Election: Leadership Race - Spring 2020
Category:
Sabbatical Officer
Voting is closed
Results:
| Date count run | 20 Mar 2020 |
|---|---|
| Election rules | ERS97 STV |
| Candidates running | 6 |
| Available position | 1 |
| Total ballots | 1675 |
| Valid votes | 1675 |
| Invalid votes | 0 |
Count
| Round | Emer O'Driscoll | Stephen Esiri | Ayman Benmati | Douglas Kennedy | Kitty Guo | RON (Re-Open Nominations) | Exhausted | Surplus | Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 216.00 | 164.00 | 765.00 | 129.00 | 377.00 | 24.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 837.50 |
| Count of first choices. The initial quota is 837.50. No candidates have surplus votes so candidates will be eliminated and their votes transferred for the next round. | |||||||||
| 2 | 238.00 | 178.00 | 781.00 | 396.00 | 82.00 | 0.00 | 796.50 | ||
| All losing candidates are eliminated. Count after substage 1 of 1 of eliminating Douglas Kennedy and RON (Re-Open Nominations). Transferred votes with value 1.00. Since no candidate has been elected, the quota is reduced to 796.50. No candidates have surplus votes so candidates will be eliminated and their votes transferred for the next round. | |||||||||
| 3 | 259.00 | 813.00 | 420.00 | 183.00 | 67.00 | 746.00 | |||
| All losing candidates are eliminated. Count after substage 1 of 1 of eliminating Stephen Esiri. Transferred votes with value 1.00. Since no candidate has been elected, the quota is reduced to 746.00. Candidate Ayman Benmati has reached the threshold and is elected. | |||||||||
Winner is Ayman Benmati.
Number of vacancies: 1
They will represent students’ academic interests to UCL and beyond. They will lead the Union’s work in influencing UCL to achieve fair, accessible and high quality standards of education at UCL.
A full time Sabbatical Officer of the Students’ Union working full time to provide leadership to the Students’ Union’s services; and representing the interests of students to UCL, including participating in UCL committees and regular meetings with senior staff.
Candidates
Stephen Esiri
I am standing for improvement, inclusivity and innovation of the educational experience in UCL. I believe that what UCL currently offers falls short of what students (esp. internationals!) pay for. We often acccept things as they are, because we dont know how the situation can change. However, there comes a time when enough is enough and things must just get better. That time is NOW. I am running to be your Education Officer in order to push for improvement of the delivery of education in UCL at all levels - academic and non-academic. I am very passionate person so I offer you a promise to fight for you - over every hurdle of bureaucracy in the university - to give you what you deserve: top quality educational experience. I plan to do this by focusing on 4 areas acronymised as A-S-T-E: Assessment & feedback, Student support, Teaching and Experiences. In addition, I believe in constant communication, so I promise to keep an accessible platform where students can constantly follow my progress , ask questions and respond with feedback. If you give me a chance, I will represent your voice and cater to your educational needs and desires with everything that's in me.
Douglas Kennedy
Promoting the highest possible standards of education for all students has been a sincere, passionate interest for many years. As your Education Officer I will hold UCL accountable for offering you full support, excellent teaching and a rich variety of learning opportunities, enabling you to thrive academically and cherish your education.
From 2015, I taught various subjects in three East London boroughs, and the DfE rated me ‘Outstanding’ at every assessment stage in my secondary teaching career. Since returning to university I have represented my coursemates with energy and commitment; my MA dissertation focuses on educational concerns.
I will work relentlessly towards:
* Ensuring UCL has flexible plans to adapt rapidly to external and internal changes that affect students’ experiences;
* Eliminating all procedures from teaching staff contact hours which do not directly benefit students;
* Expanding and diversifying facilities which are currently inadequate for students’ learning needs; and
* Encouraging wider community engagement opportunities of relevance to students’ academic goals.
The imminent leadership changeover makes it an especially important time for students’ educational priorities to be represented clearly and forcefully. I will do everything in my power to work with and for you to protect and further your interests.
From 2015, I taught various subjects in three East London boroughs, and the DfE rated me ‘Outstanding’ at every assessment stage in my secondary teaching career. Since returning to university I have represented my coursemates with energy and commitment; my MA dissertation focuses on educational concerns.
I will work relentlessly towards:
* Ensuring UCL has flexible plans to adapt rapidly to external and internal changes that affect students’ experiences;
* Eliminating all procedures from teaching staff contact hours which do not directly benefit students;
* Expanding and diversifying facilities which are currently inadequate for students’ learning needs; and
* Encouraging wider community engagement opportunities of relevance to students’ academic goals.
The imminent leadership changeover makes it an especially important time for students’ educational priorities to be represented clearly and forcefully. I will do everything in my power to work with and for you to protect and further your interests.
Kitty Guo
UCL is one of the highest-ranked universities in Europe and in the world. As much as I love UCL with a ranging passion, there are definitely rooms for improvement when it comes to the education experience of over 42k students each year.
Why I'm fit for the role:
In my three years in UG, I've worked my way up from module rep, to course rep, to currently an elected faculty rep. In the past year, I've also been actively involved in many education-related committees in UCL (Education Zone, Education Committee, Union Executive, Student Engagement Steering Group); I am experienced and familiar with the system. I am also active in many clubs & societies.
My priorities for 20/21 are:
- Inclusion in Education:
Address the needs of students with disabilities;
Prevention & accountability for actions that go against our motto;
Continued mental health support
Digital inclusion for all students
Inclusion of UCL East & distant learning individuals as part of the wider UCL community
- Transparency & Student Voice:
Better training and practical advice for student reps
More inter- & intra-departmental & faculty communication
Easy, fast & anonymous feedback channels
- Student Engagement
More accurate system for attendance but abolish harsh punishments
Aim for better facilities, more contact hours and smoother transitions for new, international & interrupted students
(you can see a more detailed account of my manifesto here: https://bit.ly/336R8ie)
VOTE FOR KITTY!
Why I'm fit for the role:
In my three years in UG, I've worked my way up from module rep, to course rep, to currently an elected faculty rep. In the past year, I've also been actively involved in many education-related committees in UCL (Education Zone, Education Committee, Union Executive, Student Engagement Steering Group); I am experienced and familiar with the system. I am also active in many clubs & societies.
My priorities for 20/21 are:
- Inclusion in Education:
Address the needs of students with disabilities;
Prevention & accountability for actions that go against our motto;
Continued mental health support
Digital inclusion for all students
Inclusion of UCL East & distant learning individuals as part of the wider UCL community
- Transparency & Student Voice:
Better training and practical advice for student reps
More inter- & intra-departmental & faculty communication
Easy, fast & anonymous feedback channels
- Student Engagement
More accurate system for attendance but abolish harsh punishments
Aim for better facilities, more contact hours and smoother transitions for new, international & interrupted students
(you can see a more detailed account of my manifesto here: https://bit.ly/336R8ie)
VOTE FOR KITTY!
Emer O'Driscoll
Hi, I’m Emer O’Driscoll and I’m running to be your Education Officer!
For the last 5 years, I’ve fought for students’ interests at every level of academic representation. I’m currently the PGT Faculty Rep for Arts and Humanities, sitting on Education Zone and many other UCL and SU committees. I also work in the Students’ Union, helping to run its new democratic structures.
As your Education Officer, I would:
- Campaign for wider use of Lecturecast: switching to an opt-out policy across UCL. Lecturecast is not just common sense but an essential part of learning, especially for disabled students, international students, and those unable to regularly attend classes. I will fight to make it standard practice across the university.
- Fight for overlooked student communities: from the BME Awarding Gap, to attendance monitoring, to disability discrimination, to lack of provision for student parents, I will stand up for those students most marginalised by mainstream Higher Education.
- Combat hidden course costs: putting systems in place to reduce and remove the unexpected costs, from textbooks to fieldwork, which make education harder to access.
- Reform the Academic Rep system: making it much more representative at the highest level and making it easy for any student to improve the academic experience unburdened by bureaucracy.
I have the skills, experience, and drive to fight for your rights and your education - all I need now is your vote!
For the last 5 years, I’ve fought for students’ interests at every level of academic representation. I’m currently the PGT Faculty Rep for Arts and Humanities, sitting on Education Zone and many other UCL and SU committees. I also work in the Students’ Union, helping to run its new democratic structures.
As your Education Officer, I would:
- Campaign for wider use of Lecturecast: switching to an opt-out policy across UCL. Lecturecast is not just common sense but an essential part of learning, especially for disabled students, international students, and those unable to regularly attend classes. I will fight to make it standard practice across the university.
- Fight for overlooked student communities: from the BME Awarding Gap, to attendance monitoring, to disability discrimination, to lack of provision for student parents, I will stand up for those students most marginalised by mainstream Higher Education.
- Combat hidden course costs: putting systems in place to reduce and remove the unexpected costs, from textbooks to fieldwork, which make education harder to access.
- Reform the Academic Rep system: making it much more representative at the highest level and making it easy for any student to improve the academic experience unburdened by bureaucracy.
I have the skills, experience, and drive to fight for your rights and your education - all I need now is your vote!
Ayman Benmati
We study at a world-class institution, but it honestly doesn't feel that sometimes. That's why I'm running to be your next education officer - I want to make it so that we can shape our own educations! The 4 key areas I am focusing on are:
Getting bang for your buck
- Slashing graduation costs
- Free dissertation printing and binding
- Continue the campaign to remove all hidden course costs
Putting your education first
- Optional professional modules including programming and foreign languages
- Provide departmental tailored English language and academic writing support for international students
- Revamp the personal tutoring system matching tutors based on industry connections, relevant academic experience and even personal interests to you!
A helping hand when you need it the most
- Renovation of the extenuating circumstances process, including its full digitization.
- Dedicated point of contact in student services for extenuating circumstances
- Providing wellbeing workshops as part of UCL student support and wellbeing
- The ability to self-certify illness for up to 7 days
Empowering your voice
- Strive for commitment from the new provost to be more accessible and accountable to the studens, particularly on decolonisation, BME attainment and mental health
- Ensure that Portico's modernisation project sees rigorous student consultation throughout
- Ensure that UCL's new attendance monitoring system will be exclusively for care, not complia
Getting bang for your buck
- Slashing graduation costs
- Free dissertation printing and binding
- Continue the campaign to remove all hidden course costs
Putting your education first
- Optional professional modules including programming and foreign languages
- Provide departmental tailored English language and academic writing support for international students
- Revamp the personal tutoring system matching tutors based on industry connections, relevant academic experience and even personal interests to you!
A helping hand when you need it the most
- Renovation of the extenuating circumstances process, including its full digitization.
- Dedicated point of contact in student services for extenuating circumstances
- Providing wellbeing workshops as part of UCL student support and wellbeing
- The ability to self-certify illness for up to 7 days
Empowering your voice
- Strive for commitment from the new provost to be more accessible and accountable to the studens, particularly on decolonisation, BME attainment and mental health
- Ensure that Portico's modernisation project sees rigorous student consultation throughout
- Ensure that UCL's new attendance monitoring system will be exclusively for care, not complia