Hello hello! VP Ed Madelaine here to give you a rundown of what a random day in January looks like for VP Education. It's a cliché, and I say it all the time, but this is really only a tiny taste as every day is different.
Hello hello! VP Ed Madelaine here to give you a rundown of what a random day in January looks like for VP Education. It's a cliché, and I say it all the time, but this is really only a tiny taste as every day is different.
6:45-8:00: Alarm goes off. I lie in bed contemplating getting the bus to work. I drag myself out of bed for coffee number one. Caffeine hits. First wave of productivity gets me through getting ready and packing my bag.
8:00-8:45: Walk to work (New Year's Resolutions for the win 💪), with a stop for a coffee on the way.
8:45-9:00: Catch up on the news, drink coffee, chat to people as they arrive, make a few Instagram stories. Create a to-do list on a brightly coloured Post-it note so I can't forget!
Okay, now onto the actual work day.
9:00-9:30: Clean up that email inbox; sending off replies, filing things away.
9:30-9:50: Campaign comms (#RepresentingYourAcademicInterests).
9:50-10:10: Head up the Emily Wilding Davison Foyer to set up SU on Tour for SOS: Stamp Out Spiking.
10:10-11:00: Women's History Month events booking - this involves emails, a lot of draft notes, space bookings, and website descriptions.
11:00-12:00: Meeting with SU and University staff, talking about all things learning support (personal tutors, peer guide schemes, engagement and attendance).
12:00-12:30: Catchup with Dan Curran, the SU's Head of Community Engagement.
12:30-13:00: Lunch! Today's cuisine was a Tesco meal deal that I picked up on the way into work. The veggie sushi was mid but the sweet and salty popcorn was perfection.
13:00-14:00: Prep for next week's (shameless plug)!
14:00-14:30: More emails, blog writing, reading committee paper bundles for meetings next week. What I like to call "desk time".
14:30-15:00: Meeting with the Foundation Year Student Experience Lead to talk all things academic representation + community!
15:00-16:00: Working Group - the NSS officially launched at RHUL today, and in this group we talk about student experience, promotion, comms, and issues!
16:00-16:45: Finish up this blog. Start my to-do list for tomorrow, then look at the clock and go "huh, it's hometime!"
16:45: Start the walk down the hill!
Quickfire Questions:
What is your favourite thing about working at RHSU?
The people, students and staff alike! Every day, I work with passionate people who work hard to make student life better at Royal Holloway; when we see the impact of that, it's really, really special. I also get to hear from amazing students who work with me, like the academic reps and student group committee members, but also students who reach out because they want to talk to me. We've got a great community here, and that makes coming into work a joy.
What's the highlight of your year so far?
That's a tough one, so I'll cheat a bit and say the highlight of the first weeks of 2025. My answer to that is this week - bringing together students passionate about the education agenda, about wellbeing and diversity, about student communities - and hearing all of them weigh in to shape our Union's work. It is exactly what SUs should be about, and exactly why I ran to be VP Education.
Why should students run to be VP Education?
If you're passionate about making the experience of getting a degree at Royal Holloway as great as it possibly can be, this is the job for you. You get to be involved in a lot of different things - campaigns, advocacy, representation, formal committees. You will make a demonstrable impact on student life, and gain confidence and skills that will stay with you for life. Go for it! <3