Adelayo Adebayo is running for a second term for VP of Education. In her last term, she worked to change the personal tutor system and advocated for a stronger Welcome Week structure and an international student orientation.
Adelayo’s manifesto greatly focuses on inclusion, improved communication and transparency in student/faculty feedback.
“How do you want to see the improvement of students’ voices on campus?”
“I think one of the things that I’m looking at is better communication between the university, the student union and and students.
I think there are a lot of improvements on things that have been worked on…but students are not aware. So what’s the point where the people that we represent don’t actually know what we do.”
She wants to increase awareness of what the Student Union does for students. So they know how the Union works with feedback. Adelayo has also added a new structure to the academic representative Student and Staff Feedback Committee, such as including a tracker for feedback from students. So non-academic rep students can see how the faculty is acting on their feedback.
“For your accountable information point in your manifesto, what is your plan to ensure proper follow up?”
Adelayo hosts one to one catchups every Tuesday for students to voice their concerns and posts summaries of meetings on Instagram before they happen.
“Ahead of every meeting I will record myself…students can give feedback or recommendations ahead of this meeting.”
She takes the recognition of student feedback very seriously, especially when students sometimes think ‘what’s the point?’ of giving their voice.
“We need an avenue to tell them that this is what’s been discussed this is what’s been done. And if it’s not done, this is the reason why.”
“What national projects do you want to focus on to improve the student body?”
Adelayo’s manifesto mentioned focusing on national projects:
The Quality Assurance Agency is in partnership with the College Development Network on the STEP Project. This is the Scotland Tertiary Enhancement Programme. The project aims to enhance the student learning experience over four years.
These enhancements focus on skills and learning to ensure students’ experience in higher education is the best it could be.
And although there is no confirmation yet, the University of Stirling might start changing module assessments.
“One of the things that the university might be working on…personalising assessment for each diverse learner.”
“What achievements of your time as VP of Education last year are you proud of?”
In Adelayo’s manifesto she mentions how academic reps enhance student feedback and her work to increase retention rates.
Adelayo is especially proud of changing the personal tutor structure; as this was difficult but worth-while to do. The last time the structure changed was 2014.
“A lot of people told me it’s not something that could be done. But when I came into the room I was able to influence the university.”
And to focus on student retention, she has a plan for that too: “Whenever the university sees that there is an issue with student retention… they would open a Task and Finish group for a specific time to work on it.”
“I think this is one of my most proudest moments because it’s a really difficult thing to do.”
Further Information
Adelayo Adebayo’s manifesto is available to read here.
And you can follow updates on the Student Union Elections 2025 here.
Voting begins on Tuesday, February 25. Results come out on Thursday, February 27.
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Student Union website
Third year journalism student. 2025/2026 Lifestyle and Comment Editor at Brig. Published in The Yucatán Times, Mi Campeche and The Mourning Paper. Host of From the 40s with Air3Radio.
