VP Wellbeing Update Feb 9

Posted 111 Months Ago

As your Vice president Wellbeing, I work around improving your Welfare and Equal Opportunities and representation.  I have spent a great deal of time engaging new students into groups and activities, and throwing events to educate and empower students- check out week 1’s Liberation activities and our Diversity Week!

• I ran our first team meeting of the semester of gathering all Liberation officers, and the welfare officer to plan our semester. Having a full team meeting was important to get as many officers to lead and create projects of their own, and for me to have less focus on leading officers so I can work on university issues or external welfare campaigns. Some projects the officers will lead on and some I shall be leading on.

1. At the meeting it was discussed myself and Welfare exec shall create a charity donation base at the Union for the refugee crisis (REACTIVE). This is a project that means a lot to many of our students who come from so many different places around the world, and really want to give donations in helping refugees fleeing from poverty and war

2. I am working with International Students Group about refugee scholarships (other universities provide these). I have passed the following research onto the university: : Dundee University have a working group with aims for at least one Scholarship per school; Stirling University are financially supporting a PhD student from Palestine and have a fee waivering scheme for Syrian refugees; Middlesex University have agreed to house and school refugees, University of East London,  and Sussex University have scholarships, Essex University has a fund for refugees, Warwick University has 20 scholarships over two years, Sheffield Hallam University are working to provide yearly scholarships to asylum speakers and refugees,  and finally Goldsmiths University have gotten 6 this year for Syrians and have 2 others for Palestinians and one for war trauma, they have a business case for the 6 new ones that was put forward to senior management for funding to waive accommodation and tuition plus a £10,000 living bursary throughout UG and PG studies. Our students urge the university to do the same.

3. I am also working on GLOBAL DAY with the International students committee. This year we have seen whole new kinds of engagement with students from around the world, especially transfer students from Dubai. We are hoping to host a magnificent day to celebrate our students from around the world and currently are actively seeking students to participate.

• I spent an afternoon pushing Scottish elections and encouraging students to register to vote; it is incredibly important to have as many student registered to vote as we want the Scottish elections to focus on the many student needs- such as improving Mental Health support for students, Further Education support, and increased grants for Higher Education students. Register to vote here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
• I was at SBC for a day to help push any welfare activities that are happening there, and would like to support SBC’s causes whenever I can this semester
• Promoting Peer Mentoring to get first years to sign up to the many third and final year mentors we have- if you’re interested in joining the Peer mentoring programme please email: e.smail@hw.ac.uk
• Working with Womens Group around the lack of feminine products in bathrooms on campus. At a male dominated university it’s a travesty that pads/ tampons ad hygiene bins are not provided in campus bathrooms. The university have said they are doing this- we await to see any action, and if none are taken, there shall be a campaign on this
• I have spent some time on Islam Awareness Week and co-ordinating the Union side- ticketing, promotion. Trips to a Mosque for first timers and giving a speech on Islamophobia at the start of the week.
• I am involved in activities for Wellbeing week alongside the university and Sports Union- there will be Sexual health awareness with the Advice Hub, Therapets, Mindfulness/ mediation tasters and fundraising for See Me Scotlands cause of Student Depression at the Depressed Cake Shop – this is all coming in week 5!
• I was contacted by an external organisation to give research on Mental Health initiatives for students- they are developing an app for students who suffer from anxiety, stress and depression in hopes to help those who are most isolated
• I have been actively working on our Anti- PREVENT stance, from working with one of our Trustees, and with NUS as well as our Muslim Society and Liberation Groups

VP Community Update Feb 9

Posted 111 Months Ago

My name is Miranda and I’m your Vice-President Community. What does this mean? I work full time after having graduated from Heriot-Watt and I’m one of your representatives, specifically for the community on campus. This includes sitting on University Committee Meetings, ensuring decisions which are made by the University are in your best interests. Alongside this, I run Activities (societies, halls, charities), Events and any Campaigns that the Union is spearheading.

• I’ve been working with a student who has been spearheading an operation to increase the number of entrepreneurial opportunities and competitions on campus. We’re hoping to align all the different departments on campus who provide some kind of innovative service and find funding to have a hub for such things here in Riccarton. This would include helping students start their own businesses, compete in National events and more.
• Just finished Charities week which was eventful, I aided Sheona and Kealy who did a stellar job with the week, putting on a roster of different activities and events. We managed to raise over £1000 for a variety of charities so I’d like to thank everyone that came to the events and donated!
• Halls Parties recently have been doing pretty well, with roughly 200 people attending each time. The next one is on the 13/02/16 which will be a UV Toga Party with a Valentines twist so I’m looking forward to that!
• I’m helping a group of students put on another Freshers Ball which was a big hit last year, they organised it on their own and are seeking some support.
• It’s time for students to get registered to vote in the Scottish Elections, so we are promoting registration as much as possible – the deadline for registration is the 18^th of April.
• 6 Nations is back on so I’ve been bouncing around ideas with bar staff and looking to promote the Rugby here in Geordies, especially now that Scotland are in with a shot!

I’ve met with a contact for a variety of venues in town ranging from bars, clubs and restaurants to see if there are any deals we can offer with kickbacks to student groups and societies if they are looking for events venues. The variety of spaces is quite good and it could save societies money when they are looking to host an event somewhere whilst generating some cash for the Union.

President Update Feb 9

Posted 111 Months Ago

Hello again! Seems like only last week I was working on my last update, not got quite as much to tell you this time but this is a round-up of what I’ve been doing:

• Demonstrator Pay – Working with our PG Students Officer Jonathan, I put together a timeline of what exactly we’ve been doing to try to fix the issues of demonstrator pay at the University, and Jonathan presented this to the Research Student Coordinators Group at the most recent meeting. There is now another meeting of this group planned specifically for this issue, where hopefully we’ll be able to make even more headway!
• School of Life Sciences – as most of you will know by now, the University Senate approved the proposed plans for the restructuring of SLS, which means the teaching and research it currently conducts will be moving to other schools. I put together a video to try to help reassure students, and point them in the right direction if they have any concerns or worries about it – check out the Union’s YouTube channel if you want to watch! As well as this, I organised a student forum for all SLS students on the 4^th of February which I’ll tell you more about in my next update.
• Learning & Teaching Oscars – Nominations are now OPEN! I’m very excited to start receiving nominations for your favourite lecturers, so make sure if you think yours is worthy that you head to the Union website and tell me about them! Nominations will close on the 11^th March.
• Design Projects – the redesign of Elements Café is very much still on the agenda, however at the moment I have no updates to give you. Another project is now underway to look at the main reception area of the University, which will hopefully make it more welcoming for you when you arrive in the mornings!
• Graduate Attributes Project – did you know the University has four graduate attributes they hope you’ll have developed by the time you graduate? Our School Officers have been looking in to designs for how we might better present these to you, keep an eye out for them!
• ELECTIONS ARE ALMOST UPON US! I have my work cut out for me at the moment, still updating and revitalising all of our election materials ready for our AGM on the 18^th February. Videos have been filmed, and we have a great looking new election website to show you very soon – I’m sure you’ll agree it looks fab! Interested in standing for election? Get in touch! I’d love to chat to you about any questions you have!

Of course in between all this I’ve been attending plenty of meetings to keep up to date on what the University is up to, and all the while making sure your opinions are heard. If you want to grill me on anything I’m up to, or have a query about anything, make sure you get in touch on union.president@hw.ac.uk – speak soon! Hannah x

ISLAM AWARENESS WEEK: Thursday 11th- Thursday 18th February

Posted 111 Months Ago

ISLAM AWARENESS WEEK: Thursday 11^th- Thursday 18^th February

We have Islam Awareness Week starting this Thursday!

Check out the full timetable of excellent events, open to all students and staff. This is your opportunity to learn something new and get involved in this weeks fun activities! There will be many stalls offering Henna, Hijabs and information, tours to Edinburgh Central Mosque, and a fantastic closing ceremony on the final night with comedians, musicians and food!

Join the facebook event here to keep up with details:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1050878908268451/

Like the Muslim Society Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/HWUMS/?fref=nf

Thursday 11^th

Look Once Think Twice Stall, Link Bridge, 11am- 2pm

Does Islam need better PR with Yvonne Ridley. 6-7pm, Lecture Theatre 3, FREE

Is Islam the cause or the solution to extremism? With Hafiz Muhammad. 7pm- 8pm, Lecture Theatre 3, FREE

Monday 15^th

Discover Islam Exhibition, 11am- 4pm Link Bridge

Welcome Lunch/General Meeting with University and Muslim community: 12-2pm, James Watt Centre 2, FREE

Talk: Islam and ISIS- How did a religion of peace come to be a tool for terror? With Yahya Barry. 6pm- 8pm, Lecture Theatre 3

Tuesday 16^th

Discover Islam Exhibition- Women In Islam Exhibition. Henna and Hijab stall. 11am- 4pm , Link Bridge

Never seen a mosque? Come for the first time on this tour of Edinburgh Central Mosque! 12- 2pm. Get in touch with the society via the facebook event

Wednesday 17^th

Discover Islam Exhibition. 11am- 4pm , Link Bridge

Never seen a mosque? Come for the first time on this tour of Edinburgh Central Mosque! 12- 2pm. Get in touch with the society via the facebook event

Thursday 18^th

Look Once Think Twice: 11am- 2pm, Link Bridge

Multicultural Event, closing ceremony: 6-8pm, James Watt Centre. Tickets bought from: Muslim Society activities