Diversity among Lecturers:
Students noted that there is not enough diversity at the lecturer level:
“I would say, like, the majority of my tutors are, like, I would say with my tutors as opposed to my lecturers there’s, there’s a lot more diverse. Um, so maybe, like, um, focusing on diverse hiring higher-ups, like a lecturer for example rather, like, than a tutor. Um, I guess the tutors are mainly PhD students. So, it’s the fact that there are international students rather than international hiring from outside.”
Students noted that having this diversity at the Lecturer level and above would be helpful and make them feel like they had someone to turn to who would understand their background and experiences:
“I wasn’t sure who I could share this with, I wanted to share with, like, share what happens with someone. But I didn’t feel comfortable enough to then share my concerns to the head of art teacher, because she is from the UK, and she’s very, like, optimistic. […] if I wasn’t the only Asian student there, if I had, you know, close friends who experienced something similar, I think I would then, could share that, and then get some kind of response being like, oh I don’t think that’s right, I don’t, you know. Having, like, other voices would have helped. And also, you see, I don’t know any, like, Asian tutors, or Asian lecturers that I could talk to.”
“what you said, kind of, like, shows how important it is to have someone higher up of colour that you can go to. […] a lot of the tutors, a lot of the student advisors here, are White. So, you can’t really go to them for anything to do with racial, any racial issues, or anything to do with ethnicity. Erm, which I actually think is quite a big issue, because you can really only go to societies, which are other students, which to advise, they really can’t, you know, do much, especially when it comes to, like, something as big”
Support to International students:
Students noted that it would have been felpful for them to receive more support and guidance in their first year. While there is information available, we thought this was important to raise as it seems like the availability of this information is not known students and perhaps requires better signposting.
“maybe, like, more guidance for international students, especially in the fresh year. Because when I first came to, like, Edinburgh, I first came to this university I, I just, like, done everything, and I had to, like, um, explore everything on my own.”
Students also discussed the buddy/mentoring system, asking for more accessibility to that. In addition, they mentioned that it would be helpful to be paired with someone from their ethnic background who could offer them the realities of living in a society that is racialised:
“I wonder if there could be, like, a buddy system here. Like, a student mentor. Because I would have loved to support. Because I, kind of, struggled in my first year.”
“there is, like, a, kind of, buddy system. But I think maybe they should amplify it more.”
“I know that, like, there is a system called, like, global buddy. Which I found really interesting. So, like, I joined that group. Um, so if you enter the…your hobby, like, nationality, that kind of things, um, they allocate us with a, like, different group, um, having the same, um, like interest. So, I did it, but to be honest it didn’t work. I mean, like, there are, like, really few events in, like, year, and I actually didn’t make any friends.”
“if it would add more, like, cultural to it, I think that would be good. Not just, like, academic side but just living in general. And, you know, visa and what things to be mindful. Then I could, could have passed on about the Asian jokes and [laughter] you know, how often they happen and all that.”
Student fees and budgeting
Students shared their anxieties around the rising tuition fees and the stress it creates for them to navigate their living costs by working multiple part-time jobs sometimes.
I meant to mention about fee. Which has always been, like, a big stress on, on me, even though my family doesn’t say that. Like, it’s just been stuck in my head since my first year.
In addition, students spoke about the allocation of resources by the university and how it is helpful to know what the budget is being used for. They further noted that it would be helpful to create or allocate a budget to invite diverse visiting lecturers.
my programme director and course organiser she, she mentioned about having spare budget this year in our course to spend on anything she could, and she decided to invite this visiting artist who allows students to have tutorials with her, which was really helpful. I didn’t know about this budgeting system of the courses. I don’t know how much budget each course has. But inviting lecturers of maybe different maybe cultural backgrounds. someone related to, relevant to what we’re studying in the course or just about practice in general. It just makes me feel like, oh, the money’s being used in the way that’s actually, like, letting me learn things.
Diverse student representation during Welcome Week
Students recommended having diverse student representation for Open Day and Welcome Week and how that would help them to feel like they belong:
I think in, uh, welcome week and in, uh, the open days they should get some students to represent their course, because I know that if I came to uni on an open day and I saw someone that looked like me I would want to go. But, uh, I feel like they don’t really have that, um, unless you’re, like, in the uni.
Exchange students
One of the students noted her experience as an exchange student and noted the need to create ways for the exchange student community to connect with each other:
“as an exchange student it would be better for me, like, if there’s a, like, international exchange student, like, community. Because, like, um, during the welcome week I came across with a lot of, like, fresher year, like, first year, like, friends, and I could make, like, some, like, first year friends. But, like, they’re trying to make friends in their, like, courses, spending, like, four years here. So, like, I, kind of like, struggled with, like, making friends. Yes, but, like, I have a lot of, like, Japanese friends studying abroad in the, like, other countries, other university, and they have, like, international, like, huge exchange commune…community. So, like, they’re making a lot of, like, international, like, friends. But, um, for me, like, my friends are always, like, all of…most or all of them…wait, all…most of all…I’m sorry, are, like, British. So, like, it would be better if I can, like, communicate more with a lot of, um, exchange students from another country.”
Policy
Students further noted that they are not listened to by the management and get shut down easily. They suggested being involved in policy decisions so that they can have a say in the decisions that will have an impact on them.
“I don’t feel like the [department] school management lets us express ourselves creatively. […] We’re, kind of, shut down pretty quickly. […] And societies being, like, taken down. […] the Palestinian one keeps getting taken down. […] Yeah, because it’s not allowed.”
“I would say just letting the students have a say wherever they can. Like, if they’re thinking about changing the policy or adding one opening that up to the students as well. I would think surveys, but I know the response rate is low, so maybe, like, incentives. I think students would do them if they offered them an incentive.”
