2026 Rep Elections Coverage: The candidates seeking to represent the Faculties of Social and Historical Sciences, the Built Environment, Arts and Humanities, Student Trustees and their promises to you

Faculty of the Built Environment

Candidate respondees: Saima Sami

Candidate: Saima Sami

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

My name is Saima Sami, and I am currently studying for an MSc in Development Administration and Planning as part of the Development Planning Unit, which is under the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. As such, I am running for Postgraduate Taught Faculty Representative.

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

Should I win this election, I plan to be the representative that amplifies the students’ voices to deliver tangible results promptly. Much of my focus revolves around ensuring the faculty puts into practice what it teaches us to be key pillars in our urban world, such as sustainability, equitable access, and collaboration.  Through my previous experience as president of a women’s organisation during my undergraduate degree, I prioritised proactively seeking out member feedback and thus addressing concerns, which led us to our highest recorded level of membership harmony in four years. I plan to bring this same ethos, if elected, to pledge that our institution continues to foster an environment that sustains our future architects, urban planners, policy makers and more, which is what this faculty is comprised of: our future leaders. You can read more about my motivations at the following link: https://studentsunionucl.org/election/rep-elections-2026/faculty-of-built-environment-pgt-rep/saima-sami

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

The most important voice within my plans is not me but the students. With such a diversity of programs within the faculty, it would be limited of me to assume I know what everyone’s concerns are or assume they are the same concerns. That is why listening as an elected representative is so important. However, this is not just a platform point for me but rather something I will actually implement. I will do this by putting into place a chain of communication with multiple entry points for feedback to increase accessibility of involvement. Specifically, this is through four formats. The first is having forums where students from the faculty can convene together and discuss their concerns and express their desires for the future of the faculty. The second format is bi-monthly digital surveys sent directly to students, as well as promoted by the faculty and departments to ensure students know it is happening. The third point of communication is monthly meetings amongst course representatives and me, as they have more direct contact generally with the specific concerns within programs. The final format is more informal drop-in sessions with me directly bi-weekly. As mentioned, I work for the people, so it is important that I directly engage with the student body in a manner that genuinely connects and does not feel so official because, simply, at the end of the day, I am also part of this community.

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?

All of the formats to give accessible feedback that I mentioned above are ultimately to achieve that our student voices are fairly represented and feedback is actually implemented at the administrative level of the faculty. Consequently, the timelines of the forums will occur prior to each Education Zone meeting.  Following zone meetings, I will create a formal report highlighting what was brought up, what was discussed, and what the next steps will be. This ensures that students recognise that their concerns are not just conversations but rather informing actual action for me. In regard to ‘next steps’, I plan to consistently follow up with the Faculty Teaching Committee to confirm progress is being made according to timelines that I will emphasise must be met within these zone meetings. I know I am capable of conducting this, as my prior experience, living in Ghana, working on programs for youth employment and women’s empowerment, I continuously engaged with diverse ecosystem actors from levels of the participants themselves to large international NGOs. Moreover, Education Zone meetings are not enough. I will work directly with the overall Bartlett faculty staff to ensure they send at least one representative for monthly review meetings that I plan to implement. Within these meetings, I will raise awareness of concerns brought to me through the three other formats of feedback. Even more so, if concerns are addressed within meetings with course representatives, I will contact the designated course faculty staff to have a review meeting as well with the course representative and myself, certifying that action for students is taken at every level of our faculty. In line with my plan for a chain of communication, following these meetings, students will also receive updates from me on what was discussed and what they can expect. Lastly, I recognise the bureaucracies that may arise from working within administration; as a result, I also plan to engage with relevant student clubs and societies to discuss methods or events that can be implemented through them at the grassroots level that address gaps within what administration can provide.

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

All of what I have said, until this point, means nothing unless there are measures put in place to ensure I am keeping to these promises. That is why my plans for accountability go beyond just missing zone meetings and discussions. Within the first portion of my term, the first bi-monthly survey sent out will also address questions of my role: am I easily accessible? In what ways can I ensure I am more accurately representing the student body? Etc. Following this, every 3 months, I will send out an evaluation survey to students regarding myself, course representatives, and the faculty itself. This will ask questions regarding whether what we are doing is actually making a change in the eyes of the student body and whether I am keeping to my promises in a tangible manner. All surveys will be anonymous, and drop-in sessions will be confidential. During my role as Inclusivity and Sustainability Coordinator for freshmen at the Faculty of Education in my undergrad, I implemented mass practices across teams informed by sensitive information from around 4000 students; so, I understand deeply how important it is for students to know they are recognised without fear of academic, personal, or professional backlash. Lastly, Education Zone meeting timings are given to representatives in advance, and it is a key part of my role to attend them, meaning missing them is not something I plan to do. However, I recognise that emergencies may come up. So, in the case that I must miss a meeting, I will notify students as soon as possible of my situation, including the reason for my absence. From there, I will work with the PGR and undergraduate faculty representatives to collect information from the meeting so that the promised formal reports following these sessions can still be sent. The concerns that I would have planned to bring up in these meetings will not be disregarded but rather discussed in the monthly review meeting with staff that I would have already secured. This highlights a key pillar of my platform of implementing measures proactively so that when situations do come up, they do not have as much of a severe adverse consequence.

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Candidate respondees: Beatrix-Regina Edeh

Candidate: Beatrix-Regina Edeh

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

I’m currently studying MA English: Issues in Modern Culture in UCL’s English Department, and I’m standing for Faculty of Arts and Humanities Postgraduate Taught Representative.

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

My main priorities are postgraduate funding, accessibility, clearer communication, and greater awareness of the career opportunities available to Arts and Humanities students. One thing I’ve been thinking about since beginning my postgraduate studies is how much students are expected to navigate independently. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there can be a significant difference between support being available and students ACTUALLY knowing where to find it, how to access it, or whether it’s relevant to their circumstances.

I think this is particularly important when it comes to financial support. For me and many other post grad students, study can be a considerable financial commitment, and even when funding opportunities exist, navigating eligibility requirements, deadlines and different sources of information can be difficult. I would like to advocate for clearer, more accessible information about the support already available, while ensuring that students’ concerns about gaps in provision are brought to the attention of the faculty.

I’d also like to draw greater attention to career opportunities beyond the pathways traditionally associated with Humanities degrees. Students enter postgraduate education with different ambitions, and I think that diversity deserves to be reflected in the guidance and opportunities available to us. More than anything, I want students to feel that their concerns are worth raising and that doing so can lead to a meaningful conversation.

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

Coming from an English Literature background, I’m interested in how different disciplines intersect and inform one another. I don’t think the Humanities exist in isolation from developments in STEM or other academic fields, and the same is true in reverse. Students increasingly have interests and ambitions that cross disciplinary boundaries, whether that’d be in their research, their professional goals, or the issues they encounter during their studies.

Although my role would specifically involve representing postgraduate taught students within Arts and Humanities, I would want to remain attentive to students whose academic experiences don’t fit neatly within one discipline. For me, listening is a key part of representation. I wouldn’t want to assume that my experiences as an English student are necessarily representative of someone studying, let’s say, philosophy, fine art, or another subject within the faculty.

I’d want to engage with students and their representatives across departments, including those working in interdisciplinary areas, to better understand where their experiences overlap and where their needs differ.

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

If elected, one of my first priorities would be to establish relationships with Academic Reps across the faculty and learn more about the concerns being raised within their respective departments. I think one of the difficulties with representing a large faculty is that students can have quite different experiences within UCL. What works particularly well for one department might be difficult for another.

I don’t have all the answers, that’s why I’d want to begin by listening and identifying recurring concerns, specifically around funding and careers support. I’d also be interested in working with university staff, where appropriate, to explore how information can be communicated more clearly. Having worked as a Humanities Student Ambassador in my previous university, I’ve come to appreciate how important immediate support is in shaping students’ experiences of university. Even things that seem small, such as knowing whom to contact, can make a difference.

Representation shouldn’t end once students have shared their concerns. I’d want to address what has been raised, what responses have been received and what progress has or hasn’t been made. I don’t think every problem will have an immediate solution, but I do think students deserve honesty and clarity about the work being done on their behalf.

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

Absolutely. Accountability is especially important in this position because students are placing their trust in someone to advocate for their concerns. I also recognise that we’re students ourselves, with workloads and personal circumstances that might occasionally make attendance difficult. However, I don’t think that removes my responsibility to remain engaged with the role.

If I were unable to attend a meeting, I would aim to make this clear in advance, ensure that any relevant student concerns were passed on where possible, and follow up afterwards by reviewing the minutes and speaking with the appropriate representatives. If I made a mistake or failed to fulfil a responsibility, I would want to acknowledge it and take steps to address it rather than simply allowing it to go unmentioned.

Student Trustees

Candidate respondees: Aras Alpaslan, Othman Ibrahim

Candidate: Aras Alpaslan

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

My name is Aras Alpaslan. I am running to represent you as a Student Union Trustee. I am an International Management BSc student from the School of Management. That said, in my role (if you entrust me with your vote), I will represent and work with fellow students from all over UCL.

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

If I am to win, I will 1)get at least 5 student ideas implemented per term and 2)release official statements at the end of each term detailing where your money is spent. Let us not forget that the SU is financed by grants from the university to which our tuition fees contribute. Hence, I will ensure your money is spent on things you wish it to be spent on.

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

I will be around campus on social events and beyond and will talk to you. You will be welcome at any moment to message me or walk up to me on campus to discuss anything with me and provide ideas and suggestions. I am not running to be an unreachable leader. In contrast, I believe elected officials should serve. I am running to serve you. Discussions shall determine how best I can work to best serve you.

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.

Of course. You may check on the SU website and will find that I am the only candidate concrete in their pledges as I outlined before. In regard to how I work with departments and societies, I will try to meet and keep in touch with as many course reps and society presidents as possible. I hope that in these discussions they can convey the feelings of their circles (whether it be their course or society) regarding the SU’s work. In return, I will convey these thoughts at Board of Trustees meetings.

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

Accountability is one of my core pledges and hence, I would.

If at any moment, regardless of circumstances, I feel that I am unable to dedicate enough time to connect with you, and collect your thoughts and ideas, then I shall resign.

If I fail in my pledges, I shall resign.

If 2% of you decide I need to go for whatever reason, I shall resign.

Especially, in the last case, instead of waiting for a motion of no confidence and wasting time, I would be gone IF that amount of you is dissatisfied.

As you see, I set high standards for myself in being there for and representing your voice. It will not be easy but I am ready to give my all. Therefore, I ask for you to give me your vote, so that I can fight for you.

Candidate: Othman Ibrahim

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

I am running for student trustee, which is a role that represents all UCL students through the governance of the SU, and all students can vote for it.

As for my studies, I am a City Planning MPlan student at the Bartlett School of Planning.

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

If elected, I will ensure that our SU can boldly deliver on the democratic mandates passed by the student body, most importantly on issues related to tackling the cost-of-living crisis, and championing inclusivity and sustainability. 

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

Trustees represent all students regardless of which faculty they’re from. Accordingly, I will always be available to contact by any student should they want to raise any issues or ask any questions. I will also ensure that we assess the different needs of our students so that all students can equally get the most out of their students’ union, regardless of their faculty. 

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.

I plan to work with our elected SU officers as well as other SU staff members to deliver policies that tackle the cost-of-living crisis and champion inclusion and sustainability on campus. 

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

Trustees do not attend zone meetings but rather board meetings. As the dates for future meetings are published on the website, I know that I will be available for all of them from now. In the improbable event that I however cannot attend because of an unexpected event, I will still read all the papers in full and sent written comments before the board meeting.