The first few months of the academic year have been busy for your Officer team. From launching new campaigns and building relationships with university leaders to supporting students, developing new initiatives, and preparing major projects, your Officers have been working hard to ensure student voices remain at the heart of decision-making across Greenwich Students' Union.

Here's what they've been working on so far.

Improving the Mature Student Experience and Campus Spaces

Aamina – President Greenwich Students’ Union

Over the past three months, a key focus for your President, Aamina, has been understanding how mature students experience university life and identifying opportunities to improve campus spaces.

Work is currently underway to develop a survey exploring the academic and social experiences of mature students, with a particular focus on understanding how experiences may differ across faculties. The findings will help identify key themes, highlight areas requiring further attention, and inform future work aimed at improving the mature student experience.

Alongside this, Aamina has begun discussions with the University's Estates team to explore how existing spaces across our campuses are being used and where opportunities may exist to create spaces that better serve students.

To support this work, a second survey is being developed to gather feedback on which campus spaces students use most frequently, how they are currently being used, and what students would like to see from any additional or underused space. Both surveys are expected to launch in the coming weeks.

Building Communities and Enhancing Student Life

Arfath - Vice President Activities and Communities

Following a period of induction and transition into the role, Arfath is excited to continue his journey as your VP of Activities and Communities. 

The year began with Graduation Ceremonies, where Arfath had the opportunity to deliver a speech celebrating our graduates' achievements. Since then, he has worked closely with fellow Officers and the Senior Leadership Team to deliver The Big Welcome.

Arfath also attended the Southern Conference, where he met with Students' Union Officers from across the region to share ideas, discuss best practice, and explore campaigns designed to improve student life.

Alongside these activities, he has been developing his Campus 360 campaign. Through meetings with university stakeholders and senior staff, he has begun exploring how we can make student life easier and more convenient.

As the year progresses, Arfath remains committed to listening to student feedback and helping create a more connected, inclusive, and enjoyable student community.

Championing Academic Representation and Innovation

Hari - Vice President Academic Representation

Hari has begun his second year as Vice President Academic Representation with a strong focus on student engagement, innovation, and strengthening representation across all campuses.

As Lead Officer for Medway, Hari has been particularly encouraged by the growing student community on campus. This year saw an increased number of student societies participating in the Medway Welcome Fair, creating more opportunities for students to get involved, meet new people, and build communities from the beginning of their university journey.

One of Hari's major priorities has been the development of Green Den, a new Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Hub based at Medway. The project aims to provide opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation and climate action. Green Den will be open to all students who share a passion for building a more sustainable future. More details, and launch dates, will be announced very soon. 

Alongside project development, Hari has continued delivering induction talks and meeting students across campuses, ensuring that new students understand the support, opportunities, and representation available to them through Greenwich Students' Union.

Strengthening Liberation, Wellbeing and Student Support

Ahnaf - Vice President Wellbeing and Diversity

Over the past three months, Ahnaf has focused on transforming campaign ideas into meaningful projects that strengthen representation, improve inclusion, and make GSU and University support services more visible to students.

A major priority has been the development of the proposed Liberation Advisory Council. Following consultation with Liberation Chairs, work has begun to establish a structure that strengthens collaboration between liberation groups while creating clearer routes for student concerns and priorities to reach Equality, Diversity and Inclusion decision-makers. 

This has included reviewing governance arrangements, developing Terms of Reference, and beginning conversations with University and Faculty EDI teams to explore future partnership opportunities.

A second major focus has been the creation of the Advice Visibility Campaign. Building on initial wellbeing campaign plans, this project aims to make existing support services easier for students to find and access. 

Development work has included creating campaign concepts, exploring video and podcast content, strengthening signposting to available services, and engaging key stakeholders across wellbeing, advice, and communications teams.

Looking Ahead

The first three months in office have been a period of listening, learning, and laying the foundations for the year ahead. 

Across representation, wellbeing, innovation, community building, and inclusion, your Officers have already begun progressing key projects designed to improve the student experience.

As these initiatives continue to develop, your Officer team remains committed to listening to students, championing your voice, and working with the University to create positive change across every aspect of student life.