Xiaohongshu
Election post
My PhD project focuses on how higher education institutions can better support international students. Through this role, I hope to immerse myself in a diverse international student network in order to develop a deeper, up-to-date understanding of international students’ needs and experiences in the 2020s. By engaging closely with students from a wide range of backgrounds, I aim to ensure that these under-researched issues are reflected in the network’s campaigns and advocacy work, while also allowing insights gained from campaign work to meaningfully inform and strengthen my PhD research.
As an international student who has completed two postgraduate degrees in the UK and is now pursuing a PhD, I bring lived experience and academic insight. I also have professional experience as an English teacher and work sensitively with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. For the past two years, I have worked as a Peer Supporter at IOE, offering one-to-one meetings with students who are struggling with their studies or personal circumstances. Together, these experiences have developed my skills in empathetic listening, advocacy, and inclusive communication.
- Extensive experience as an international student in the UK: Having completed two postgraduate degrees—both awarded with distinction—and now pursuing a PhD, I have first-hand experience as an international student.
- Proven skills in engaging with international students: I have developed strong abilities to communicate with students from diverse backgrounds, listen to their concerns, and ensure their perspectives are represented.
- Natural alignment with my PhD research: This role will provide the opportunity to translate real student experiences into meaningful campaigns and my research.
My first impression of UCL began in 2016. Over the past 10 years, I have watched UCL grow and change. The addition of the Student Centre and UCL East has significantly shaped the physical landscape. Yet the ethos of the university has remained constant: freedom, inclusivity and social responsibility. I have no doubt that these core values will continue to guide UCL for the next 200 years. And who knows--perhaps in 2226, UCL will cover so much of the city that navigating from one building to another will require a London Underground map!