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Voting: Voting scheduled

Election

Category

Candidates

Richard Hebblethwaite (He/Him)
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?

I have now completed my first year at UCL as a part time MA Archaeology mature student, having made an ambitious career switch from a global marketing role in the financial services sector. In my career I gained valuable inter-personal and communications skills managing and collaborating within and across teams of differing nationalities around the world.  This academic year I was elected to the President of the Mature Society and I have learned from and enjoyed this experience. Now I wish to apply for the Officer position to build on what we have achieved to date.

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?

Having almost completed an academic year in the President's role I understand the issues and pressures mature etc. students face, in particular needs at the beginning of the year, compared to other times. I would like to (1) run a series of social and networking events, front loaded  (2) ensure the appropriate support networks are in place for this diverse group of students (3) work with the others elected to Network positions to ensure their ideas and needs are incorporated in any programme. I would want to ensure we are effectively tapping into the new resources that UCL offers.

Please summarise why students should vote for you.
  1. I have relevant skills to offer to help the Network gained from my earlier career
  2. I've enjoyed being President this year and want to contribute more for Mature students
  3. I will work well with the others selected to drive the Network forward
  4. I like meeting new people and have been ever present at events this year
  5. Because I intend to make the Network fun and can relate to all types of mature/PT/parent/carer groups
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Cordelia Vesely (she/her)
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?

My experience working as a peer support mentor at UCL has meant that I am trained to provide tailored support for students facing additional barriers to studying. As the student carer representative I learnt about the invisible responsibilities taken on by so many students in higher education who are disproportionately marginalised. I want to improve the experiences of mature, part-time and caring students by working to enhance the services provided so that mature, part-time and caring students can bring their experiences and insight into the world of academia and get the most out of UCL.

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?

I intend to:

- organise a weekly time slot for face-to-face meetings on campus with students to ease administration pressures;

- set up an annual database of opportunities geared towards mature, part-time and caring students' needs and requirements;

- establish a peer-support scheme for mature, part-time and caring students to provide a opportunities for sharing advice and support;

- advocate for issues linked to mature, part-time and caring students such as early timetable publication, strengthening the support systems offered by UCL and making available services more visible and accessible.

Please summarise why students should vote for you.

As someone who was a student carer, I learnt first-hand how personal obligations can be a burden on university life. Now as a part-time student, I understand the impact of working alongside studying. I am pleased that the roles for mature and part-time student officer is merging with the role for students with caring responsibilities because students can often fall under all three categories and having one unified approach with mean I can better improve services. I believe that all students with responsibilities outside of academia can thrive in an academic environment with the right support.

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