Be somebody: Liz's journey from Edinburgh SU to the BBC
Liz Rawlings is a BBC journalist who works on the Daily Politics Show and covers a range of international and national stories. She tells us about how her current career lead on from her time as President at Edinburgh University Students’ Association and the moment when she realised that "as a Sabbatical, you really can change things for students."
1. How did you get involved in your Students’ Union?
I was President of Edinburgh University Students’ Association in 2010/11. I had always been active in campaigning on student issues – mostly through journalism as editor of ‘The Student’ – Edinburgh University’s student newspaper.
I wrote many articles including one criticising the university’s unethical investments and another on the university’s poor record on recruitment of students from students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
When I saw the EUSA elections advertised, I decided to run – and try and make a difference – to actively campaign for what I had written about.
2. What did you achieve as a sabbatical officer?
Our Sabbatical team achieved a huge amount during our year. We organised a Scotland-wide demonstration against tuition fees and won the NUS campaign of the year award for our ‘Write to Mike’ campaign – a successful campaign to stop our local MP voting against the increase in tuition fees. We helped set up a new volunteering centre and set up Scotland’s first shadowing scheme to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds get into Edinburgh. We also stopped the university turning one of our library floors into staff offices!
The thing I’m most proud of was starting free language classes at Edinburgh for all students who wanted them. It was a very popular policy of mine in my manifesto – and when I succeeded in getting funding from the university to actually implement them, I couldn’t stop smiling!
It was relatively near the beginning of my term as President and it was the moment I realised that as a Sabbatical, you really can change things for students.
3. What did you learn during your sabbatical year?
Leading an organisation as politically vibrant as a Students’ Union gave me an immeasurable number of new skills – and honed others. I came away from my year with confidence in public speaking, new networking skills, a knowledge of how effective campaigning works, and an understanding of the inner-workings of a large member-led organisation.
4. How did your role impact upon your life and career?
My time at EUSA absolutely helped me get a job at the BBC – they told me so!
Being a sabbatical officer shows you’re a go-getter and that you’re passionate and engaged in the world around you. Which employer wouldn’t want that in a staff-member? I worked hard as a Sabbatical, had a lot of fun, learnt invaluable new skills and made lifelong friends. Go for it!
Be somebody like Liz - nominate yourself to run in the MDXSU student officer election!
