City West Campus
Master of Communication
I often ask myself, why do I do the things I do? Why would I leave my comfort to serve fellow students? The go-to answer has always been, "I want to be a pioneer, to be in rooms that my forefathers never dreamed of. Not just to be in those rooms but to let my presence radiate across the communities I represent and to lend my ideas and knowledge to the service of men and women. For service was a mark of honour when my forefathers lived."
My overarching goal is to put in place a student engagement framework. What do I mean? If a UniSA student has a complaint about anything, that student should know who to approach and there should be a clear map of how that issue will be received and assessed. The student should know how and when to follow up on that issue and any actions the university takes. That is how you improve the student experience!
You can choose to sleep or study in the library; that is how comfortable it is.
I am a country boy. Country boys leave the country to go to the city. They go to the city, not to compete with the big boys but to keep the village afloat. Stick to your dreams, ignore the Joneses.
Graduations. Most graduations. Graduations present an opportunity for students to seek comfort in their commitment, to dry their tears and to dress in hope for what the future holds for them.
Getting out on campus to meet people. I still cherish the good ol' strong handshakes, pats on the back and meaningless talk. It helps that I am extroverted.
I used to meditate before. I do not think a full-time Masters program affords you the opportunity to meditate. But, I find myself sitting still during unplanned moments whether before starting the car or after calling home. Those moments are still precious unless you are a swiftie haha.
I am named after my great-grandfather. He grew up in colonial Kenya and was a self-employed man living at the doorstep of a giant castle where a colonial settler lived. I would go back in time to learn about that grace during a time of open hostility, to learn about his creative and business pursuits when man knew no internet and to bask in his hope when the future was not bright.
ENTP - The Debater. I am extroverted, assertive, prone to question the status quo and a lover of ideas. I think big but I do not complete most of my projects because ideas just become too many.
This month has been an enlightening experience in engaging university stakeholders on potential and emerging issues. I was settling into the role while also setting sights on undertaking projects that will have an impact on students guided by the spirit of the USASA Constitution, specifically object 3.1 (b) ‘to promote the growth and development of the Students of the University with particular emphasis on the quality of the teaching and learning environment and the development of academic excellence’.
The symposium presented an opportunity to identify university stakeholders that are key to the effectiveness of USASA and USASA Board members.
Reflecting on the presentations, two quotes stood out for me. Professor Joanne Cys, Provost and Chief Academic Officer said, “The university prizes itself in advancing equity and access to university education.” While discussing the university for the future, Tom Steer, Chief Academic Services Officer said that Adelaide University will, “consider regional students in all things that we do.” I believe that is an ideal that USASA should strive for, and it is commendable that two USASA Board Student Representatives participated in the Mount Gambier Orientation activities.
The President and I attended an induction by the Chancellor, Ms. Pauline Carr. We are both passionate about providing student perspective at the highest level of decision-making at UniSA.
I met the Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Student Representative, Hayley Caldwell to discuss an issue raised by HDR students.
Hayley presented the case for the indexation of the HDR stipend which still stands at $32,500 annually. UniSA has always indexed the stipend to reflect inflation growth. It has not done so this year. The USASA President provided a background of the issue. The USASA Education Committee will discuss this issue further.
I encouraged Hayley and HDR Student representatives to actively participate in the USASA Education Committee to ensure that HDR students’ issues are not overlooked. Hayley promised an active role by HDR representatives in the Education Committee.
HDR Student representatives called for USASA engagement in the HDR space. Hayley noted that HDR students could benefit from USASA resources. The Education Committee will discuss this suggestion.
I attended the BROKEN exhibition launch at MOD. The Chancellor, Ms Pauline Carr and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Prof. Marnie Hughes Warrington AO were speakers at the event.
BROKEN is an ‘exploration of how the world could be different if we imagined new ways of being’. https://mod.org.au/exhibitions/broken/
My takeaway from the exhibition is that we should summon our collective energy to build new systems rather than toil to repair broken systems.
The meeting discussed an upcoming Education Committee agenda item, ‘Academic Student Representatives (ASRs), Academic Unit Board Student Representatives (AUBs) and their role in Student Representation.’
Considering the upcoming Education Committee discussion, I reached out to Brendan Hughes to discuss the following:
These topics are underlined by these questions:
The goal of this exercise is to simplify and streamline student representation. It should not be taken to be usurping parallel projects within the realm of Student Voice.
The USASA Education Committee consisting of elected board members, AUBS and ASRs will discuss this item, offer student perspectives, and then propose further actions.
President Oliver Shephard-Bayly, International Student Representative, Naman Mathur and I attended the reception. We introduced students to USASA, handed out orientation packs and sampled chicken paella.
The event was a testament to the internationalization of higher education institutions and the need for USASA to realign its values to the expectations of the diverse student body.
International Student Representative Naman Mathur and I attended the reception on the second day. The event led to a realization that USASA Student reps should actively inform and educate students about the role of USASA.
March was a mix of personal academic engagements and activities pertaining to my position.
The Committee held its inaugural meeting on 5th March. The Committee is fully composed. The Committee discussed its Terms of Reference (TOR) and recommended an amendment to avoid confusion over certain words and clauses. The amendment will be presented to the Board for ratification.
I spent less time at the USASA stall, and more time visiting other stalls to interact, learn and pick freebies.
I attended the online meeting on 11th March. It was an opportunity to meet student representatives overseeing the ‘education’ portfolio across various universities. I also learned of campaigns being run by other student organizations such as concession fares for online students (which is also being pursued in SA), paid placements and 100% SSAF funding.
NUS is also running campaigns on ending placement ‘poverty’ (a recommendation of the Universities Accords Report), compiling a National Racism Report etc.
The Education Conference (EdCon) will run in August, and I hope that USASA will be represented.
April was a fast and silent month for students. The beginning featured academic travails while the last two weeks of mid-semester break offered a reprieve for students.
There were no current issues affecting students that could pose significant risks to the body. Much of my head lay in Higher Degree Research (HDR) students’ experience at the University of Australia (UniSA).
After our successful meeting last month, the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Graduate Studies officially responded to the request by HDR student representatives to increase the 2024 stipend rate awarded to HDR students under the Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship funded by the federal government.
The university will conduct a review after the census date and communicate an outcome. The census date has since passed, and we will follow up in due course.
I attended a routine meeting of the Academic Board. During the proceedings, I submitted to UniSA Creative to consider developing and disseminating a program-specific communication to students about any changes to their programs, study plans, timetables, and study periods ahead of the new university being operational from January 2026.
The integration of the academic units of both universities, the University of Adelaide and UniSA will lead to academic changes that affect students. As a result, students would require information. It would be a best practice for the university to provide student-specific communication about the merger during the transition period.
USASA has the liberty to advocate for this proposition.
During the board meeting, an HDR student representative made the board aware of the lack of engagement between and among HDR student representatives and HDR students respectively.
Participation of HDR students in student affairs and the peer engagement of HDR student representatives is a long-running issue that should be allowed to spill into the new university. I will seek to gather the thoughts of HDR student representatives and present a proposal to the Education Committee.
I was privileged to lead the academic procession during the 3.30p.m ceremony on 10th April. It is a deeply emotional experience to witness students celebrate the culmination of their academic efforts. The council dress fits me well.
I urge fellow Board members and students to present any issues, concerns and university decisions that fall under the realm of students’ academic studies at UniSA. This enables the committee to proactively deal with such issues rather than take a reactionary approach.
We could do more as a Board if members reached out to each other and deliberated on issues that they are aware of and seek cross-domain collaboration.
I have had random conversations with students, with most touching on the federal government's proposals on having a cap on international student numbers and permanent migration numbers. Students deliberated how the proposed changes affected them. Most noted their economic and cultural significance to Australia.
During the last weeks of a semester, students tend to be inward-looking and focused on assignments and exams. True to this personal belief, students were more engaged with their studies during the last few weeks.
An insignificant number of students reached out to me inquiring about changes that would affect them when Adelaide University (AU) comes into place. Integration of businesses between the universities is still ongoing. The university will provide information to students when all integration activities are completed.
HDR students petitioned the university to consider increasing the annual stipend rate provided to full-time HDR students under the Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.
The university is still reviewing the matter in what I believe will be a long-term process. My approach is fostering a continuous, transparent and trustworthy engagement between the university and HDR students. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Enterprise and Research, and Standing Acting Vice Chancellor Distinguished Prof. Marnie Hughes-Warrington embodies the same approach and will meet HDR student representatives in the near future.
Students have been enjoying their well-deserved break, albeit short. I have been enjoying a break too. However, it could be argued that I do not deserve it.
During July, we advocated for an increase in the annual stipend rate provided to Higher Degree of Research (HDR) students at the University of South Australia (UniSA). Full-time students depending on the stipend are experiencing hard times due to the high cost of living and inability to hold other jobs as they pursue their studies.
UniSA will decide on our request to increase the stipend in August 2024.
We also witnessed the launch of the Adelaide University Brand on 15th July – introducing the logo and website to the world. Adelaide University is a big promise, and we hope that the promise is not only made but cast in stone and delivered.
We are in a Transition period until January 2026. Therefore, we call upon students to contact us, submitting questions about the new university and how their studies may be affected. We will forward these questions to the University.
Contact me by email at opiby001@mymail.unisa.edu.au or shout my name whenever you see me on campus!
Every month, each member of the USASA Board writes a report on what they've been up to. Click on their names to read their reports and more.
President: Oliver Shephard-Bayly
Postgraduate Student Rep: Benjamin Opiyo
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student Rep: Rhys Peden
International Student Rep: Vacant
City West Student Rep: Christopher Fernandes
City West Undergraduate Student Rep: Yeshaiah Varona
City East Student Rep: Deepak Narang
City East Undergraduate Student Rep: Jade Hancock
Magill Student Rep: Lucy Fawcett
Magill Undergraduate Student Rep: Zoe Hughes
Mawson Lakes Student Rep: Henry Zampoli
Mawson Lakes Undergraduate Student Rep: Agrani Kashyap
Mount Gambier Student Rep: Grace Smith
Whyalla Student Rep: Vacant
UniSA Online Student Rep: Lily Durkin
Have a general enquiry regarding the USASA Student Board?