Pooja Kaur
Candidate for Education Officer-ARU Students’ Union
I am proud to put myself forward as a candidate for Education Officer at Anglia Ruskin University.
Some people run for a position.
I’m running for impact.
University isn’t just lectures and deadlines. It’s pressure. It’s ambition. It’s uncertainty about the future. It’s balancing attendance, grades, part-time work, visa stress, and personal life all at once.
I understand that because I’ve lived it.
If elected as Education Officer, I won’t be someone who just attends meetings and posts updates. I will be visible, vocal, and solution-focused.
If elected as your Education Officer, I will focus on structural change across five major areas:
My Priorities for ARU Students
1️⃣ Academic Transparency & Fair Marking Reform
• Push for clearer marking criteria across all modules no vague feedback.
• Advocate for faster turnaround times on assessments.
• Introduce a student-facing “Feedback Standard” so every lecturer provides constructive, actionable comments.
• Work towards publishing clearer grade distribution data so students understand where they stand.
No student should feel confused about why they received a mark.
2️⃣ Attendance & Extenuating Circumstances Reform
Students face real-life challenges mental health, financial pressure, work commitments, visa stress.
I will:
• Push for clearer and more compassionate attendance processes.
• Improve awareness and transparency of extenuating circumstances policies.
• Advocate for quicker decisions on extension requests.
• Ensure international students are properly supported where academic rules impact visa status.
Policies should support students not scare them.
3️⃣ Academic Support Upgrade
• Increase visibility of academic advisers and personal tutors.
• Push for structured academic skills workshops (dissertation writing, referencing, exam techniques).
• Create better communication channels so students know exactly where to go for help, without being passed around departments.
Support should be proactive, not reactive.
4️⃣ Career & Employability Integration
University should prepare students for employment not just exams.
I will work towards:
• More course-specific networking events.
• Stronger employer engagement with each faculty.
• CV and LinkedIn optimisation workshops tailored to different industries.
• Better support for international students navigating UK job markets and visa pathways.
Graduation should feel like a launchpad not a cliff edge.
5️⃣ Student Voice with Real Power
• Regular open forums with academic leadership.
• Transparent reporting of what issues are raised and what action is taken.
• A monthly “You Said, We Did” update so students see results.
• Stronger collaboration between course reps and senior management.
Representation must be visible and accountable.
I am not running to hold a title.
I am running to bring a change.
Why I Am standing?
Students deserve an Education Officer who represents their academic interests with clarity, integrity, and conviction. I recognise the importance of ensuring that student voices are not only heard but meaningfully represented in the spaces where decisions about teaching, learning, and assessment are shaped.
If elected, I will work closely with student representatives and academic departments to ensure that student feedback drives genuine progress and constructive improvement. My goal is to help build a Students’ Union that is visible, inclusive, transparent, and truly impactful strengthening academic representation and ensuring every ARU student feels valued, supported, and confidently represented.
Vote Pooja Kaur
Education Officer – ARU Students’ Union
Supporting Students.
Strengthening Education.
Amplifying Student Voices.