Vote Diarmuid Cowan #1 for NUS SEC

Vote Diarmuid Cowan #1 for NUS SEC

I am currently Heriot-Watt University Student Union President, where I studied Economics (it can be as boringas you think…). I have a history of representation as asabbatical officer and have tackled the postgraduate pay disparities within my institution, improved the welfare and support of our students, clashed with the university over learning and teaching support, and fought against money grabbing tactics in student services.I have also seen first-hand what the Teaching Excellence Framework (eugh, TEF…) is like to go through. It is awfuland we need to keep bringing the fight to the key decisionmakers, both in our institutions and in government!

So what do I want to do?

Transnational Education (TNE)

Institutions with campuses abroad face many issues with student representation structures and coming from an institution with two international campuses, a host of Approved learning Partner institutions, and many Independent Distance Learners. It is one of the hardest challenges that student associations and unions face, of what their role may be within a wider institution that was not considered when legislation was written for representation. I want to work with NUS Scotland to ensure these student associations and unions are supported in their efforts to ensure all the students of their institutions are represented, are treated fairly, and feel part of their wider student body.

Preparing our students for the wider world

With an impending exit from the European Union our students will find it more difficult to find employment, particularly if there is an economic downturn in the United Kingdom. These means our students need to be more prepared than ever to enter the wider world, beyond the borders of the UK. I want to use my degree and my experience as a sabbatical officer to help shape NUS Scotland policy to prepare for the troubles our students will soon face.

Postgraduates

NUS focuses on undergraduate issues, but TEF and NSS do not extend to so many of our students. What I want to focus on is research and funding support for our postgraduates students, post-Brexit, and to help NUS Scotland lobby the Scottish Government to safeguard research and to ensure that the Scottish Higher Education system continues to be key in its future budgets. We also need to work nationally and internationally to ensure these students, who will be the future researchers and lecturers and perhaps the next Nobel Prize winners, are fully supported by NUS Scotland and the Scottish Government.