Are you passionate about student equality?

Do you want to help make the University of Surrey welcoming to all students?

Do you want to provide direct and honest feedback on Union campaigns and ideas?

Click HERE to join the Student Equality Network.

The Student Equality Network is a group of students who are passionate about promoting equality at Surrey and help to ensure the Union is well-informed about the experiences of different groups who make up our diverse student community.

The Student Equality Network holds monthly meetings where members can share their views and opinions to help the Union best support students through their time at University. The Student Equality Network work with its members to organise, support or contribute different events, campaigns, and projects that celebrate diversity and highlight diverse student voices. Students can join the Student Equality Network at any time of the year.

Semester two Network Meetings

FULL NETWORK MEETING: 13:00 – 14:00 | First Wednesday of every month | Join here |

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SUBNETWORK MEETING: 13:00 – 13:30 | Second Wednesday of every month | Join here |

RACE EQUALITY SUBNETWORK MEETING: 13:00 – 13:30 | Third Wednesday of every month | Join here |

DISABILITY & NEURODIVERSITY SUBNETOWRK MEETING: 13:00 – 13:30 | Fourth Wednesday of every month | Join here |

Please email v.wiltshire@surrey.ac.uk if you would like to suggest any topics of discussion for the Network meetings or for any questions or queries.

Meet The Team (March 2025-July 2025)

Network Chair: Niharika Nandakumar

I’m Niharika Nandakumar, currently pursuing an MSc in Occupational and Organisational Psychology. Alongside my studies, I serve as the Chair for the Student Equality Network. I am deeply passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in workplaces, and I strongly believe that the journey toward change must begin at the university level. Understanding the unique challenges we face, I am dedicated to ensuring that all voices are heard, supported, and celebrated.

Network Secretary: Yumna Baig

Hello! I’m Yumna, a second year psychology student and also your secretary for the Student Equality Network! I am a huge advocate for creating diverse spaces and becoming a voice for students where every individual feels heard and valued. I’m excited to be a part of this network and I cannot wait to work with students in order to ensure equality and create changes within the university!

Communications Officer: Rochelle Ferreira

Hello everyone! My name’s Rochelle and I’m excited to join the team as this year’s Student Equality Network Communications Officer! I’m currently in my final year here at Surrey studying BSc Business Management with Marketing. I’m really keen to use my marketing skills to promote the Student Equality Network, share your stories, and amplify the diverse range of student voices across campus.

Disability & Neurodiversity Subnetwork Leader: Abigail Hayes

Hi there, I’m Abi a final year biochemistry student. I’m disabled and neurodiverse and a huge advocate for all things accessibility. I’m super excited to get talking about disability and neurodiversity and working with everyone to make change for the better at Surrey!

Race Equality Subnetwork Leader: Aleeza Nadeem

Hey, I’m Aleeza Nadeem, and I’m excited to be the Race Equality Subnetwork Leader! I’m currently doing my master’s in Data Science at the University of Surrey. I’m really looking forward to creating a space where minority ethnic students feel heard, represented, and supported. This role is a great opportunity to bring people together, spark important conversations, and work towards real change. I can’t wait to collaborate with students, plan meaningful events, and be part of something that makes a difference!

International Students Subnetwork Leader: Adrienne Fong

Greetings and Salutations! My name is Adrienne Fong, I’m a 2nd Year English Literature with Creative Writing Student and your current International Student Subnetwork Leader! I hope to be able to make every student from everywhere feel as welcomed as they can be and I am delighted and honoured to have this opportunity to be of service to you all!

Who can join the Student Equality Network? 

All students can join the Student Equality Network and work with like-minded students and staff, passionate about tackling issues of equality and inclusion impacting those in Higher Education. The Student Equality Network is a free group and there are no requirements needed to sign up – other than wanting to help make the University a welcoming place for all students from all backgrounds.

The Student Equality Network aims to recognise and celebrate intersectional differences, and we want to have a wide range of students involved in the Network to ensure we hear from a diverse set of student voices. You may be most keen to get involved if you identify with any of the below communities:

  • Women 
  • LGBTQIA+ students 
  • Students with visible and non-visible disabilities or illnesses (physical and mental)
  • Students from ethnic minority groups
  • International students
  • Care experienced and estranged students
  • Mature students
  • Students who are first-in-family to attend University

From January 2025, we have also introduced tailored subnetworks to discuss particular issues facing specific groups of students at the University in more detail. Please see below for these details:

Disability & Neurodiversity Subnetwork

This group provides a space for students to raise any issues, comments or concerns regarding accessibility on campus, and support for disabled students to succeed at university. You can discuss your thoughts and experiences about disability, neurodiversity, non-visible illnesses, mental health, and more. This is chaired by the Disability & Neurodiversity Subnetwork Leader. Members can also choose to be involved in attending meetings with University staff to discuss accessibility at Surrey.  

International Students Subnetwork

This Network creates a space for International Students to talk about personal experiences, raise concerns and ideas of how the Union can better represent and support this cohort of students. The goal of this subnetwork is to ensure issues being faced by international students are heard and taken forward to improve the experience as an international student at Surrey. This is chaired by the International Students Subnetwork Leader.

Race Equality Subnetwork

The Race Equality Subnetwork has been set up to create the opportunity for students to share their experiences and drive meaningful change for race equality. This subnetwork is open to students who self-identify as being from a racial minority ethnic background and/or students who are interested in the topic of race equality. The goal of the subnetwork is to provide an open space to network with other students passionate about equality, share experiences and feedback, and help improve race equality at Surrey. This is chaired by the Race Equality Subnetwork Leader.

Why get involved in the Student Equality Network?

Free Membership!

Networking: Meet new people and work as a team to tackle barriers to equality of opportunity at the University

Flexibility: Sign up and attend meetings or join discussions relevant to you or just receive updates and stay informed – you decide the commitment.

Shape the future of Surrey: Your feedback and opinions will directly influence the University and contribute to changes for a better student experience

Open discussion: Discuss current challenges facing students in an open and judgement-free setting

Exciting events: Take part or organise exciting, tailored events and campaigns

Regular communication and updates: Monthly updates and communication so you stay up to date and informed about the work we do to promote equality of opportunity and any actions following meetings

CV Experience: Make your CV shine by developing essential skills like leadership, communication, teamwork, presenting, critical thinking and active listening. Gain EDI experience and the opportunity to log volunteering hours and get awards.

Current Volunteers – Log your Volunteering hours!

For our current Equality Network volunteers, please remember to log your volunteering hours for any time spent attending meetings to ensure you get the most out of your time as a volunteer. Logging your hours on Surrey Volunteering will enable you to have a full record of the time you’ve spent volunteering whilst at Surrey that you can show to employers. Sign up to Surrey Volunteering here, or contact ussu.vpvoice@surrey.ac.uk to find out more.

How do i join The Student Equality Network in a paid position?

For 2025, we introduced several paid leadership opportunities open to all current University of Surrey students. We had a phenomenal number of applicants and these roles have now been filled. More information about this leadership team can be found above. Although these Part Time Positions are no longer available, the Network is looking to work with it’s volunteers to offer one-off payments/rewards for supporting the network. Examples of this support could include helping with events or providing content for our ‘My Lived Experience’ project. To find out more about these opportunities, please join the network!

For your reference, these roles will be readvertised from September 2025, for positions lasting one academic year (September 2025 – June 2026). Please see the Job Descriptions from February 2025 below for reference.

Student Equality Network Archive & Previous Projects

For information about the work of the Student Equality Network so far, please click here.

Inclusive Education Project

The Voice Zone has been working closely with the University for the past two years on introducing more inclusive education practices at Surrey. This has included the VP Voice setting up a working group which met regularly with the aim to highlight the importance of amplifying voices from different cultures in the curriculum to help tackle the BAME attainment gap. Here is a summary of some of the inclusive education work that has taken place over the past two years:

  • The Library ran its 4th year of the Student Curator Project which aims to amplify voices we don’t usually hear in education.
  • Worked on the Race Equality Charter application which has now been submitted.
  • Analysed data given in the OSCAR Report highlighting areas of education that could be improved.
  • Launched undergraduate summer internships in each faculty, some focusing on educational development and EDI resource creation.
  • Introduced the Inclusive Education and Teaching Project with the goal to create an Inclusive Education Toolkit which can be used to help design courses and assessments.
  • Recording a podcast to discuss and raise awareness of inclusive education.

Black, Asian, and minority ethnic student experience research & report

In 2020, we researched and authored a Student Experience Report including a number of recommendations to improve the student experience at Surrey for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students. Read our 2020 BAME Student Experience Report and Recommendations here