Deputy President (Postgraduate Students) - Candidate Mignone Ngum
Manifesto
I would endeavour to work to improve the communication between departments and faculty unions. Also improve social events by talking to faculty unions for postgraduate opportunities. To run a successful GSA, the faculty unions and research groups would need to work together with DPGS. I have good leadership qualities and by attending the SIS/CRAC national conference 2005 I further enhanced my interpersonal and communication skills. I am an MSc Managing Rural Development international student from Wye campus and Postgraduate Association Secretary. I was the representative for Wye at the GSA Christmas party, which involved transport, tickets, dealing with the main organisers. At my former university I contributed as events manager for the International student's society and Raise and Give (RAG). I delivered progress reports to International student's executive committee and to the staff and student committee meetings at my former university and at Imperial. Please do VOTE NGUM for DPGS.
What difference will you make to the way graduate students are represented?
There are a lot of issues which haven't been dealt with this year. I have a triangular focus of what would be good for post-graduate students at Imperial; it's basically that if academic issues are dealt with properly by getting the students to come to events where they end up feeling that they can trust you, they are much more likely to come back and talk to you about their issues.
What experience do you have?
I have already made an input to graduate students and had a wide range of responsibilities. I've been a representative for Wye at the Graduate Student Association (GSA) party, a Postgraduate Student Secretary at Wye plus also having the background of being an Events Manager at my old university and working with RAG. I feel that I made substantial input at the students' union and management level to be able to help and manage graduate students at Imperial as a whole.
So, do you think this year's Deputy President (Graduate Students) has done a bad job?
I would say he's done a good job. After all, it's a position that's just been made. However, issues have been neglected. As everyone keeps repeating, we've only had a GSA Christmas party this year. I think getting elected and then finding out you've got exams to do and an internship is strange. I've made sure I haven't got any internships, I wouldn't apply for any this year if I want to do this job I need to commit myself 100%.
What's the biggest current complaint and what other plans do you have?
Some of the issues coming across are that they'd like better communications between the GSA and faculty unions. The research groups also feel that they have not been listened to well enough. If you have regular events that are being held as separate groups then that would ensure Imperial is working as a whole and we also cannot ignore Silwood and Wye.
I feel another good thing that could be done is alumni could come back and actually integrate with postgraduate students because networking is needed to improve our ability to get jobs and acquire new skills.
Summarise your campaign and tell me why you're best to lead the postgraduate students.
I'm a hard-working, motivated and approachable individual who has the skills and experience to deal with managing events, finance and representing the students. I feel that the postgraduate students of Imperial can trust me, and I'll give them the best opportunity for next year and show them that they're not being ignored.
We need to make sure that we integrate both the undergraduate and postgraduate students to ensure that they all enjoy their life at Imperial.
