Q&A with the Students’ Union President

Name:

Alisa Reich

Position:

Students’ Union President

From:

Schwaebish Hall, Germany

Education:

2 years in Fashion Management in Germany at LDT Nagold 1 year in Business Studies in Dublin at Griffith College Currently completing a Masters Degree in International Business Management at Griffith College Dublin (Thesis Topic: Work Life Balance in Irish Tech Companies)

Languages spoken:

Fluent in German, Japanese, and English, with conversational knowledge of French, Spanish, and Mandarin

What are your responsibilities as SU President?

I work with class representatives (class reps); they are the point of contact for your class and they talk to your faculty on your classes’ behalf if there are any issues that arise during the school year. I have meetings with them every few months to see what issues there are (if any) and if there are ways the college can improve. Once a month I attend the Academic and Professional Council (APC) meetings. Present at these meetings are heads from every course, and a representative from the International Office. Each month there are different topics that we discuss; examples of past discussions have been graduation, exams, and mental health. I share with the meeting what is happening in the Students’ Union and in the college. It’s nice because the students have a voice. In the end, the students are the most important people in the college, and that is why the college is making an effort to involve them more in decision-making processes.

How do you like your role so far?

It gives me a good knowledge of how the college works. The first APC meeting was overwhelming, but it has gotten better. I really like it. It’s a good opportunity to work with native English speakers and improve my own English. It is also a good opportunity to work while studying and show that I can manage my life. Being SU president has also made me more active in college. Last year I was playing sports, but this year I am even more involved.

What can you, as SU President, do for students?

Students can contact me via email (su.president@griffith.ie) if they have an issue and I can either help them or connect them with someone who can help them.

How do you handle being SU President, working on a Master’s Degree and playing on the basketball and badminton teams?

A lot of people ask me how I manage my time, and my answer is that I have good time management skills. Also, the SU is very flexible and helps me by working with my schedule. Some people don’t know that if you work at the SU you still have time to study and play sports. I write everything down. I always make myself a time schedule that lists my classes, sports, and breaks. In my time off —between classes and in the evenings— I complete college work. For me, the weekend is my fun time. On Saturday and Sunday I take time for myself and I see my friends.

What do you want to do when you finish college?

That’s a good question... I would like to work in a fashion company or tech company in Dublin for one or two years for work experience.