Masters student Adelayo Adebayo is one of five people running for the hotly contested role of VP Education this year.
The VP Education role oversees the academic interests of students, ensuring a positive learning experience. They are also in charge of the academic representative structure in the Union, including faculty officers and academic reps.
Brig caught up with Adebayo to speak about her manifesto and why people should vote for her.
“I love education,” she said. “I believe we all keep learning each and every day. No knowledge is a waste.”
Her experience
Adebayo moved to Stirling last year to study digital media and communications.
“We are all born leaders,” she said. “I’ve been a stage manager before, having an opportunity to coordinate students, over 50 students.
“You have to learn to put yourself aside. I also understand that it is not all about me – it is all about you, the people that you are representing.”
The postgraduate student already has experience as a class representative for her department:
“This is one of the things that has shaped me, because I’ve been privileged to hear how people feel.
“I have been in the position where people share their truth… sometimes they feel like they are not included.”
As an international student, Adebayo is keen to represent everyone equally.
“I am not just here for my people in respect of nationality,” she said. “I am here for everyone.”
Adebayo’s manifesto
Inclusive and accessible education are key pillars of Adebayo’s manifesto.
“A lot of people are not even aware that they have a person tutor,” she said. “Even if they are aware, a lot of people have not even met them.
“It’s not because they don’t have questions, of course they do, but some of them don’t even know what to ask.
“These things need made accessible for us, it is part of our payment, what we’ve paid for.”
To improve relationships between students and their personal tutors, Adebayo would propose a question week if she were elected.
“Just like we have reading week, a question week where there is no lecture, students will be able to come and ask their questions,” she explained.
Open communication and feedback is another important issue for her:
“Most times when our assessments are released, we go on Canvas, you see your marks, but most of the time you don’t see the rubric.
“I want to know how I got this mark, what are the things I can do to get a better grade? These are the things we need from our lecturers.”
On-time feedback continues to be an issue across the university, one that Adebayo has experienced herself.
“At this point in time, I’m yet to see my overall last semester results,” she said. “We were told the result would be out on Friday 16 February at 5pm, and now nothing. These are the things that we need to work on.”
Finally, Adebayo wants to provide more support to international students if she is elected.
“I believe that international students feel stress more, especially when they’re just coming in [to the country],” she said, “I have had people explain to me in fact due to the stress, the way they came in, settling down and all, affected their first semester results.
“I believe that first semester can be a more relaxed section, so people have enough time to prepare.”
Why should people vote for you?
Adebayo concluded: “Education has always been a part of me, it has always been something I’m interested in.
“Education is what brings people together. Why are we here? Because of education.
“Just like my manifesto, I talked about inclusion. My tenure is going to be an inclusive one because everyone is included.
“What affects you affects me – what we need to do is approach it as early as possible.”
Find out more about the elections and read Adelayo Adebayo’s manifesto in full here.
Voting opens on Tuesday, February 27 at 10am.
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Students Union
Film, media and journalism student. I like writing about my inability to eat gluten.
