Officer Blog

Ahmed Officer Update

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:17:50 +0100

Hello, Marhaba, Ni hao, Namaste, Salam, Bonjour, Olá, Ciao, Hallo, and Hola!

I’m Ahmed, your International Officer here at the Guild of Students. Anxiety, excitement, anticipation, joy, and fear, are emotions I am sure you have felt and are feeling after making such a brave choice. Studying abroad is no easy task, and like yourself, I came here without much information as to how things would turn out. 17-years-old, Sudanese, and coming from the UAE, it was a challenge to adapt to such a foreign environment. But let me tell you now that there was not a better decision I could have made. From events, to protests, to diverse friend groups, there is not a single thing worth regretting.

The most transformative part of my experience here as a student has been meeting new people and participating in political life. Coming from a relatively tight knit community, what I saw, heard, and learned made me reevaluate what I truly care about. It made me begin to see the entire world and people as a whole, as my community. How can you not then start talking to everyone and being involved in their concerns the same you do for a smaller community?

As a student, I vividly witnessed the problems students face and the concerns they had greater than their experience as students. To deal with these issues, they turned towards the Guild. The Guild of Students is the centre of student life and the student community. Its task is to represent students on every level, from education, to entertainment, to more pressing and relevant issues of our time. The student community is incredibly diverse, and as such, there are many groups that require special care and focus. That is why we have 13 Officers, all with different duties and goals depending on their area of focus, while still caring for other students beyond their group.

To deal with issues effectively, Officers gather feedback from students and take action on democratically voted student ideas and proposals, which in the past have included things such as Palestine Solidarity and Disabled Students’ Commitment. As my role is concerned with international students, I will direct my efforts to dealing with the most important problems that you guys are facing. This includes issues of employability, hate crimes, mental health, and belonging. However, to connect all these issues together, the central goal will be to build a more communicative and engaged campus, with a more vibrant social life. This will be done through engaging more students in the democratic system, making what the Guild offers more visible, and running exciting events through the year. Some of the events which may happen include a Cultural Day, International Football Tournament, and International Student Socials.

Be on the lookout, stay active and outgoing, and never say no to an event or an invitation. I would love to talk to you all throughout the year so if you see me on campus don’t be afraid to approach me for a discussion or if you would like to offer feedback and suggestions for what the Guild should be doing to better students' lives. I wish you all a very successful academic year and a vibrant social life!

Dr Abhishikha Officer Update: What Does Postgraduate Life Really Look Like?

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:14:50 +0100

Hello everyone!

I’m Dr Abhishikha (Abby), your new Postgraduate Officer at the Guild, and I’m really excited to be starting the year and getting to know more of Birmingham’s Postgraduate community.

I’m an international student myself, and I came to Birmingham to study a Master of Public Health. When I first arrived, I never imagined that I would end up standing for election and becoming a Guild Officer. But somewhere along the way, my interest in Public Health grew into something broader – a real interest in advocacy, representation and asking difficult questions about how we can make things better.

That’s probably why I’m so excited about this role.

Postgraduate life is such a unique mix. We’re here to learn, research and develop professionally, but we’re also trying to build friendships, find opportunities, manage finances, navigate university systems and, for many of us, adjust to a completely new city or even a new country at the same time.

And Postgraduate students aren’t one group.

A Taught Masters student can have a very different experience from a PhD student. An international student may have very different challenges from someone who has lived in Birmingham all their life. Some of us commute, work alongside our studies, or balance family responsibilities too.

I want my year as Postgraduate Officer to reflect that diversity.

I’m really interested in bringing PGT and PGR students closer together and creating more of a Postgraduate community across the University. I also want to celebrate the incredible research happening at Birmingham and create more opportunities for Postgraduate students to connect what they’re doing academically with what comes next — whether that’s research, a career, industry, entrepreneurship, or something completely unexpected. I’d also like to explore how we can make it easier for Postgraduate students to find the right opportunities and build the networks they need for whatever comes after their degree.

And because I’m an international Postgraduate myself, I want to keep thinking about what it means to genuinely belong here, particularly when global events affect our students and the communities we come from.

But honestly, I don’t want this to be a list of promises. I want to know what Postgraduate life actually feels like for you.

What do you love about being at Birmingham? What frustrates you? What do you wish someone had told you before starting your postgraduate journey? And what is one thing you think the Guild or the University could do better? You can contact me via email or keep updated with my work on Instagram.

I’ll be around campus, at events, in meetings and hopefully over quite a few coffees, so please come and say hello!

I’m looking forward to getting started, listening, learning and hopefully making a few things better along the way.

See you around!
Dr Abhishikha, Postgraduate Officer

Olly Officer Update: Making the Most of Birmingham!

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:15:18 +0100

So you’ve just moved to Birmingham? Lucky you!

I’m Olly, your Guild President for this academic year! I’m responsible for leading the Full-Time Officer Team and overseeing relations between the Guild and the University – from the Vice-Chancellor to Student Experience Officers. I studied for four years at UoB so being President makes it my fifth year here in Brum (that’s what everyone here calls Birmingham). Therefore, I’d like to think I know a lot about how to get the most out of living in Birmingham – which I’ll share with you and how I, as President, am utilising Birmingham for the student’s advantage.

How you can make the most out of Birmingham!

I found the city centre is good for big high street shops, chain restaurants and museums. However, the city’s real charm comes from the areas surrounding the Uni. You’ll enjoy Birmingham so much more when you explore beyond Selly Oak and the city centre! Harborne is a short walk from the Vale and a quick bus ride from Selly Oak. It’s Brum’s charity shop capital! It’s great for a quick, cheap and sustainable shopping spree and has some cosy cafes.

Stirchley is just south of Selly and has an amazing Brewery that serves some incredible pizza. It’s best for some drinks, brunches out with friends and offers cost effective supermarket options. Kings Heath has a classic high street vibe and has some of the city’s best independent live music venues. Lastly, Moseley is a bus ride away but has an active community, fancy restaurants and some dubiously named pubs!

What am I doing as Guild President in Birmingham?

Well, I’m glad you asked. There are eight Students’ Unions (SU’s) dotted across the entire West Midlands Combined Authority and I’ve been leading a movement to unite these SUs in one political alliance. Housing, skills, transport all exist on the regional level and if all students can unite their political voice, we could hopefully have a better impact of changing Brum for the better. I’ve hosted the first meeting of this alliance, and the next one will be in Coventry.

I’ve also been strategising how to further the Guild’s political power by ourselves. Having already met the Mayor of West Midlands and some Birmingham City Council Cabinet Members, I’m hoping to set out a standard and legacy of political relationships for the Guild.

Feel free to reach out via email or Instagram or visit the Officer Office on the ground floor of the Guild of Students building!