As the University’s first Indian student studying abroad to become SU President , Akanksha said she wanted to foster a community that empowered students to celebrate diverse cultures.
By Katie Hoggan (Communications Officer (Corporate)), Published
These are the words of Akanksha Kumar, President of City St George’s Students’ Union 2023/2024. Akanksha said both her parents inspired her to study in the UK.
At 17, she moved from Mumbai to London to study BSc Business Management with Marketing at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) to follow in her father’s footsteps.
“I decided to move to London because this is where my dad studied. People would say ‘how are you going to let a girl study abroad?’ but my father would say ‘I did it, and so my daughter gets to do it too.’
“But my journey in the UK is also my mum living vicariously through me. Because she never got to do any of these things. She’s always been incredibly supportive and empowering.”
During her time at Bayes, Akanksha said she wanted to engage with the University’s Students’ Union. “They knew what students wanted; they were the pulse of the student body,” she said.
After learning that the University was yet to have an overseas Indian student become SU President, she ran for the position and was elected. “There was this innate glass ceiling that existed and with me deciding to run and become SU President, the ceiling found a bit of a crack,” she said.
As Akanksha learned the ropes of her new role representing over 20,000 students, she noticed a lack of annual student events that catered to parts of the student population.
Throughout her term, Akanksha planned the University’s first South Asian Fair for South Asian Heritage Month. The fair offered students and staff an insight into different South Asian cultures and included stalls with desi food, said Akanksha.
“Dance performances, henna artists and regional party games were on offer at the event and Punjabi music echoed down the halls of Tait Building," said Akanksha .
On her proudest moment as President, Akanksha said it was an early moment in her presidency that reminded her of the importance of representation.
“It was during Welcome Week. There was an incoming Indian student that approached me and said: ‘you’re not white’. She then explained that she had asked someone for the SU President and they pointed her towards me.
“She came up as a student from India not expecting her SU President to look like her, talk like her and represent her. That reminded me that it is important to have representation because if you don’t, you miss out on a whole chunk of people who need to see themselves in you.”
Throughout her time as SU President, Akanksha advocated for improved mental health, wellbeing and student support and campaigned for ‘nap pods’ to be introduced to the University to help students rest between classes. Akanksha said she would like to thank the Student’s Union for their support and ability to adapt to the needs of the student body.
Akanksha has now passed on the baton to the incoming SU President, Ayla Hamzayeva, who describes herself as having a passion for unity and progress and will prioritise the cost-of-living crisis with plans to negotiate and expand partnerships with local businesses to provide exclusive discounts for students on essential items.
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