2026 Rep Elections Coverage: The candidates seeking to represent the Faculties of Brain Science, Medical Sciences, the Institute of Education and their promises to you

Faculty of Brain Sciences

Candidate respondees: Alyssa Yeko, Seow Min Koh

Candidate: Alyssa Yeko

1. What faculty are you running for? What is your department and degree?

I am applying for Brain sciences UG rep, my department is division of psychology and language sciences, and I am a 1^st year MSci psychology student.

2. What do you have planned should you win your election.

Introduce several feedback opportunities, such as anonymous forms, student listening sessions and updates explaining what issues have been raised and what progress has been made. Encourage greater visibility of undergraduate research opportunities, lab placements, internships, mentoring, especially for those in first and second years. I also want to introduce more faculty mixers where we can mingle as a faculty and not just within our respective divisions. In will also be open to suggestions from other students.

3. What you would like to do to ensure STEAM students’ voices are heard.

Brain sciences faculty Student Voice Forum: A regular opportunity for students across different faculties to raise shared issues.

Anonymous feedback channels: Especially helpful for students who are uncomfortable raising concerns publicly. Sent out to respective departments to share out to students

Collaboration with course representatives: Gather feedback from departmental representatives rather than relying solely on my own experiences.

Closing the feedback loop: Publish regular “You Said, We Did” updates explaining what has happened after students raise concerns. I think that as a representative if elected I should be proactive rather than reactive.

4. Will you be able to state what you plan to do for the upcoming year and how you intend to work with your departments or societies to lead change on and around campus.

My approach would be to establish clear priorities at the beginning of the academic year through consultation with students and their respective course representatives. I would work with departmental representatives to identify recurring concerns surrounding teaching, accessibility, and student support, and raise these through the appropriate university channels. I would also like work with the departments to organise mixers that allow the other divisions to get to know one another, so we are not just mingling with in their own divisions. I do feel like as a faculty we could be more welcoming so I would also like to work with the faculty on that. Ultimately, I would want to finish the year with tangible outcomes that students can recognise, rather than simply a list of discussions that have taken place. Also to help future reps understand what worked well for that year and what did not work well for the year to improve on or keep the same

5. If you were to miss Zone meetings and discussions, would you hold yourself accountable? If so, how would you do this?.

Absolutely. I do recognise that being elected as a representative I have a responsibility to the who students would be placing their trust in me (hence why they have voted for me) to advocate on their behalf. I would prioritise attending Zone meetings and communicate in advance if an unavoidable commitment prevented me from attending. In that situation, I would review the meeting minutes, follow up with other representatives, and ensure that any concerns I had gathered from students were still communicated through the appropriate channels. I would also take responsibility for any outstanding actions and provide updates to students where necessary. Ultimately, I believe accountability isn’t just about acknowledging when something goes wrong; it’s about taking proactive steps to ensure that students aren’t disadvantaged by my absence. As I understand accountability, transparency, and responsibility are interconnected.

Candidate: Seow Min Koh

1. What faculty are you running for? What is your department and degree?

Hello! I’m Koh Seow Min (Kohdy), and I’m running for Faculty of Brain Sciences Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Representative.

I’m currently pursuing an MSc in Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) at the UCL Interaction Centre, within the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences.

My background spans UX design, technology, research and community leadership. Having worked professionally as a UX Design Lead before coming to UCL, I’ve always been fascinated by what happens when different disciplines come together to solve problems. To me, that’s what STEAM is all about!

2. What do you have planned should you win your election?

My campaign is built around three simple promises:

KOHDY LISTENS. KOHDY ACTS. KOHDY REGRETS NOTHING (yet).

Beyond the humour, I’m serious about making our postgraduate experience more connected, inclusive and meaningful.

I hope to focus on three areas:

• Amplifying student voices: Establishing accessible channels for students to raise concerns, share suggestions and contribute to decisions affecting their education.
• Building interdisciplinary connections: Encouraging cross-faculty collaborations, workshops, networking opportunities and knowledge-sharing sessions that bring students from different disciplines together.
• Turning feedback into action: Working with academic representatives, faculty staff and the Students’ Union to identify recurring problems, advocate for practical improvements and communicate progress transparently.

I don’t believe representation should end at listening. Students deserve to know what happens to their feedback and whether anything has changed. I also aim towards a community where we can actively and openly share ideas to improve student life, be it more welfare, support, or just pure fun!

3. How would you ensure STEAM students’ voices are heard?

One thing I’ve learnt from working in human-centred design is that the loudest voices aren’t necessarily the most representative.

I’d like to create multiple opportunities for students to contribute, including informal conversations, anonymous feedback channels and regular engagement with Course and Department Representatives.

Importantly, I’d actively reach out beyond my own programme. STEAM encompasses students with incredibly diverse interests, experiences and challenges, and meaningful representation means understanding these differences rather than assuming everyone shares the same priorities.

My goal is to make it easy for students to speak up and ensure their perspectives reach the people who can act on them.

4. What are your plans for the upcoming year, and how would you work with departments and societies to lead change?

I would begin by listening to students and working with representatives across the Faculty of Brain Sciences to identify shared priorities, whether these involve academic support, student wellbeing, assessment, career development or opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement.

I’d then work collaboratively with departments, faculty staff, the Students’ Union and relevant societies to develop achievable initiatives and advocate for improvements through the appropriate committees.

As President of the AI Collective at Goodenough College, I’m already actively involved in creating spaces where people with different backgrounds can learn, connect and exchange ideas. I’d love to build on this experience by exploring interdisciplinary activities that connect students across STEM and the Arts, from student-led workshops and discussions to collaborative problem-solving events.

After all, what’s the point of having so many brilliant brains if we don’t put them together? 🧠

5. If you missed Zone meetings and discussions, would you hold yourself accountable? How?

Absolutely. Being elected means being entrusted with the responsibility of representing others, and that responsibility doesn’t disappear simply because I cannot attend a meeting.

I would prioritise attending Zone meetings and communicate any unavoidable absence in advance. Where possible, I would submit relevant student concerns or contributions beforehand and arrange appropriate representation in accordance with meeting procedures. Afterwards, I would review the meeting minutes, follow up on important discussions and ensure that any outstanding actions are addressed. I’d also keep students informed about issues raised, progress made and any unresolved concerns.

To me, accountability isn’t just about showing up. It’s about following through.

Ultimately, I hope to be a representative who is approachable, proactive and willing to do the work required to make positive changes.

Faculty of Medical Sciences

Candidate respondees: Chihiro Xu and Xiyan (Adele) Yang, Eleanor Charman, Daksh Yadav

Candidates: Chihiro Xu and Xiyan (Adele) Yang

1. What faculty are you running for? What is your department and degree?

I am running candidates for Faculty Representative for Medical Sciences at UCL with Xiyan (Adele) Yang, together as a job-share. We are both studying BSc Applied Medical Sciences within the Division of Medicine.

2. What do you have planned should you win your election?
Our main priority is to create a more connected, inclusive and supportive environment where students feel that their opinions genuinely matter.
  We hope to introduce more opportunities for students to connect across different courses and departments, particularly through interdisciplinary networking events, research opportunities and student-led initiatives. We also want to improve communication between students and faculty, ensuring that concerns and suggestions are not only heard but translated into meaningful action.
  One of our key ambitions is to make academic and research opportunities more accessible, helping students explore different career pathways and connect with others who share similar interests.

3. How would you ensure STEAM students’ voices are heard?
We believe that representation should go beyond simply listening to the most vocal students. Some of the most valuable perspectives come from those who may not feel confident speaking up.
  We would like to introduce accessible ways of collecting feedback, such as anonymous suggestion forms, regular student check-ins and open discussions. We would also actively reach out to students from different courses and backgrounds to ensure that our decisions reflect a wide range of experiences. As both of us can speak multiple languages, those international students’ voices can be heard as well.
  As STEAM students, we recognise the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. We want to encourage stronger connections between medical sciences, technology, engineering and the arts, creating opportunities for students to exchange ideas and explore innovative approaches to shared challenges.

4. What are your plans for the upcoming year, and how would you work with departments to lead change?

Throughout the year, we aim to maintain regular communication with students, course representatives, faculty staff and the Students’ Union.
  Rather than making promises without a clear plan, we want to focus on achievable improvements based on what students actually need. This could include improving access to academic resources, promoting research and career development opportunities, and organising events that bring students from different disciplines together.
  We also believe transparency is essential. We would aim to provide regular updates on the issues raised, the discussions taking place and the progress being made, so students can see how their feedback contributes to change.

5. Would you hold yourselves accountable if you missed Zone meetings or discussions?
  Absolutely. We believe accountability is one of the most important responsibilities of a student representative.
  As job-share candidates, we have the advantage of being able to support one another and coordinate our responsibilities, helping us maintain consistent representation.
  If either of us were unable to attend a meeting, we would communicate this in advance, ensure that relevant student concerns were still raised wherever possible, and follow up on the meeting’s outcomes. If we both missed an important discussion, we would take responsibility for catching up and communicating any relevant developments to students.
  We believe that being a representative is not simply about holding a title, but about being reliable, approachable and committed to making a difference.
  Ultimately, our goal is simple: to make sure every student has a voice, every idea has an opportunity, and every concern is taken seriously.

Candidate: Eleanor Charman

1. What faculty are you running for? What is your department and degree?

I am running for the Faculty of Medical Sciences UG (Non Clinical) and I am studying Applied Medical Sciences BSc.

2. What do you have planned should you win your election.

If elected, I want to be a visible, approachable, and proactive representative who regularly gathers student feedback and turns it into action. My priorities include improving communication between students and faculty, ensuring students know about available academic and wellbeing support, and advocating for changes based on student concerns. I would also like to strengthen connections between students and UCL’s wide range of STEAM societies by promoting opportunities that complement degree work, such as research, outreach, science communication, entrepreneurship, and professional development events. Many students are unaware of opportunities outside their degree programme, especially if they are not yet members of a society, and I want to improve engagement with these initiatives.

3. What you would like to do to ensure STEAM students’ voices are heard.

I believe effective representation starts with listening. I would make myself easily accessible to students, both online and in person, and actively seek input from a diverse range of students across departments, not just from my own degree course.

I also want to engage directly with STEAM societies, as they often identify issues, opportunities, and student priorities that may not be sent through formal channels. By maintaining relationships with society committees and student leaders, I can help ensure concerns and ideas from active student communities are represented in discussions with Faculty staff and the Students’ Union.

4. Will you be able to state what you plan to do for the upcoming year and how you intend to work with your departments or societies to lead change on and around campus?

Throughout the year, I will communicate regularly with students, staff, society leaders, and student representatives to identify key issues and opportunities for improvement.

One area I want to focus on is helping students access opportunities beyond the classroom, including STEAM societies, interdisciplinary events, networking opportunities, and science communication initiatives.

I would work collaboratively with departments and societies to identify barriers to engagement and ensure students know about opportunities that can enhance both their university experience and future career development.

I also believe in the importance of transparency, so I would regularly update students on feedback raised, progress made, and any difficulties in resolving their issues.

5. If you were to miss Zone meetings and discussions, would you hold yourself accountable? If so, how would you do this?

100%. When I put myself forward for an opportunity, I make sure beforehand that I can follow through and manage my time to handle the additional work, especially since people are putting their faith in me and giving me their vote.

I would make every effort to attend every meeting and discussion; however, unavoidable circumstances do occur. Therefore, in this situation, I would make sure to review all materials from the meeting, such as the agenda, minutes and any communications afterwards, by following up with those present to ensure any queries or concerns from my Faculty are represented.

I would also communicate with students in my Faculty in the interests of honesty and accountability. While accountability may be difficult, it is the least that people deserve from their representative.

Candidate: Daksh Yadav

1. What faculty are you running for? What is your department and degree?

I am running for the Pre-Clinical Medicine Years 1–3 Representative position. I am a first-year medical student at UCL, studying Medicine within the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

2. What do you have planned should you win your election?

My main priority is to make the pre-clinical academic experience more manageable, engaging and responsive to students’ needs. Having recently started medical school myself, I understand the adjustment involved in navigating the pace of lectures, independent study and the wider demands of university life.

I want to explore opportunities for peer-led academic support, particularly around effective lecture notetaking, consolidating content and managing independent learning alongside other commitments. I would also prioritise gathering feedback on teaching and workload, then working with the relevant staff to identify practical improvements and focusing on completing the loop by ensure the result of all feedback reaches the students.

Most importantly, I want students to see what happens after they raise a concern, with clear communication about progress and outcomes.

3. What would you like to do to ensure students’ voices are heard?

I want to make representation accessible to everyone, not just students who are already comfortable speaking up. I would actively seek feedback through conversations with students, informal check-ins and appropriate online channels, ensuring that quieter voices and recurring concerns are not overlooked.

I would bring these concerns to the relevant meetings, communicate them clearly and follow up with staff to understand what action can be taken. I would also close the feedback loop by updating students on what has been raised, what has changed and what still needs further work. I believe representation is most effective when students can see that their feedback has made a difference, even when a requested change is not immediately possible.

4. What do you plan to do over the upcoming year, and how will you work with departments or societies to lead change on and around campus?

Over the coming year, I would focus on three priorities: improving communication between students and staff, advocating for a more manageable and effective learning experience, and encouraging collaboration between students to share approaches that genuinely help them learn, as I understand some courses tend to become quite competitive amongst students.

I would work closely with the medical school, relevant teaching staff, fellow student representatives and RUMS to identify common concerns and develop realistic solutions. I would also gather feedback throughout the year rather than relying on a single round of consultation, allowing me to identify emerging issues and assess whether previous changes have been effective.

I want to be a representative who does more than raise issues. I want to help turn student feedback into practical action and ensure students remain informed throughout that process.

5. If you were to miss Zone meetings and discussions, would you hold yourself accountable? If so, how?

Absolutely. I recognise that representing students is a responsibility that requires consistency and accountability. If I were unable to attend a meeting, I would communicate this in advance wherever possible, review the minutes and relevant updates, and follow up with fellow representatives to ensure I understood the discussions and any actions required.

I would maintain a record of my commitments and follow up on outstanding actions, making sure that missing a meeting did not mean missing an opportunity to represent students’ interests. Ultimately, I believe accountability means taking responsibility not only for attending meetings but also for following through on the work entrusted to me.

Candidate: Daksh Yadav

1. What faculty are you running for? What is your department and degree?

I am running for the Pre-Clinical Medicine Years 1–3 Representative position. I am a first-year medical student at UCL, studying Medicine within the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

2. What do you have planned should you win your election?

My main priority is to make the pre-clinical academic experience more manageable, engaging and responsive to students’ needs. Having recently started medical school myself, I understand the adjustment involved in navigating the pace of lectures, independent study and the wider demands of university life. I want to explore opportunities for peer-led academic support, particularly around effective lecture notetaking, consolidating content and managing independent learning alongside other commitments. I would also prioritise gathering feedback on teaching and workload, then working with the relevant staff to identify practical improvements and focusing on completing the loop by ensure the result of all feedback reaches the students. Most importantly, I want students to see what happens after they raise a concern, with clear communication about progress and outcomes.

3. What would you like to do to ensure students’ voices are heard?

I want to make representation accessible to everyone, not just students who are already comfortable speaking up. I would actively seek feedback through conversations with students, informal check-ins and appropriate online channels, ensuring that quieter voices and recurring concerns are not overlooked. I would bring these concerns to the relevant meetings, communicate them clearly and follow up with staff to understand what action can be taken. I would also close the feedback loop by updating students on what has been raised, what has changed and what still needs further work. I believe representation is most effective when students can see that their feedback has made a difference, even when a requested change is not immediately possible.

4. What do you plan to do over the upcoming year, and how will you work with departments or societies to lead change on and around campus?

Over the coming year, I would focus on three priorities: improving communication between students and staff, advocating for a more manageable and effective learning experience, and encouraging collaboration between students to share approaches that genuinely help them learn, as I understand some courses tend to become quite competitive amongst students. I would work closely with the medical school, relevant teaching staff, fellow student representatives and RUMS to identify common concerns and develop realistic solutions. I would also gather feedback throughout the year rather than relying on a single round of consultation, allowing me to identify emerging issues and assess whether previous changes have been effective. I want to be a representative who does more than raise issues. I want to help turn student feedback into practical action and ensure students remain informed throughout that process.

5. If you were to miss Zone meetings and discussions, would you hold yourself accountable? If so, how?

Absolutely. I recognise that representing students is a responsibility that requires consistency and accountability. If I were unable to attend a meeting, I would communicate this in advance wherever possible, review the minutes and relevant updates, and follow up with fellow representatives to ensure I understood the discussions and any actions required. I would maintain a record of my commitments and follow up on outstanding actions, making sure that missing a meeting did not mean missing an opportunity to represent students’ interests. Ultimately, I believe accountability means taking responsibility not only for attending meetings but also for following through on the work entrusted to me.

Institute of Education

Candidate respondees: Karla Huertas Vilca

Note: Ping Li running for IOE PGT Rep expressed that she wanted to reply but faced too busy a schedule over the timeframe we offered for response.

Candidate: Karla Huertas Vilca

1. What faculty are you running for? What is your department and degree?

I am running for Postgraduate Taught Faculty Representative at the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), where I am currently pursuing an MA in Educational Planning, Economics and International Development.

My academic background is interdisciplinary. I hold two undergraduate degrees, one in Law and Political Science and another in Management, specialising in International Business. I have also pursued two previous master’s degrees, in Public Management and Educational Policy and Management.

Beyond academia, I am a researcher, entrepreneur and founder of Women in Research Latam (WRL), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to promoting research, academic development and access to educational opportunities, particularly among women in Latin America.

I am also the founder of Optima Research, a research consultancy operating in Latin America, which I have built and developed through my personal brand. Through this initiative, I support students, researchers and professionals in developing their research projects and strengthening their academic skills.

These experiences have shaped my understanding of leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of making research and education more accessible.

2. What do you have planned should you win your election?

My main priority is to make student representation more accessible, transparent and responsive to students’ needs, regardless of their mode of study.

I plan to work closely with Course Representatives and Lead Department Representatives to identify common concerns and develop an IOE Student Priorities Report each term, ensuring that students’ experiences are translated into concrete recommendations and actions.

I also want to strengthen academic support, improve communication around assessments and feedback, and create more opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, research and student engagement.

An important part of my proposal is ensuring that postgraduate students enrolled in online or distance-learning master’s programmes are equally represented. I believe that studying remotely should not mean having fewer opportunities to participate in academic discussions, access support services or contribute to decisions affecting the student community.

To address this, I would advocate for accessible online consultations, hybrid academic activities and regular communication channels that allow both on-campus and remote students to share their experiences and concerns.

As an international postgraduate student, I understand the importance of building an inclusive academic environment where full-time, part-time, on-campus and distance-learning students feel equally valued, supported and heard.

3. What would you like to do to ensure STEAM students’ voices are heard?

I believe students from Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics have an important role in shaping discussions about education, innovation and public policy.

One of my priorities would be to strengthen connections between IOE students and STEAM communities across UCL, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and opportunities to exchange experiences.

I would also establish accessible communication channels, including student consultations and regular feedback opportunities, to ensure that different academic perspectives are represented in faculty-level discussions.

As a researcher, I strongly believe in evidence-informed decision-making. Student representation should go beyond listening to individual concerns; it should also involve identifying patterns, documenting challenges and proposing practical solutions based on students’ experiences.

I would particularly encourage participation from students whose research and academic work connects education with science, technology, the arts and quantitative methods, recognising the importance of interdisciplinary perspectives in shaping educational policy.

4. What do you plan to do over the coming year, and how do you intend to work with departments or societies to lead change on and around campus?

Throughout the academic year, I would focus on three main priorities: strengthening student representation, supporting academic development, and building a more connected  postgraduate community.

First, I would work with departmental representatives and academic staff to improve communication between students and the faculty, particularly regarding assessment expectations, academic feedback and access to support services. I would also promote opportunities for online and distance-learning students to participate in consultations and academic activities without being disadvantaged by their location or mode of study.

Second, I would promote academic and research-related activities, including workshops, interdisciplinary discussions, peer-learning opportunities and spaces where undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students can exchange knowledge. Wherever possible, I would encourage hybrid formats to make these activities accessible to a wider range of students.

Third, I am currently working on establishing an Education Policy Society at UCL, designed to bring together students interested in education, research, international development and public policy.

Drawing on my experience leading Women in Research Latam and Optima Research, I would also seek to encourage collaboration between students, researchers and academic communities, creating more opportunities for knowledge exchange and professional development.

I would advocate for the inclusion of international, part-time, full-time and distance-learning students, recognising that postgraduate students have different academic experiences, responsibilities and needs.

For me, leadership means creating opportunities for students to participate actively in decisions that affect their university experience, regardless of whether they study on campus or remotely.

5. If you were to miss Zone meetings and discussions, would you hold yourself accountable? If so, how would you do this?

Absolutely. I believe accountability is one of the most important responsibilities of an elected student representative.

My commitment would be to prioritise attending relevant meetings, actively participate in discussions and ensure that students’ concerns are properly communicated.

If an unavoidable academic or personal commitment prevented me from attending a meeting, I would communicate this in advance, review the meeting minutes, coordinate with fellow representatives and follow up on any decisions affecting IOE students.

I would also maintain regular communication with students, sharing updates about the issues raised, the progress achieved and the challenges that still need to be addressed. This would include ensuring that distance-learning students have access to the same information and opportunities to provide feedback as those studying on campus.

I believe representation is not simply about having a voice in meetings, but about ensuring that students’ voices lead to meaningful action.