You could say that I was #MadeinMDX

Business & Law VP 2017-19 discusses the doors Middlesex opened for her and her upcoming role at NUS.

My role as Vice President is more than just representing students from the Business and Law Schools (which has recently changed – it is now the Faculty of Professional and Social Sciences). It’s my job to work and campaign on the things that matter to you.

Specifically I have a passion for students and have worked to ensure they are properly resourced and supported. I’ve also led campaigns on a range of issues, such as my campaign against Sexual Harassment #WeBelieveYou, the Free Periods campaign tackling period poverty, and supporting and celebrating international students on campus.

One of the key roles I play as one of your representatives is to meet with other officers from other unions, from different universities and colleges from across the UK.

We do this through networking opportunities at the National Union of Students (NUS), which is the national organisation for representing student voice through a wider collective of affiliated Students’ Unions from across the country. It’s important that we work across the UK with other Unions on the issues that are facing students, as we are powerful when we stand together.

Being a representative from an international background, and of a university that has a particularly diverse and multinational student body, I realised that there was so much more I could do to improve the everyday lives of international students, not just here at Middlesex but across the UK.

Throughout my two years of being your VP and the International Students 2nd Place at NUS, I have learned that Students’ Unions play a really powerful role, not just in improving the lives of students on campus, but also in empowering students to participate in society and encouraging them to fight for causes that matter to them. Be that in their communities, or in the wider world.

The ability for Students’ Unions to shape a students’ journey through university, making it a worthwhile experience by providing opportunities for you to grow as leaders and champions within our society is so inspiring.

This is why I made the decision to stand to be your Vice President Union Development at the National Union of Students – it’s because of Students’ Unions like MDXSU and their constant drive to encourage positive change through the empowerment of students that we have achieved so much for society, and for the world.

So, I am going to spend my year in Students’ Unions, engaging them with NUS and giving local Unions the power to win on what matters to students.

I’d like to end this article by saying that it has been such an honour, and such a thrilling experience to have been your Vice President Business and Law for the past two years.

Thank you for all of your support, and especially to those who have just made this ride easier, inspiring, and worthwhile. I speak a lot about empowerment, but truly I have been empowered by YOU, the students, the staff, and the Students’ Union here at Middlesex.