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Student Advisory Board Guest Post: What It’s Like Being a Students’ Union President

Will Fuller is the Students’ Union President of Cardiff Metropolitan University and he also sits on our student advisory board. In his first ever guest post for Whatuni, he talks about his role as SU president and why it’s important that you make the most of your SU at university.

Will Fuller
by Will Fuller

Will Fuller

When I left home to start university at Cardiff Met I didn’t really know what my future looked like. I knew that I wanted to study a degree in sport science and to continue playing football as well.

If you’d told me that seven years later I would have managed both of those, gone on to study a Masters and ended up being elected by fellow students to be the Students’ Union President I probably would have laughed!

For me, the university experience has been about development in all areas, academically, within sport, socially and on a personal level, and the Students’ Union has played a pivotal role in all of this. Now I have the opportunity to give back and help students through my role.

 

What an SU President Does…

Will Fuller

The role of President means I head up the Students’ Union, representing students by taking their feedback to high profile committee and board meetings, attending events in the city and even abroad, including trips to partners in Oman, India and Singapore.  I also work closely with key university staff and other stakeholders such as the governors and chair the Board of Trustees.

Being responsible for the financial position and performance of the SU as a charity is interesting, but being able to make a genuine difference to individual students and larger student groups is so rewarding and definitely the thing I enjoy most. Through my roles I’ve developed a range of skills and knowledge that I never thought I’d learn when I came to study sports science.

Unfortunately, this is a role you can only perform for two years (I’ve done one year as Vice and one as President) so I will have to move on after this year. The role has taught me so much though and hopefully the contacts I’ve made and the skills gained will put me in a good position as I look for employment from August the 1st!

 

Why You Should Use the Students’ Union

Will Fuller

No matter which university you go to, the Students’ Union is set up to represent students and give them a voice within it. Although each Union will offer different things, most offer opportunities to get involved in societies, sports, opportunities for personal development through volunteering and workshops, venues for coffee breaks, socials, and much more.

My involvement with the Students’ Union throughout my time at Cardiff Met has played a huge part in why I’ve enjoyed my time there so much. The SU offered opportunities to volunteer, get involved in workshops, continue my football and eventually have enough knowledge, confidence and a large enough network that led to me being voted in as Vice President and then President.

My top tip would be to take time to get familiar with your SU and take up as many of the opportunities on offer as possible. Ask anyone that graduates, you’ll never get so much offered to you (normally for free!) as you do whilst at uni!

 

Find out more about the student advisory board, or why not find out more about students’ unions and how important they are? 

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