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Election: Leadership Race - Spring 2021

Category: Part Time Officer

Results:

Date count run19 Mar 2021
Election rulesERS97 STV
Candidates running10
Available position1
Total ballots1209
Valid votes1209
Invalid votes0
RoundYan ChenJiayi Wu / Rebecca Raja KumarXiangshan YeMax BendjaballahVarvara Shuvaeva / Alexia MihailaDanila ShkaevMax BendjaballahShoora ShafeeqBrittany EldridgeRON (Re-Open Nominations)ExhaustedSurplusThreshold
1179.00309.0079.00166.00169.00107.000.00159.0033.008.000.000.00604.50
2180.00314.0080.00171.00173.00110.00161.0020.000.00594.50
3222.00322.00172.00176.00115.00166.0036.000.00586.50
4227.00337.00192.00198.00185.0070.000.00569.50
5246.00366.00223.00237.00137.000.00536.00
6268.00395.00286.00260.000.00474.50
7506.00321.00382.0092.50413.50

Winner is Jiayi Wu / Rebecca Raja Kumar.

Max Bendjaballah

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
Whatever UCL's teaching method next year, I will ensure that these points are lobbied at the Students Union if UCL wants to remain one of the world's most diverse universities.
-Reduction in tuition fees is necessary
-Develop UCL facilities for non-native speakers to improve their English and self-confidence
-Work with societies to catch up in social life
-If next year remains online:
•Consider more students with different time zones for teachings, socials and deadlines
•Give more consideration to international students if a no-detrimental policy is needed

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I have studied remotely this year, like many international students, so I share your concerns! My positivity and passion for my studies (i.e. politics and international relations) have kept my head this year. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for everyone - you need hope and certainty.
-I am easy to talk to, optimistic, and I always try to find opportunities in difficult times.
-I am perseverant and never give up until I have achieved what I set out to do beforehand.
-Teamwork: I will work hand in hand with other officers to ensure that YOUR voice is heard at UCL's highest level

Anything else?
This year, most complaints came from international students who studied remotely, so there is a lot to do next year! This year has proven that social media are indispensable for communication. So I will make sure that everyone can contact me from anywhere and at any time.

Yan Chen

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
As per my latest survey, the top 2 priorities we need to work on ASAP⚠️ for 18,000 international students are:
1) a growing crisis - College students' mental health?by working with students, faculty, staff to create a wellness campaign on campus to let college shift its focus to population health n prevention.
2) safety&immigration during pandemics? - Lobbying&Working collectively with University to charter planes✈️ for international students from their country and support us in the 14-days quarantine to avoid potential complications caused by a disruption in scheduled travel services.

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
Me-Yan Chen, a fearless and unapologetic gal who love learning about herself, challenging herself to live the best life, interacting with different types of people and situations, caring about people around her and try her best to help them which make her be in the student leadership position for more than 12 years.
No matter attaining from travelling to various countries and cities or being the leader these years, I've been learning about millions of fantastic, invaluable skills like the communication skills, self-management, social awareness, and responsible decision-making etc.

Varvara Shuvaeva / Alexia Mihaila

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
We believe we can:

* Ensure the compensations due to the improper level of education during the pandemic (extended no detriment policy)

* Propose more scholarships and bursaries for international students

* Make finding internships or work experience easier both in and outside the UK

* Update you on the changes in Tier 4 and Post-Study Visa and in the Settlement Scheme

* Create an open Freshers’ week for those who missed out because of the pandemic

* Be transparent and update you on everything we are doing, having a bi-weekly newsletter and a monthly zoom drop-in session

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
Knowing firsthand how hard this academic year has been for international students, we want to run for International Students' Officers position, believing that we will make actual, visible changes in the way overseas students are treated at UCL.
As we both come from EU and non-EU countries, we know how to represent UCL’s diverse community and use our interdisciplinary experience as Arts and Sciences undergraduates to make student life better and easier for you!

Anything else?
We have been in leadership positions before and know how to represent students' opinions; we want you to be comfortable expressing your thoughts and asking for advice.
We will take proper action for the international UCL community to benefit the most out of their remaining UCL experience!

Shoora Shafeeq

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
- Tuition Fee Campaign : Continue to mobilise and engage students on this campaign as its clear we are not getting the experience we are paying for
- Cultural competence in wellbeing and mental health: Push push to diversify staff and cultural competence building through various trainings.
- Hardship funds: Lobby to allocate a dedicated portion of funds for international students support.
- Accommodation support: Push for more affordable UCL halls and better private sector accommodation guidance.
- Improve induction programs to make transition to London easier for international students.

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
Being a member of the UCLSU's board of trustees, I have intrinsic understanding of how the SU works and how best to work within it alongside the sabbatical officers to ensure your concerns are not only heard but acted on to bring real change. I have expertise in lobbying for student rights through my work in external organisations and a deep understanding of the issues pertaining international students, especially about wellbeing and mental health as well as cultural biases and micro-aggressions a lot the students, especially those of colour, face.

Brittany Eldridge

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
I want to continue to be a representative of the international student base and create a more welcoming environment, as well as an easier transition for students as they come from their home countries to the UK.

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I am an international graduate student at UCL. I have been a Lead Post-Graduate Research Academic Representative and a Post-Graduate Faculty Representative for Arts and Humanities, and in both of these positions I have strived to help international students in the struggles they face, specifically non-EU/UK students.

Jiayi Wu / Rebecca Raja Kumar

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
From a survey we conducted, distance learning, maintaining social networks and financial burdens are the greatest issues facing us this year. As International Students’ Officers, we aim to create a platform to

- INFORM: Give timely updates on resources, visa & Brexit details as we negotiate for more scholarships + reduced school fees;
- EDUCATE: Set up an international students’ alumni network & organise more career + networking events in collaboration with UCL societies;
- CONNECT: Expand existing events, organise live study sessions & implement a buddy system for freshmen.

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
We deeply empathise and understand how challenging this year has been, so we stand to fight for your views to be heard, by advocating & raising issues to relevant stakeholders. We also wish to create a safe, inclusive environment for internationals through a more connected + accessible network. As determined, open-minded individuals, we are confident that our past leadership experiences will help us excel in this role. We spearheaded change in our respective schools by organising large-scale campaigns & championing student rights. We pledge to listen, to speak out & to enable your voices.

Anything else?
We had an unforgettable 1st-year experience that was abruptly interrupted by COVID. With our passion & capabilities, we’d love to enable & connect internationals, to improve upon the UCL experience of existing students & allow incoming students to have the same extraordinary experiences that we did.

Xiangshan Ye

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
I hope to bring more insights of being an international student myself, to devoting accomplishment of making UCL, especially the Students' Union of UCL, a more diverse place. A platform shall be created where everyone despite the cultural background and ethnicity could participate in various activities and make their own voice to the change. I would like to conduct more special events that students could gather together and chill out, as well as use it as an opportunity to meet people from other backgrounds, exchange ideas, and hopefully obtain some refreshing views.

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I have received the Chinese Psychological Counselor Qualification Certificate (State 3), therefore I could address some basic concern towards student wellbeing. Also being a fluent speaker of both English and Chinese, I would be more welcomed in the Chinese student groups. Furthermore, I have been working with the Debate Mate which allows me meet different people and gain effective communication skills. I am also the student representative of foreign language module this year and often attend the meeting, and I could deliver the feedback and participate in the discussion well.

Anything else?
Under this unprecedented circumstance, student wellbeing especially of the international students shall be put in priority. As a Chinese student, I totally understand how much stress people have been through during the pandemic and I sincerely hope that students could be there to support each other.

Danila Shkaev

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
I see that whiskey on your shelf. Although you're doing your best to cope, being locked away from your family in London and missing out on your friends whilst having to pay over £20,000 for online lectures doesn't improve the situation.

Experiencing this first hand, I propose:
- A continued push for the refund of the tuition fees for the current academic year;
- More accessible career programmes;
- Extra special discounts for international students.
- Freshers events to make up for the bleak 2020 start;
- Schemes for integration into the London culture, including settlement permits.

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I am an individual with a great amount of perseverance and (controlled) aggression. Having been in all kinds of prefect and other leadership roles in my time, I assure you that I will press harder than a hangover morning to get both my personal aims and your wants into becoming a reality.

I like to consider myself a good orator, and will make sure that what you want will be presented not as an Ikea manual but a revolutionary yell.

Finally, I am an individual of societal understanding. I am willing to negotiate whatever is needed with whoever is needed and not look like an idiot doing it.

Anything else?
Together, we will make UCL great again.

If you are in London and would like to go out for a pint after the lockdown lifts, or have any questions about my nomination, please contact me by phone or email.

(Let's get UCL up from 10th place in the league table)

Max Bendjaballah

What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
Whatever UCL's teaching method next year, I will ensure that these points are lobbied at the Students Union if UCL wants to remain one of the world's most diverse universities.
-Reduction in tuition fees is necessary
-Develop UCL facilities for non-native speakers to improve their English and self-confidence
-Work with societies to catch up in social life
-Listen to students' concerns
-If next year remains online:
•Consider more students with different time zones for teachings, socials and deadlines
•Give more consideration to international students if a no-detrimental policy is needed

What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I have studied remotely this year, like many international students, so I share your concerns! My positivity and passion for my studies (i.e. politics and international relations) have kept my head this year. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for everyone - you need hope and certainty.
-I am easy to talk to, optimistic, and I always try to find opportunities in difficult times.
-I am perseverant and never give up until I have achieved what I set out to do beforehand.
-Teamwork: I will work hand in hand with other officers to ensure that YOUR voice is heard at UCL's highest level.

Anything else?
This year, most complaints came from international students who studied remotely, so there is a lot to do next year! This year has proven that social media are indispensable for communication. So I will make sure that everyone can contact me from anywhere and at any time.