Hi,
My name is Muhammad Jahangir Saiyed. I am a final year student of Business Entrepreneurship at DMU.
I am standing to be your next Union Development Executive as I have a strong belief in promoting accountability and transparency at the heart of the Union.
Previously, I have been involved in various campaigns and projects to promote student participation and empowerment, both within the university and outside of it. I believe these skills will enable me to be an effective Executive Officer.
If elected, I plan on working on the following areas:
- Promote sustainability to tackle the climate crisis.
I would ensure that the Union and its diners use only recyclable products e.g. cups, in order to reduce waste. I would also campaign to ensure that all lighting in the Union building is energy-saving and efficient. I would lobby the University to introduce more climate-friendly features on new buildings e.g. green roofing and looking at ways of reducing the University’s carbon footprint.
- Promote accountability and transparency at the heart of the Union.
I would ensure that the Union is fully transparent with students in relations to costs and running of the Union, as well as salaries and other information; so that students are aware of where resources are being used in the Union, and how they can be directed better to ensure that the service users have the best service.
- Ensuring students’ needs are supported.
I would ensure that students who are facing financial difficulties and hardships are supported by the Union, through initiatives such as free childcare for parents that are studying full time, food banks for students who are facing difficulties with their meals, making the welfare and advice section of the Union more open and accessible and working with other Executive Officers to tackle key issues such as Period Poverty.
- Improving DMUGlobal to ensure that students get the best experience at the lowest possible cost.
I would ensure that DMUGlobal becomes more effective, that students get the best possible experience that is relevant to their courses and interests; for the lowest costs possible, and also that students who are facing financial hardship are fully supported to be able to access DMUGlobal opportunities. I would do this by having feedback sessions after trips, to gather data and also by working closely with the DMUGlobal department, to identify needs and areas of improvement. I would also look at expanding DMUGlobal to incorporate avenues of overseas traineeships/internships for students, in order to prevent DMUGlobal from being merely a one-off event.
I am fluent in 3 languages (English, Urdu & Hindi) and I am easily approachable. I am very passionate about making the Union effective, efficient and transparent, as well as it being a living wage employer.
I need your support to make these changes happen and ensure that we have a Union that works and supports each and every of our students.