst working at UCL.
Qaisar:
Qiandai:
- Education is one of the ways to eliminate discrimination. I will try to provide courses for well-being with Education Officer. These courses will be for both faculty and students.
- Having broken lifts and other accessibility related facilities on campus repaired.
- More events without physical limits! (Got this idea from one of our inspiring modules with Dr. Robert Adam)
Yasmeen: We need to have a stronger zero-tolerance policy for ableism. We can do this by providing mandatory anti-discrimination training sessions for ALL clubs/societies to ensure they accommodate to disabled students. Through my online platform, I hope students feel their concerns are heard and acted upon, so I encourage them to report it for us to work to change the ableist culture. I’ll do everything in my power to elevate the work and concerns of DSN to ensure systemic changes are made so that our disabled students are safe and protected with access to the same opportunities as non-disabled students.
5. Individual specific questions:
Q: How does the personal tutoring system need to change?
A: The current personal tutoring system is not ideal. In fact, I fully acknowledge that is impossible to create an ideal one, however, some things need to change. Most students have one or two compulsory meetings with their tutors per year, and the majority find them not so useful. In my opinion, this happens because that system is not explained well enough. It is essential to make sure that students feel safe to talk to their tutors and in order to built that rapport more meetings (2 per term at least) should happen.
Q: How will you ensure better support for students with special educational needs and disabilities?
A: To ensure better SEND support it is essential for the Union to collaborate with the Wellbeing services and initiate a productive conversation with those who create SORA plans for the students. It essential to make more places accessible for all. In case the room is still not accessible, lecture cast should be used and a student should be allowed to attend a lecture online or even sit an alternative assessment. For that reason, the 70% attendance requirement should be withdrawn, as SEND students often have to miss more than allowed due to their health. This should not affect their studies.
Kevin:
Q. Your manifesto is an amusing take on the issues students experience at UCL though what do you actually intend to do as Welfare and International Students Officer?
A. Indeed, as shown in my "scratch for a first" project this would be instantly be flagged up by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and Office for Students (OfS) and so we may have to settle for something basic like issuing out honorary degrees instead – which isn’t really regulated by QAA and OfS. In fact, that isn’t such a bad idea right? Scratch that “scratch for a first” project and let’s do a “scratch for honors”!
Qaisar:
Q: How will you hold UCL, the Students’ Union and individual students to account on zero tolerance for discrimination and bullying?
A: I believe ignorance leads to prejudice, so:
- I will host more educational events to improve mutual understanding between students from different backgrounds with Education Officer and Community Relations Officer. - I will encourage students to speak up against discrimination and set up punishments for hate crimes and bullying. Q: What will you do to push for better compensation for students affected by the UCU strikes?A: Technically I will be able to: 1. Track where the money paid by students yet not paid to the faculty on strike goes to. 2. Checking if the money is used appropriately. 3. If not, then trying to take it back for the students with campaigns and lawsuits. 4. If it is, then find out a way with charities such as Students’ Union itself to compensate the students with more opportunity funds. Fighting for better compensation is a collaborative work for union officers, students and faculty members, so feel free to tell us your ideas.
Q: How will you hold UCL, the Students’ Union and individual students to account on zero tolerance for discrimination and bullying?
A: Students need to feel safe reporting discrimination and bullying. Right now, we know it happens but as there is no support system for students who file these complaints, it deters people from doing so. There also need to be consequences to people’s actions, whether they are UCL staff, SU staff and members, or individual students. Having zero-tolerance needs to be followed up with action, for example, barring clubs and societies from holding events and enforcing mandatory training sessions for individuals who have been engaging in discriminatory behaviour. Discrimination and bullying should not be taken lightly.
Q: What will you do to push for better compensation for students affected by the UCU strikes?
A: I will work with the other Sabbatical Officers to make the voices of those affected by the strikes heard. The current graduating year has been affected in all three years of their degree, and definitely have not been getting £27,750, even more for international students, worth of education. We must hold those responsible (UCL) accountable and fight for the right compensation that students deserve, both financial and academic. I will work to find a way to minimise the impact that strikes are having on students, all while supporting the UCU workers.