Get to know Shaban
What made you want to be a Sabbatical Officer?
Coming from a developing country with sporadic access to education, revolutionizing it was the endeavour of this young boy. Over the years, I've realized that education is the panacea to the faults in our societies and systems and that there is always room for improvement.
I hope to be the voice of students and drive changes to ensure students at UCL receive optimal learning whilst ensuring student experience is at the heart of every decision UCL makes.
What impact would you like to have as a Sabbatical Officer?
There are a number of things I hope to achieve during my tenure:
- I want to incorporate a period of extended learning in lieu of a static term 3; introducing short courses & internships to boost growth and employability.
- I want to tackle concerns about single, cliff-edge exams and over assessment, as well as improve feedback.
- I want to increase the number of multifaceted study spaces to cater to the needs of growing student numbers.
- I want to introduce a credit bearing skills module for reps, society leaders and officers.
What has been the best part of your UCL experience so far?
Serving on the UCL Council has been an experience of a lifetime, I am able to offer and implement pertinent solutions that I believe will help me leave my mark at UCL and in the journeys of many students.
Your advice to new students?
The networking opportunities at UCL are incredible and will gear your route to success, so don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, build connections and make the most out of your time here.
Recommended must-do things in London?
Grab a Knoops hot chocolate and head to Kyoto Gardens to relax in Holland Park. I would also recommend you visit Columbia Road Flower Market on a Sunday. And for the brave - cycle across the bridges of London!