Adetunji Bolorunduro (Teejay)

My name is Aetunji Bolorunduro, Teejay for short, and I would like to stand for the role of Postgraduate Research Officer.

I am currently a 1st Year PhD Finance student at Essex Business School and a student representative.

I have held numerous roles representing diverse students community in all my student life such as Public relations officer during my Bsc program at Bowen University, a student representative at the University of Glasgow, president of the African Student Union at Fudan University, Shanghai. As well as an E-mentor volunteering position at the University of Glasgow. All these positions have made me a compassionate, empathetic human being as well as listening ear to people’s complaints. I speak mandarin and English fluently.

The PGR community at the University of Essex is quite vast and I have met a lot of tutors and students at different virtual meetings, mixer events and training over the course of joining the school in October. These meetings have enlightened me on the amount of work and contribution the PGR community needs in other to remain relevant in the top global academic rankings and inclusion /assimilation of the diverse students that embark on their research at the University of Essex. This issue informed my decision to run for this role.

The key objectives I would like to achieve as a Post Graduate Research Officer at the University of Essex is to ensure all students feel inclusive and well informed about the processes of their research studies, the policies existing in the University that provide adequate support and activities that can provide the best research experience possible for them at the University of Essex. It also serves as the point of connection for addressing student issues relating to academic and social activities.

Among objectives I set out to achieve if elected are as follows:

1.   I shall ensure student voices are being heard on challenges or issues that concern them regardless of their location.

2. Student mental health totally needs to be taken care of, and this shall be a priority if I am elected.

3.   Asides from promoting the available well-being and mental health support services, I will work closely with both the union, the postgraduate faculty and course reps to receive personalized feedback from postgraduate students across the university to ramp up support and develop more ways to support the mental health of postgrads.

4.   I shall make sure that students are aware of all the available support provided by the school for a fruitful doctoral experience such as workspaces, PhD Managers, virtual hubs, teams, contacts, research seminars, teaching, careers, webinars, job opportunities, mentors and tutors.

5.   I will push for financial support to be made available to postgraduate taught and research students. I will campaign for extra scholarships and bursaries especially for international students to reduce the burden of postgrads.

6.   I will work to create more high-quality spaces and facilities for postgraduate research students within faculties, to create a very rich study environment for postgrads while at the University of Essex.

7.    Establish a regular programme of events, trips and socials including speed networking, Saturday Sessions, discussion groups, trips to the local area and welfare drop-ins.

8.    A termly Postgraduate Convention, to raise the profile of the PGA and bring together our community to discuss welfare and campaign issues, feedback on the work of the PG Officer and raise issues to be discussed by our PGA Council Reps.

9.    I will ensure a working and effective communication management between the research office, departments and students in terms of enrolment, training needs, project deadline, requirements for an upgrade, the importance of auditing modules and adequate information for International Students.

Ensure support is provided from the University and Student Union for organizing social and wellbeing events and campaigns for the postgraduate research community.

10.  I promise to work closely with external research bodies and partnerships associated with the University to provide support for the PGR community.

If you would like to discuss more this manifesto or other research and union issues, please feel free to contact me. My aim is to fully represent students, their ideas, and their needs and helps find a lasting solution to their concerns.

WE ARE ESSEX!!!