Your Students' Union is deeply committed to promote and celebrate equality, diversity and inclusivity. We work together with the University and your student network leaders, societies and volunteers to highlight diverse voices and host a range of campaigns and events to celebrate unique lived experiences.

Below are some examples of the awareness/EDI campaigns which we have hosted this year in collaboration with our student volunteers and different University teams. You can also learn about instances where student feedback was raised at our student equality network meetings and escalated to Senior University Leadership to influence positive change. 

International Students Network  

I worked in collaboration with the International Student Advice Team, our International Students Subnetwork Leader, Marc, and other student volunteers to host our annual celebration for the international student community at Surrey, International Students' Day. This exciting event included mindful flag colouring, advice postcards, board games and international snacks. We then repeated this event during One World Week in March as another opportunity for connection and celebration for our international students. 

During our International Students Network meeting, students asked for a targeted approach to international student support, with more events and specific information.  I then met with relevant University staff and raised this at high level university meetings.  

Following this, the University has arranged a stakeholder group to discuss the international student experience, improvements that can be made to services and guidance, and how to establish a centralised, targeted approach to international student support. This group will include student officers and University staff across different services and senior university leadership. 

Race Equality Network

I worked in collaboration with Film Society, Disney Society, the Library and student volunteers to host a range of events to celebrate Black History Month. We hosted Movie Nights screening ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’; a workshop session about ‘Shaping Black Futures in Film’; and a student curator project featuring a reading list highlighting black authors and a prize draw for free books. 

Our Race Equality Network Leader, Rida, has also introduced the #MyNameIs campaign to discuss the importance of correct name pronunciation. The Network will discuss the issues surrounding mispronouncing, shortening or changing people's names. We will also share student experiences via blogs and social media content as part of the Lived Experience Project. Get in touch at v.wiltshire@surrey.ac.uk to get involved! 

During Black History Month, Film Society escalated student concerns about a lack of staff diversity in FABSS to our Race Equality Network. Following this, I raised this feedback at the Race Equality Charter implementation meeting where we discuss Surrey’s strategy to improve diversity and inclusivity.  

Staff diversity has been added as a key action as part of the Race Equality Charter and the Union will cotninue tolobby the University to dedicate focus to improving diversity amongst the pool of both visiting and permanent staff.  

Disability & Neurodiversity Network

I worked in collaboration with our Disability & Neurodiversity Network Leader, Ellica, the VP Support and the Library to host a range of events to raise awareness of the experiences of our disabled and/or neurodiverse students. Ellica led a student curator project to raise awareness of the lived experience of having ADHD. The project included a reading list around the topic, library display and workshop about navigating late ADHD diagnosis. We also worked together on celebrating Neurodiversity Week in March, hosting a crafty workshop where we discussed the experiences of neurodivergent students.  

Following student concerns across faculties about the accessibility of assessments and grade criteria for those who identify as neurodiverse, some of our Head Reps have started discussions with the University to improve this in their departments. I have also escalated this feedback onto important meetings as part of the assessment review currently undergoing, ensuring that staff take neurodiversity and accessibility into account.  

Other campaigns  

We have hosted several other collaborative campaigns to celebrate diversity and lived experience and share the voices and experiences of various communities. From celebrating LGBT+ History Month with LGBT+ Society, hosting a range of events across Union Zones to celebrate Women’s History Month, hosting a vigil for Transgender Day of Remembrance and celebrating One World Week.  

Your Students’ Union is here for you, and ready to listen and act on your feedback via our student officers, student equality networks, course reps, society signatories and other volunteers. Your voices are so important for us, and we always enjoy working with you to hose these campaigns and events celebrating diverse communities.  

Have an idea for a campaign you’d like to see? Get in touch at ussu.vpvoice@surrey.ac.uk and share your thoughts. We are here to support you!