By Beds SU
Monday, 20 July 2026
After a fantastic year of advocating for students and improving students' lives at the Universtity, whe had to say a fond farewell to our elected Student Campaigns Leads Caius Hamiliton and Hauwa Ataja. However, it wasn't all sad news as Hauwa was re-elected in her role, after standning in the Elections for a second time.
Mark McCormack, CEO of Beds SU hosted an afternoon of celebrations to say goodbye and thank to both for their hard work over the last 12 months and their incredible commitment to making students' lives better here at the University of Bedfordshire.
Hauwa and Cauis spoke enthusiastically about the year and the opportunity they had been given to make demonstrable changes for students.
Speaking on behalf of them both, Hauwa said;
'As the academic year comes to an end, I want to take a moment to thank students for engaging with the Students’ Union, sharing feedback, and helping shape the work we’ve delivered this year.
Over the past year, our work has been guided by three student‑elected priorities: student wellbeing and belonging, developing skills in the student experience, and better living conditions for student renters. These priorities informed our campaigns, advocacy, and representation across the year, alongside our responsibility to respond to emerging issues raised by students.
Much of our focus this year has been on listening to student experiences, improving access to information and support, and ensuring student voices are represented in conversations that affect everyday university life. Whether through campaigning, consultation, or advocacy, the aim has been to make systems clearer, representation stronger, and student concerns visible.
One key thing we’ve learned this year is the importance of both focus and flexibility. While it’s important to aim high, real impact comes from being realistic about what can be achieved in a year, and working closely with students to shape how that happens.
Looking ahead, we’ll be focusing on improving the experience for students who travel, while continuing our work on wellbeing and belonging. These priorities have again been chosen by students and build on what we’ve learned this year — with a stronger focus on delivering meaningful, student‑led change.
As we prepare to welcome the new officer team, I want to thank outgoing representatives, student volunteers, and staff for their work and commitment. Most importantly, thank you to the students who continue to speak up and engage — your feedback and involvement remain central to everything we do.'
Our two new Student Campaigns Leads for 2026/7 are Hauwa Ataja and Maria Serafim. Click on this link to find out more about them.
