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Candidate Announcement
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It's time to meet your candidates!
Voting opens next Monday at 10am, but in the meantime, why don't your find out a little more about who wants to represent you next year! Make sure you cast your vote and have your say before 2pm next Thursday when voting closes.
To find out more about the candidates and read their manifesto's head to SOASunion.org/elections
Come along to the Hustings tomorrow to find out more about the candidates. Ask your questions here! Questions must be submitted by 4pm on Friday 23rd February.
The Hustings will take place in the JCR at 6pm, see you there!
To find out more about the elections, including the election rules head to SOASunion.org/elections
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Election Rules and Complaint Procedure
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The elections are governed by the Election Rules, which can be viewed here. There are 6 guiding principles of the elections which ensure that the elections are free and fair, these are:
1- Candidates must treat other candidates, students and members of the public with respect. This includes engaging in healthy debate, to not to campaign negatively or defame individuals character.
2- Candidates’ campaigns should be fully transparent and accountable to the union.
3- Candidates must not do anything to gain an unfair advantage.
4- Candidates must not undermine the fair and democratic running of elections.
5- Candidates shall be responsible for the actions of their campaign teams.
6- Candidates must not break any general Union and School rules and regulations. This also includes the Law.
If you feel that the rules have been broken you may submit and election complaint. This can be done via the Complaints Form.
Find out more on the SOAS SU website,
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SOAS SU is excited to welcome Flare to campus, ensuring a safer environment for SOASians. Our ongoing goal is to provide a secure space and the right tools for SOASians to engage in activism and rallying while feeling protected.
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Maryam (Co-President of Activities and Events):
Mondays and Wednesdays
Location: Office 1, New SU Space
Time: 1-2:30pm
Reem (Co-President of Democracy and Education):
Fridays
Location: Office 1, New SU Space
Time: 2pm-4pm
Jamal (Co-President of Equality and Liberation)
Thursdays
Location: Office 1, New SU Space
Time: 2pm - 4pm
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Commuter Student Questionnaire
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This questionnaire aims to collect confidential information for research purposes only. The survey covers various aspects, including personal information for demographic insights, commuting challenges, campus facilities and services evaluation, transportation preferences, study and social spaces availability. Your participation will greatly contribute to enhancing the support and services offered to commuter students on campus.
Click here for the questionnaire,
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Securitisation Survey
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We're eager to hear from you!
Securitisation was set as one of the SU priorities at the beginning of this sabbatical year; with all three officers advocating behind the scenes during term one to address the challenges our community faces due to increased securitisation.
Now, it's your turn to share. Take our survey to tell us about your experiences and suggestions. Your input will inform our report to the university, pushing for the improvements we all want to see.
Click here for the questionnaire,
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BUCS Boxing Championship Knockout
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Yosuf Ali, one of our very own SOAS students, has taken part in the BUCS Boxing Championship Knockout. Read below about his experience and achievements.
'Going down to Portsmouth for BUC’s was an exhilarating and amazing experience, not only because I could showcase my skills on stage but meeting familiar and new faces from different universities as well. Despite dislocating my shoulder, a week before the Quarterfinals I still managed to put on a performance against last year’s BUC’s champion. I am excited for many more opportunities to come to represent SOAS and I’ll endeavour to be a part of the SOAS Boxing Society next academic year, to help and support newcomers and experienced boxers whether that be to just keep fit or to train for a bout. I urge you all to try out a new sport and to join a society in whatever field you feel comfortable in'
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Building States: Political authority and architecture in Africa
Julia will explore how states are made and why they matter in South Africa, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. She’ll do this by looking at state buildings, from parliaments to hospitals; from supreme courts to police stations, exploring their aesthetics, their role in public life, how they came to be built, who uses them and – most importantly – what citizens think about them.
Date: 22nd February 2024
Time: 5pm
Venue: B103
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Restoring Colossal Buddhas in Nature: A lesson in sustainable heritage conservation from Southwest
Focusing on the case of the Laitan Buddha in Hechuan, this lecture brings a sustainability perspective to the debate by discussing how conservation practices and community involvement can contribute to a religio-environmental ethics that encompasses both heritage and nature preservation.
Date: 23rd February 2024
Time: 5:30pm - 7pm
Venue: SWLT
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Information and Democracy: Panel discussion on Taiwan's 2024 election and beyond
To comprehensively examine these challenges and explore potential solutions, the first panel will provide insights from Taiwanese broadcasters, fact-checkers, and scholars, offering a nuanced perspective on the evolving dynamics of Taiwan's information environment.
Moving to the second panel, experts will dissect the policies and institutions shaping Taiwan's future, specifically focusing on digital and information governance.
Date: 23rd February 2024
Time: 3pm - 6pm
Location: R201
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TYhe Body, Breath, and the World we live in
This lecture will develop a phenomenology of the ‘subtle body’ and breathing based on the work of the 11th century Kashmiri epistemologist-aesthete Abhinavagupta and the work of Maurice Merleau Ponty. Through this comparative hermeneutic exercise, I would like to reconceptualize the central Upanishadic-Yogic concept of “prAn.a”—which is deeply connected but not reducible to the concept of vital breath.
Date: 23rd February 2024
Time: 2pm
Location: Online Lecture
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As you will be aware, exams will take place on campus – in person – between 6 and 31 May 2024.
Some of you will recall that during the pandemic we were unable to host exams in person, due to government restrictions set out at the time. This year we will complete the transition back to in-person exams, following the mixed exam model in place last year.
How will exams be organised?
Most exams will be conducted digitally, on your own laptop, under exam conditions and in an invigilated exam space.
There are four different exam formats in 2024:
- Digital, open book
- Digital, closed book
- Paper-based, open book
- Paper-based, closed book.
The formats have been pre-set and it is not possible to change these. To find out more please see the Examinations and Assessments on MySOAS for Students.
What happens next?
Before the end of January we will be in touch to confirm the format of each of your exams.
We will confirm the process for requesting a SOAS loan device for any digital exams you may have, if you do not have access to your own device for the exam period.
Learning Teaching and Enhancement guidance on the support available for exams will also follow.
Your questions about exams
We have set up a resources page on MySOAS for Students to answer frequently asked questions. You can find this in MySOAS for Students.
If you have module-specific questions about an exam, please contact your module convenor.
If you have other questions about exams, please contact your College Administration and Student Support Services.
For any questions about re-sits, please contact the Assessments and Progression team via SID.
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Focus groups Communication
Call for Participation: Athena Swan Focus Group Discussions
To deepen our understanding of gender equality at SOAS as part of our Athena Swan re-application for a Bronze Award, the EDI team will facilitate focus group discussions targeting specific categories of students who have not been as involved with the charter mark process.
We will be holding the Student Focus Group on Monday 19 February in room MB P 379 at 15:00 – 17:00 – Student Experience and 17:00 – 19:00 – Student Support
For any further questions, please contact Heidi Boahen, Diversity and Inclusion Lead on hb45@soas.ac.uk
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Societies and Sports Teams Updates
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Student Gym Membership
UCL have opened up their gym to all University of London Students. Check out the poster for further information.
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Active Well-being Webinar: The Black Sport Collective
On Tuesday 27 February from 11am to 12pm, the University of Nottingham will be leading our next Active Wellbeing webinar on the 'Black Sport Collective'.
This session will explore the research and share the findings, including recommendations from the black student participants and the action plan set out by the university to act on the findings.
Click here to secure a place
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External Opportunities, Events and Updates
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Could you make a positive impact on a school in Camden?
School governors are one of the largest groups of volunteers in the country. It’s a great opportunity to use your life experience and skills to positively impact on a school. We want Camden governors to reflect the diversity of our community. We want people from every background and with a wide range of life experience.
What do school governors do?
School governors play a strategic role, helping to set the strategy and monitor the performance strategy for their school. You can read more about the role on the Inspiring Governance Website here. Usually, this involves attending 6-10 meetings a year, with occasional visits to the school during the day.
What support will I get if appointed?
Full training is available to all new governors, with regular updates and resources available from Camden Learning.
How do I apply?
Email Governors@camdenlearning.org.uk giving your name, why you are interested in becoming a school governor and the skills and life experience you could bring to the role.
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National gallery
The Gallery reopened in June 2023 with a new and dynamic exhibitions and events programme, ranging from group exhibitions and retrospectives to related talks, tours and weekend workshops. We also offer £5 exhibition tickets for under 25s, so hopefully lots there that might be of interest to you.
Click here for tickets
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Royal Opera House Ticket Scheme and Upcoming Events
There are two special Young ROH Nights coming up (Swan Lake on 21 March and Carmen on 1 May), where every seat in the theatre is for 16-25 year olds, with tickets priced between £1 - £30.
Click here for more information
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