Alijah Taha
Vice President for Postgraduate
He/Him
As your VP Postgraduate, my primary mission is to support postgraduate students in every aspect of their university life. I will liaise closely with the university to ensure your voices are heard and your concerns addressed.
I am committed to being your advocate, working tirelessly to represent your interests and needs. With an open-door policy, I am always available to listen, assist, and support you.
Although my primary focus is on postgraduates, I am equally available and open to any student who needs support. Let's work together to create a thriving and inclusive community at Warwick.
Course: Business Analytics MA
Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Fun fact about me: I've been told that the alpaca in my manifesto picture looks like my twin!
My role and what I hope to achieve this year:
As VP Postgraduates, I hope I'll be able to help students and address their issues. I will try my best, and I hope students will be able to see that. I want to leave a lasting impression on students by the time I leave Warwick.
Affordable Living:
- Advocate for a subsidized lunch scheme and transform Rootes Grocery Store into a more budget-friendly option for students.
- Extend operating hours of essential campus services to accommodate the demanding schedules of postgraduate students.
Inclusive Events and Wellbeing:
- Organize postgraduate-focused events that foster social connections and provide tailored mental health support.
- Address over-assessment by promoting diverse and inclusive evaluation methods and encourage proactive wellbeing initiatives.
Enhanced Engagement and Represenation
- Strengthen engagement across PGT, PGR, home, international, and mature students, recognizing and addressing their unique needs.
- Support postgraduates with caring responsibilities, ensuring university policies are inclusive and supportive.
Neurodiversity Awareness:
- Implement training for research supervisors, tutors, and students to raise awareness of neurodiversity and promote compassionate communication.
Fair Employment for Postgraduates:
- Lobby for GTA compensation that aligns with national standards and increase on-campus part-time job opportunities tailored for postgraduates.
- Introduce a CV repository to prioritize postgraduates for campus roles, enabling job access prior to their arrival.
Advocating for Fair Visa Policies and Employment Standards:
- Challenging Discriminatory Job Sponsorship Policies: Lobby against restrictive visa sponsorship pay thresholds that unfairly limit post-study work options for international students. These policies impose barriers that don't reflect students' contributions or qualifications.
- Collaborative Efforts for Policy Reform: Partner with other Students’ Unions and universities nationwide to pressure the government to establish fair employment standards, ensuring post-study pathways are accessible and equitable.
- Promoting Student Distinction: Advocate for the SU and University to emphasize that students should not be classified as immigrants, ensuring international students are treated fairly under post-study employment policies.
Academic Scheduling and Support:
- Advocate for the early release of exam timetables, minimizing back-to-back exam scheduling to reduce stress and improve performance. Emphasize the importance of fair and supportive resit opportunities for all students, particularly for PGTs who, without sufficient resit support, risk only receiving a diploma instead of the full award.
- Ensure that every student, especially PGTs, has the resources and academic support needed to achieve a full master’s degree, recognizing that a diploma does not reflect the time, effort, and financial investment made toward their education.
- Establish PGT-friendly timetables to improve academic balance and reduce stress
Accessible Sports and Health:
- Collaborate with VP Sports to offer reduced rates for postgraduate engagement in sports clubs, promoting physical and social wellbeing.
Enhancing the PG Hub Space:
- Ensure The Junction PG Hub includes essential facilities, providing a welcoming and resourceful space for all postgraduates.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Promote sustainable practices within the postgraduate community, such as organizing workshops on eco-friendly living and supporting university-wide sustainability projects.
Digital Resources and Accessibility:
- Advocate for the centralization of all timetable and assessment information on the MyWarwick App, ensuring accessibility across departments.
- Push for the early release of academic resources and reading lists to facilitate better preparation and study planning.
Cultural Awareness and Inclusion:
- Introduce workshops on tackling imposter syndrome and academic burnout, helping students adapt to university life.