What ARE FOYSAL'S CAMPAIGNS THIS YEAR?

Canteen Discounts & Signage

As a student at UCA Epsom, I know that it can be hard to have time to go out and get lunch during breaks and many have said to me that food can be expensive on-site. To help with this, one of the first things I am working on is to introduce meal deals in the canteens to create better value for everyone. There also needs to be Halal signage for food; currently it relies on the students to ask canteen staff at the point they are getting food. 

Financial Support for Students

Most students would not be able to pay tuition fees without student financial aid, let alone their living expenses. Student loans serve as a financial springboard to assist you in reaching your goal of studying in higher education, which is an investment in your future but it is getting more expensive to be a student. I want to work to help students financially, so they are less stressed and also with the university to develop ways of offering more financial support and advice to students.

Implement International Inclusivity

International students make up quite a sizable chunk of the student body at UCA, and although UCA has started the process of internationalisation, International students in the UK are still inadequately supported in many areas. I will be working on some business cases and reports in favour of UCA 1. Implementing a guarantor scheme, and 2. Freezing International fees from year one. This campaign also includes things like organising a culture fair, to show off the many cultures we have on campus.

Expanding Job Shops

Many students who relocate to a new city or country for university will be seeking jobs to support their education and maintain a vibrant student lifestyle. Experience in the workplace demonstrates to future employers that students have gone above and beyond their studies in order to obtain transferable skills; part-time employment can help students to improve their CV and employability. It is for this reason that I want to support students by promoting local part-time jobs.

Exam and Coursework Feedback

Well, from my own experience, I faced the issue of receiving feedback/results on time while I was waiting for my research proposal feedback. This had an impact on mine and my peers ability to improve our work, and was caused by a miscommunication. I believe that a tutor has the distinct responsibility to nurture our learning and to provide feedback in such a manner that the student does not leave the classroom feeling defeated. Students may want an opportunity to discuss their examination feedback. This can be done individually or in class. Students find most value in discussions with the person that marked their examination script. Discussions about examination performance are most valuable where they supplement some other form of written feedback.

Religious Festivals

Religious festivals are often a time of great celebration and help believers to remember important beliefs in their religion. Religious celebrations bring faith communities together to celebrate these shared beliefs and values. I am excited to do more to recognise and celebrate the festivals that matter to you from religions such as Diwali to Holi, Eid, Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter and more in between. As part of my campaign, religious festivals will be added to the UCASU events calendar, and I want to make sure that we host events for students to celebrate throughout the year. I will also work with the university to encourage them to consider religious events and festivals when they are planning course deadlines, events and term times.