My name is Shakshi, and I’m your Vice President for Liberation, International and Postgraduate Students at Queen Mary Students’ Union.
Hi everyone!
For those of you who don’t know me yet, my name is Shakshi, and I’m your Vice President for Liberation, International and Postgraduate Students at Queen Mary Students’ Union.
My role involves working on projects and initiatives that support international students, postgraduate students, and our liberation groups. I wanted to use this opportunity to introduce myself, share what I’m currently working on, and hear your thoughts and feedback on how we can make the postgraduate experience at Queen Mary better.
At the Students’ Union, we’re always open to listening to your concerns, questions, and suggestions. If there’s anything you’re struggling with or something you think could be improved, please feel free to reach out to me directly via email or contact the Students’ Union. Your feedback is important, and I want to make sure your voices are heard and that we’re working on the issues that matter most to you.
At the moment, there are three main projects I’m working on that I’d like to tell you about.
1. Postgraduate Buddy Scheme
The first project is the Buddy Scheme. This is something that already exists at the University, but I’m working on expanding it to better support international and postgraduate students.
I feel that when students first arrive at university, especially those coming from another country, it can sometimes be difficult to navigate a new environment, understand how everything works, and know who to approach for help. Having someone you can connect with, ask questions, and learn from could make that transition much easier.
I’ve completed the initial project plan, and I’m now working on developing the idea further.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Have you heard about the Buddy Scheme before? Would you find it useful? What kind of support would you want from a buddy, and what do you think would make the scheme more effective for postgraduate students?
2. Academic Misconduct for Postgraduate Students
The second project focuses on academic misconduct and the process postgraduate students go through when facing an allegation.
One of my concerns is that the process can sometimes feel unclear or difficult to navigate. I want to explore how we can make it more transparent, so students better understand the process, what is expected of them, and what support is available.
This is particularly important for postgraduate students, as an academic misconduct case during the final semester could potentially delay the completion of a degree. For international students, delays may also create additional concerns around their future plans and visa arrangements.
My aim is to understand the challenges students face and explore how the process and the information available to students could be improved.
If you have any thoughts, experiences, or suggestions about how students could be better supported through this process, I’d really appreciate hearing them.
3. Careers and Employability
The third project I’m working on is careers and employability.
I want to explore how we can better equip postgraduate students with the skills, experience, and resources they need to prepare for the job market. This could include identifying gaps in existing support, understanding what employers are looking for, and exploring opportunities for students to develop their professional skills and improve their career prospects.
I’d be interested to know what you feel is currently missing from the careers support available to postgraduate students. Are there particular skills, workshops, networking opportunities, or other resources that you think would be useful?
These are the main areas I’m working on at the moment, but I also want to hear about the issues that matter to you. These projects are an opportunity for us to work together, and your feedback can help shape what happens next.
So please feel free to share your thoughts, ask questions, or get in touch with me after this meeting. I’m here to represent you, and I want to make sure we’re working towards a better and more supportive postgraduate experience at Queen Mary. You can email me at su-vplip@qmul.ac.uk!
Thank you!