As the NTSU Exec Team elections are nearing, we got in touch with the seven candidates running for the VP Postgraduate role to help you decide who to vote for.
The VP Postgraduate will lead on NTSU’s work around postgraduate provision and ensure that the work carried out at NTSU meets the needs of the growing postgraduate membership at NTU, specifically by leading the postgraduate Academic Representatives.
The Vice President Postgraduate will also work on employability initiatives, student enterprise and the development of Information Services for the benefit of all students.
Here is what this year’s VP Postgraduate candidates had to say.
Adetunji Omotunde Odedina – MSc Data Science
Why are you fit for the VP Postgraduate role?
I decided to run for the role in October last year immediately after my first Students’ Union union meeting. I discovered after the meeting that my kind of change cannot be made if you are not a full-time executive member. Before the meeting, I was burning with enthusiasm, but after the meeting, the enthusiasm dropped from 100 per cent, and I cannot say I was happy. Yet, I was never disturbed, and I did not miss the subsequent union meetings, not one. This is because I have the mandate to fulfil and will not relegate that, and I have never regretted running for a part-time role. It has been a very good experience.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
Some qualities set me apart from other candidates. I will mention only two among others.
The number one is I am a force. Newton’s first law states that an object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it. I am the force. I am here to make a meaningful change to the student union body.
The number two is I am a negotiator. One of the experiences I have gained as a banker is that you must be a good negotiator. Maintain a win-win situation. If you do otherwise, you will always be at a loss.
Name one change you would like to make if elected that would improve the student experience here at NTU.
One of the things I discovered as a student is that you are at a loss when you come newly into the campus. I could hardly feel the presence of the Union’s body. The first thing is to ensure students are welcomed and the Union’s presence is widely felt across the campuses. I will ensure welfare is articulated. I will ensure at least monthly meetings with a representation of various groups to ensure their interests and challenges are catalogued and actions are taken to address them. As a new student, it was hard to settle down. I moved from Nottingham to Beeston to Draycott to Derby for almost a month and I know stories of others worse than mine. I could start something that will stand the test of time to address this. I will join in building a Union that knows what different issues people are facing and address them accordingly.
Ammar Ahmed Wafad – MSc Sustainable Engineering: Energy
Why are you fit for the VP Postgraduate role?
I have a few reasons to consider running for the VP Postgraduate role.
I believe that respecting people and supporting them with their genuine causes is an exceptional quality of a human being which can lead to the creation and development of a well-maintained and prosperous community, so I aim to focus on guiding students who are struggling with academic learning difficulties as well as providing ideas and sharing real-life experiences which can add into their lives, making an impact to ensure that NTU becomes the best place for current and upcoming students.
Moreover, it is a fantastic opportunity for me to learn about the UK national and international students and their diverse cultures, their interests and initiatives, which will not only allow me to learn various behaviours and cultures, but it will also enhance my critical thinking to solve the issues that students generally face when they are stepping ahead in their academic career. I want to support not only fun but also some charitable and cultural events, which can contribute a lot to some real causes.
“A community progresses with continuous strong efforts and teamwork.”
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
My experiences and qualities, critical thinking skills, self-motivation, and problem-solving techniques can help develop an excellent NTU student community. In recent years, I have taken many initiatives, experienced success and failure, and learned how life works!
In my academic career, I remained in the good books of the academic faculty. I was the group leader of my bachelor’s final year project group, and we got the highest grades among all others.
Regarding my professional career, my experience as a team manager can be helpful. I have experience organising and managing meetings, events, and supporting teammates with creative ideas to solve complex problems.
Most importantly, I did my Bachelor’s degree along with my job, which was a hard but fascinating life experience. Still, it gave me enough boost to advance my professional and academic career. It also enhanced my practical learning, self-sustainable and self-development skills which I can transfer to others if elected as a VP Postgraduate in the current NTSU elections.
Name one change you would like to make if elected that would improve the student experience here at NTU.
“Research and initiative are the keys to change.”
Any community, either developed or undeveloped, asks for a change at some point where it’s crucial to bring it upon, which leads to a solid betterment. I am ambitious to do as much as I can to make our NTU community a better and more exciting place. Still, when I discuss employment, that’s the best part of my planned initiatives.
Employment is the part where most of us are struggling from the past times. Although NTU has some brilliant sources to guide and help students with employability, I aim to add more to it. I have seven years of work experience in my country, and I come from an industrial background. I aim to communicate with university management along with the NTSU team of trustees to bring more placement and internship opportunities for NTU postgraduate students. I know when it comes to implementation, it can come with many real-life problems, particularly related to employers and hiring processes, but we will find solutions to those problems as usually that’s what humans do, so support me and allow me to implement what I intend to do.
Anushka Gupta – MA Fashion Communications
Why are you fit for the VP Postgraduate role?
I love to interact with new people on a daily basis, sharing my experience, learning from theirs and being able to solve issues together on topics that some might shy away from.
During my time at Trent as the PG School Officer, I have realised that most of the students aren’t aware of the facilities and benefits that NTU & Nottingham have to offer to us. I believe awareness around employability, volunteering opportunities and job support is crucial – which will be my main focus during the role.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
I am the PG School Officer & Course Rep for the School of Art & Design. Having represented students in several course committees, school forums, and meetings with course leaders, lecturers and Heads of Department, I was able to solve issues related to timetabling, course structure, and teaching preferences and push ideas regarding more community events and career fairs. My biggest achievement was to get hoodies for all courses under FMMC to ignite the feeling of belonging and pride amongst students within our school, which was never done before.
Name one change you would like to make if elected that would improve the student experience here at NTU.
I would like to introduce optional CPD hours for all schools so that students can attend various workshops related to employability, profile building and networking as part of their curriculum, according to their preference.
As of now, most students who don’t have this module, miss important and interesting events that NTU puts together due to other clashing classes while those who do, are not able to focus on subjects that matter to them. Other changes would include the provision of free NTU merch for everyone and increased cross-campus events with free travel.
Bella Voice – LMM/LPC
Why are you fit for the VP Postgraduate role?
I’ve always thought about running for an exec role, but it wasn’t until I was in a seminar talking to some of my classmates about what our plans were after an exam that I realised that postgraduate students aren’t really involved. I was obviously going to head to the LDOT day session, but when I mentioned this, no one had a clue what LDOT even was. After this, I researched more and more and realised how cut off Postgraduate students are. This becomes considerably worse when you take into account the much smaller schools such as the School of Architecture, Design, and the Built Environment or the School of Animal, Rural, and Environmental Sciences. Postgraduate students are isolated as they’re part of a smaller community and from my perspective, there’s not enough effort put into getting these students involved with the University. And that’s just considering CityCcampus, imagine how isolated students are say at Clifton, or even over at Brack.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
Like I said, I’m incredibly involved within NTSU already. I’m active across the tri-campuses and I know first-hand how difficult it can be to get postgraduate and international students involved with things such as societies.
I’ve been a freshers’ rep for the last two years and one of the biggest things that the executive team have to do together is run Freshers’ Week. Ultimately, it is the President’s role, but the entire team have to support one another through what is an incredibly difficult week. This is something that I know another candidate would struggle with immensely if they have never repped before.
I’m the President of a social society [Make-Up Society] and I’ve been supporting my members for the last few years. We often have members who have incredibly challenging courses and have little free time. I think the way that I approach these barriers really sets me apart from the other candidates because I’m used to dealing with individuals who already struggle to find the time to socialise outside of their courses. This is incredibly applicable to postgraduate, doctoral, and international students.
Name one change you would like to make if elected that would improve the student experience here at NTU.
I would really like to see if there is a way we can work around society and sports clubs’ timetabling. I even struggle with this myself. Societies are expected to attend society assemblies every few weeks. This means bringing two committee members. Without fail, this falls on my busiest university day, meaning I can never attend.
I know if this is something I’m struggling with, then this is just the tip of the iceberg and many other people are having similar, if not worse issues.
Thahira Thasnim – MSc Engineering Management
Why are you fit for the VP Postgraduate role?
When I started here at the University, I saw how well the students’ union is run but felt like it was not reaching out to students as much as needed. I have seen the postgraduate community being underrepresented and their concerns not reaching the right places.
I believe the VP Postgraduate role should be run by someone who can connect with the sentiments of the postgraduate community. The postgraduate cohort is diverse, including mature students, part-time students, student parents, carers, and research students. I want to build a support network where all are included. Currently, the taught Master’s students and research students are not integrated, and I look forward to bringing them together by organizing conferences and seminars.
I am a mom of a two-year-old juggling studies, part-time work, and motherhood together and I know many postgraduate students who do the same. I strongly stand to represent the student parent community by introducing on-campus childcare facilities like ad-hoc creches.
By becoming a postgraduate officer, I will represent the postgraduate students, international students, and student parents equally.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
Being a mother. Motherhood gives us a way of seeing things in a different light. It makes us stronger and teaches us to stand and fight for what we think is the best.
I represent a wide variety of student communities in separate ways and I believe I can relate to different students.
I have studied in three different universities and seen how students are represented in all three places. I can stand to bring up the best here through my experiences.
Name one change you would like to make if elected that would improve the student experience here at NTU.
I would see all students represented equally regardless of their level of studies, courses, or responsibilities.
Aman Joon and Nnanna Torty are also candidates for the VP Postgraduate role and have been contacted.
Platform Magazine did not receive a response from them.
The candidates’ full manifestos can be read here.
For more information about when hustings and voting will take place, click here.