“We are lobbying the university constantly to improve the student experience”
What Steven asked Zaid Mahmood the University of Kent's former Student's Union President
Zaid Mahmood was the then Student Union President for the University of Kent when we recorded this interview at The Deep End on the Medway campus. Since it was recorded, he has since moved on to a different role, but the discussion still provides an illuminating conversation about how he got the role, how data analytics have helped improve the student experience, what effect the government has had on international students and student finances, and more.
Where were you born?
I was born in London, in Harrow. I grew up in multiple places. I moved back to Pakistan. I grew up there for 10 years of my life and then moved back to the UK.
What region of Pakistan?
In Punjab. Lahore. So not the capital, but where Pakistan was formed.
What jobs did your parents do growing up?
My mum did a lot. My mum was a pharmacist by degree, but after that, she decided she didn’t want to do pharmacy anymore, decided to go into teaching, became a teacher, started at primary level all the way up to A-levels. Then we moved back to the UK, and she did her Master’s in Education. Then switched a little bit and went to HR, doing HR and recruitment. Yeah. Now, she's a HR consultant for KPMG. She's changed careers and found what she loves now. My father, he's been a doctor since training.
How did you find school?
School was really, really good. I moved around a lot of schools, but I think it was useful for me, and I attribute a lot to the type of person I am today. I attribute it to my time in schools and moving around, because it helped me adapt. It helped me learn how to be very social, be able to make friends easily, but also be able to talk to people, have the confidence.
Was primary school in the UK or Pakistan?
It was a bit of both. It was in Pakistan, and then I moved back here. And then primary school, I finished off in Canterbury. Then I lived in Surrey, lived back in Harrow, and then I moved to Dubai. I lived in Dubai for 3 years.
How did you end up in Dubai?
My mum got a job in Dubai.
Where did you go for 6th form?
Back in the UK. I moved after finishing my GCSEs. I moved back to Harrow and did my A-levels there.
What did you specialise in at A-level?
I did Biology and Chemistry. The plan was always Biochemistry, but I did also do Business A-level.
What brought you to the Medway Towns?
While I was choosing my universities, Kent wasn't an option for me at that point because I was choosing Biochemistry. Then, on results day, I completely changed my mind. I got my results and said, ‘I don't actually want to do Science Biochemistry. I don't want to do Science at the university.’ It was just something I was doing to please the Asian family stereotype. Then I chose Business and Management, and Kent came up as one of the options. I reviewed the course, looked at the modules, and I was like, ‘This is exactly what I want to be doing.’ I just found everything so interesting. And I already had a connection to Kent. My mum and her sister grew up a little bit in Medway, too. My mum went to Rainham Girls. My aunt went to Chatham Grammar. They know the area well. Me, my mum, and my brother lived in Canterbury when I was ten while my mum was doing her Master’s at CCCU (Canterbury Christ Church University). We decided to look through the options and I just felt Kent was the right option for me. I chose it and came in for an applicant day in Medway and fell in love with the campus. It was so beautiful. It was historic but also still modern at the same time. I love the accommodation. Everyone was so lovely. Kent was also the most supportive university of all the clearing hotlines I called. They were really supportive throughout the process and made sure to check in on what I wanted to do and be able to guide me through it rather than, sometimes, nowadays, universities will treat you as customers or transactional. Kent didn't have that. Kent was really awesome.
Where did you live when you were in student accommodation?
I was in Pier Quays, the classic student accommodation in Medway. It was wonderful. Right by the pier as well. I have a huge thing for being near water. It was perfect for me. It was really nice. All the rooms were ensuite and well-priced.
What is your official title?
I'm the Student Union President (for the University of Kent) and the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Kent Students’ Union. Where we are, in The Hub on Medway campus, is our central place for all three Student Unions (University of Kent, University of Greenwich, and Canterbury Christ Church University). We work in partnership for Medway. Medway is a collective agreement. When a Kent student comes to the hub, they're coming to visit the Kent Union at The Hub. When a Greenwich student comes here, they visit Greenwich Students’ Union at The Hub. The staff here work for all three unions.
Why did you first decide to stand for student union president?
I initially ran in my final year of my Business and Management course, and this was during lockdown, or when we're coming out of lockdown, but it was still the tier system. All those wild times. I decided to run because it was always a dream of mine. I think ever since I came here, I said to myself that one day I'm going to be the President of the union here. Didn't know how, didn't know what to do. Then one day, I just saw nominations are open. I did a bit of research, and I applied, and then went through all the training, all the support to run an online campaign.
I ran my online campaign, and I lost terribly. But that first loss really fuelled that fire. I knew I was doing a year in data analytics. I thought I have one more chance. In my year in data analytics, I worked to make sure I was everywhere you'd look. I was doing so much to understand students as well, I became a student trustee for Kent Union. I worked at the library cafe in Canterbury. So, when you got a coffee in the library, that was me handing you the coffee. My face and my blonde streaks were quite identifiable. It helped being recognisable. I was also the activities network chair. I was NUS delegate for the National Union of Students. I represented Kent there. I did so many other things. Really did everything I could to understand different areas of the experience. Then I ran, and I won.
Have you ever been a member of a political party?
Not officially, no. But ever since I've been legally allowed to vote, I've been a Labour voter.
What additional roles, paid or unpaid, do you do?
Kent Students’ Union is a registered charity, so we are trustees as well. As staff members, we are student-led. The majority of the board of trustees are students. I do have a secondary voluntary position. I'm a trustee for University of Kent Academies Trust. That is a multi-academy trust of two schools in Medway, Chatham Grammar and Brompton Academy. I'm a trustee for those two schools because I wanted to give back to the community here in Medway. Those schools make a huge difference to ensuring that the younger population in Medway have the opportunities to go into further education, go into higher education and be able to succeed, and be able to bring back to the area and revitalise it as well.
What does your average day entail?
That's a tough question. Honestly, there's no one average day. It's so different every single day, and that's why I've really enjoyed it. I'm never bored in my job. Every day, something new will pop up. There will be a lot of firefighting. There's problems that come up, and we know how difficult the higher education sector is currently for students, staff, lecturers, students' unions, universities, everyone. There's a lot of problems that come up, plus also the political landscape we're in as a country with the cost-of-living crisis, with how our political system is working currently for us. I have to do a lot of firefighting, but I also do a lot of, meetings with university management and ensure that the student voice is heard. I focus on priorities, and I have a team, so it's myself and then four Vice Presidents as well. They all have specific remits. Within my remit, I focus on cost of living, on transparency in decision making, as well as in student feedback and involvement. How are students being listened to? How is the university being transparent in the decisions they're making? Challenging them, holding them to account, when they make a decision that is, impacting students' experience. Cost of living is a key one for me. We've been working really hard to ensure that Kent provides a good cost of living to its students, especially when, on a national level, the government is not able to do so.
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