A whopping five candidates are running for VP Education this year. They were all in attendance at the hustings: Adelayo Adebayo, Aaron Caulfield, Aliyah Hossanee, Nick LaRue and Linz Mincher.
Introducing herself, Adebayo focused on inclusivity, pushing for questions to be answered by lecturers and making everyone heard. Caulfield is the Solidarity Space candidate and he explained his previous experience around the Union, his passion for trade unionism, and demands for clarifications around AI.
Hossanee wants to represent the underrepresented and demand better for students. LaRue drew attention to the educational work done by societies and sports clubs and he wants to work with local businesses.
Finally, Mincher spoke about her experience as a faculty officer and her desire to fix timetabling issues.
Relationships with faculties
The first question asked how candidates would foster relationships with faculties. Adebayo said she would build trust with lecturers and Caulfield would work with the existing structure of academic reps. Hossanee is a faculty officer herself and if she was elected she would enhance the current experience.
LaRue said he would take a multifaceted approach by speaking to reps and lecturers. Mincher is also a faculty officer and already has good relationships within the network.
Academic reps
Focusing further on improving the academic rep system Adebayo said she would aim to improve communication. Caulfield said he would provide training and look at reforming the system.
Hossanee said she would ask people how they best need help and focus on communication. LaRue also mentioned communication and engagement to get better feedback on the system.
Mincher said she would work on strengthening relationships between reps and lecturers.
AI use at univeristy
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic in the education world currently. When asked about the future of education and AI, Adebayo brought attention to her idea of a question week in her manifesto.
Caulfield made clear he does not support the use of AI for academic dishonesty and that the Turnitin system is flawed. Hossanee agreed and said she would introduce workshops for academic integrity.
LaRue took a slightly different approach, saying that AI will become a big part of people’s lives in the coming years and that we should be using it responsibly, not avoiding it entirely. Mincher also said she would run workshops and work to demystify the system.
Education Zone
The last of the preprepared questions focused on the Education Zone and engagement with the volunteer officers. Adebayo said she would ensure that people know their reps and Caulfield said he would apply his experience from the Communities Zones and ensure people’s roles are recognised on their transcripts.
Hossanee said she would focus on enhancing, not changing the Education Zone. LaRue would emphasize the roles and their benefits. Mincher would make sure the academic reps would go back on Canvas to make them more accessible.
Fighting for better education
Turning to questions from the audience, the first asked how candidates will support students to fight for better education. Adebayo said she would ask for accountable information and clearer rubrics.
Caulfield said he would engage with political societies to campaign for a better Stirling. Hossanee said that as a second-year, she wants to make her own experience better and that people should speak up for what they need.
LaRue said he would team up with lecturers as they also have grievances with the uni. Mincher said she wants to get more involved and organise more protests.
Supporting international students
International students have faced significant issues in recent years. When asked how she would support students with visas, Adebayo said students should come together to raise their voices and that there should be improved awareness of student engagement week.
Caulfield brought attention to what he deemed the failure of the current union with the student Muhammad Rauf Waris being detained last year for allegedly breaching his visa requirements. He called for more support for tier four students.
Hossannee said it was the uni’s responsibility to support students and that everyone deserves equal opportunities. LaRue has a friend who made need to leave the country because of visa changes and he said change needs to come from a Scottish-wide level, not just a Stirling one.
Mincher agreed that the problem comes from above university level and that Stirling relies on funds from international students.
Academic adjustments
Finally, the hustings closed with a question on supporting students with academic adjustments. Adebayo noted that one of her classmates is visually impaired and that his academics are being affected. She said more needs to be done to support all students.
Caulfield explained he has an ARUAA himself and that he would use his own knowledge to ensure everyone gets support. Hossanee said every student deserves equal support.
LaRue called for a more personalised system and that personal tutors should be more involved. Mincher said the system needs to be reformed and she has seen the lack of support some of her friends receive.
Find out more about the elections and read all the candidates’ manifestos in full here.
Voting opens on Tuesday, February 27 at 10am.
Feature image credit: Jonathan Boomer
Film, media and journalism student. I like writing about my inability to eat gluten.
