Gavin Dcunha

With soaring inflation personal finances are constrained. 2022 has highlighted the importance of increased transparency and equitability especially in ‘money matters’.

My election manifesto will focus on increased co-operation between the University and the student body to help give students a stronger voice in the functioning of the University. 

Some of the immediate actions that I would like to work on if elected are highlighted in this manifesto:

1. Increased transparency between student fees and expenditure:

Information regarding the incomes of the university and the expenditures should be made as transparent as possible for every student to understand how their tuition fees are being effectively utilized. For eg., budget limits for the final project (for allocation of degree) make up a disproportionate amount of the total fees i.e about 1.2% of the total fees paid.

2. Lobby to increase affordable housing options:

A lot of students are currently paying very high rates for accommodation due to the combined effects of inflation and inadequate affordable housing options. A study to be undertaken to determine how the gap between demand and supply of can be bridged and the short-term actions that can be taken to resolve it.

3. Focus on support and wellbeing services:

Lobby to increase funding for the mental health strategy, to ensure quality and professional access is available to students and work with counselling services to extend group counselling themes to include identities of gender, ethnicity, and orientation.

4. Lobby the university to increase the international cultural diversity:

A leading institution like Southampton should have a much better cultural diversity which would improve students' learning experience. I would like to lobby the university to increase the cultural diversity in the university by working closely with schools to formulate incentives (viz., national scholarships, grants etc.) for various nationalities to apply at the university.

5. Focus on the developments of international alumni chapters:

The biggest resource of a truly International University is the cultural diversity.  Every successful university owes in part its success to its extensive alumni network. With Southampton having such a large international student body, it is of utmost importance we form alumni chapters in various regions across the world to help foster lifelong friendships and prospective economic opportunities.

Together, we can reform immediate shortcomings, provide students with various resources & support they need to thrive in Southampton and together help to make Southampton a truly global university. Despite the challenges, the last year has also thought us many opportunities for improving the student life at Southampton. I am Gavin Austin D Cunha asking for your support in my campaign for the Southampton Student Union President.