PG Officer Blog

My Officer Life Like It’s a Movie – Pt 3:

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:40:52 +0100

Hi! I’m Sanya, your Postgraduate Officer. Welcome to my blog where I take you through my officer journey like it’s a movie (it really is).

Three months in, and honestly? My calendar looks like a game of Tetris, but I’m thriving (mostly).

Its giving.. Advocacy Core

The last few weeks have been all about campaigns and advocacy, making sure student concerns are brought to the front of the line.

The Plot Lines

Working with the Officer Team to finalise the SU’s Top 10 priorities, making sure postgrads are front and centre.
Attending university meetings like the Education and Academic Board (EAB) meeting.
Linking up with Doctoral College staff, academic and doctoral reps, and support teams to build better resources for PGs.
Managing social media and shooting reels, and no, I won’t stop until we go viral. Go engage ??
Setting up and planning the launch of the PG Network (watch this space – it’s going to be iconic ??)
Planning pre-arrivals and events specially for international and PG students to make sure the best fresher’s week experience.

Main Character Moments:

Attending my first ever Board of Trustees meeting as an Officer Trustee (yes, I wore the blazer, yes, it was a moment)
Being interviewed by BBC Radio about my journey from international student to PG Officer, all in less than a year! Still pinching myself over that one. You can listen to that interview here! Manny Masih - 25/08/2025 - BBC Sounds

If you’re a postgrad, I’m here to make your SU experience bigger, better, and a little more fun. Whether you’re researching, writing, or just surviving, you deserve to feel part of a community.

See you in Part 4 with same snacks, new spreadsheets ??

Sanya <3

My Officer Life Like It’s a Movie: Pt 2

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 14:56:19 +0100

Hi! I’m Sanya, your Postgraduate Officer. Welcome to my blog where I take you through my officer journey like it’s a movie (it really is).

Its giving.. Trustee Era

The last few weeks have been focused on my role as a director and trustee of this charity. Governance is a big responsibility but I feel a lot more confident stepping into this new role now.

Two Months In – The Plot Thickens

Travelling to Birmingham for Trustee Training Day - learning the legal and strategic side of being a trustee, while also networking with officers and trustees from other SUs.
Attending the NUS Campaign Day at Bath Spa with all the South West SUs – a day of collaboration, networking, sharing ideas, and collectively agreeing we all need more snacks at events.
Shaping our Top 10 SU priorities, making sure PG needs stay front and centre.

Main Character Moments:

Sitting on the interview panel with Benji (SU President) and Ryan (CEO) to recruit our next Student Trustee.
Completing Lumina Sparks training, where we learned about each other’s personalities (spoiler: I’m apparently both “sunshine” and “post-it notes everywhere)
Filming a lot of Instagram reels for the SU socials (seriously, go watch them) @thesubathpg

If you’re a postgrad, I’m here to make your SU experience bigger, better, and a little more fun. So email me, grab me at an event, or just send me memes.

Until Part 3…

With snacks, spreadsheets & trustee lingo,

Sanya <3

My Officer Life Like It’s a Movie: Pt 1

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:08:59 +0100

Hi! I’m Sanya, your new Postgraduate Officer – and yes, I am very much still processing the fact that this is real.

It’s Giving… Hopeful Chaos

Everyone keeps asking, “How’s it going?” and honestly, it’s giving “ambitious girlie with a dream and an Outlook Calendar”. I’m excited, nervous, and ready to take on! I feel incredibly lucky to be working alongside such warm, welcoming staff and colleagues and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a friendlier officer team. (P.S. We are the most attractive dream team. Just saying.)

One month in and so far, my role has been a whirlwind of:

Back-to-back meetings with university and SU staff
Big-picture plans for postgrad engagement
A lot of nodding like I understand the annual area plan spreadsheets (I do now, kinda x)
Talking about how much I love dance

The Handover Era

A massive shoutout to Zuber (former PG Officer and absolute icon) who passed on so much wisdom and helped me settle in. While I look forward to carrying on the role, I am also excited to bring in novelty and uniqueness and make it my own.

My Personal Plotline

Like I said in my campaign, my focus is all about making the PG experience less lonely, more lively, whether you're here for a taught course, a PhD, or just for the free pizza :p

My four main storylines priorities this year:

PG Community & Belonging – More chances to connect, beyond seminars and group chats.
Academic Voice & Reps – Making sure postgrads feel heard and seen.
Mental Health & Wellbeing – Access, visibility, and actual action.
Celebrating PGs – You deserve the spotlight too, not just deadlines and dissertations.

I’ve already had early chats about pre-arrival support, PG-focused welcome events, and improving how we communicate important info (read: fewer emails, more memes? ).

Main character moments:

Met reps and staff working on Doctoral College and Skills Centre collabs.
Met the The Right Worshipful Mayor of Bath
Started working on our Top 10 SU priorities, making sure PGs are rightly represented.
Attended my first ever Board of Trustees meeting (impromptu blazer moment).
PG summer party

If you’re a postgrad student reading this: Hi, I see you. You’re doing amazing. And I’d love to hear from you.

Email me, book a chat, or stop by the SU. Whether it’s a big issue, a tiny frustration, or just “hey do we still get pizza?” I’m here.

Until Part 2…

With snacks and spreadsheets, Sanya

Your voice matters - Ptes and Pres is LIVE

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:54:56 Z

Hello Everyone, I am back working after a hectic week of campaigning, bugging you all on campus to vote and catching up on a long list of emails. But that's ended and I have a quick but important message for you: Your voice matters!

You’ve probably seen the PRES (Postgraduate Research Experience Survey) and PTES (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey) floating around in your inbox—but before you scroll past, hear me out!

Here’s your chance to win £250 and £70 cash prize.

One of our TOP 10 priorities this year is to develop clear evaluation criteria to measure and improve student satisfaction. The PTES & PRES and other in-year data-gathering mechanisms are key to this. Your feedback in these surveys will directly influence how we track progress and ensure meaningful changes happen based on what matters most to you. Whether it’s supervision, resources, teaching, more events/opportunities to get involved or overall support, your feedback helps create a clearer picture of postgraduate life at Bath.

Why should you take part?

You might wonder—do these surveys actually make a difference? The answer is yes! Your responses provide valuable insights that both The SU and the University use to:

Celebrate what’s working well in postgraduate education.
Identify areas where change is needed.
Advocate for improvements that enhance the experience for both current and future students.

Previous survey responses have led to real improvements in areas such as study spaces, funding support, academic resources, and more fun and inclusive events for all. This is your chance to contribute to those positive changes.

It only takes a few minutes to complete, but the impact lasts way longer. Just check your inbox for the survey link and have your say before the deadline!

P.S. Feeling lost or not sure about anything, My door and email box are always open, and everyone is welcome.

- Zuber

From Holidays to Hustle: A Postgrad Check-In

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:14:11 Z

Hey Bath Fam,

Can you believe it? We’re already nearing the end of the semester! Time’s flown by faster than the queue at U1/U2 Bus Stop. lol. Well done for making it this far—postgrad life isn’t for the faint-hearted, and you’ve absolutely smashed it so far. Now, as the campus lights up with festive cheer, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and gear up for what’s next.

As we head into the holidays, let’s look forward to what’s coming. When we’re back in January, the grind gets real with submission deadlines and exams lurking just around the corner. But hey, it’s not all stress and study—graduation ceremonies will be in full swing! I’ll even be celebrating my own graduation this year, so if you spot me in my gown, know that your turn is coming too. Exciting, right?

Let’s take a moment to hype ourselves up for everything we’ve achieved so far! From the buzzing Freshers’ Week (seriously, you lot brought the vibes!) to welcoming brilliant reps, smashing the SUmmit, and finalising our Top 10 priorities for the year, we’ve had a packed term. Oh, and let’s not forget the epic networking events and socials—it’s been a whirlwind, and you’ve been at the heart of it all.

Christmas and New Year’s offer a wonderful chance to recharge, so whether you’re staying in Bath or heading home, make it count. If you’re sticking around, check out the city's festive lights and market while exploring different traditions and everything in between. Travelling? Perfect time to reconnect with family, friends, and, most importantly, yourself.

And don’t forget: sleep, eat, and relax. Yes, those deadlines are there, but so are you—and you’ve got this! Remember, it’s okay to step back and prioritize your well-being during the break.

When we return, the pace will quicken. Here are a few tips to stay on track:

Plan Early: Map out your submission and study timelines now.
Use Support Networks: Whether it’s academic advisors, peers, or the SU, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
Stay Healthy: Balanced meals, exercise, and regular breaks will keep your mind sharp.

I love hearing from you, so drop by the SU office, send an email, or just wave if you see me around campus. Got feedback? Ideas? A funny story? I’m all ears. This community’s energy comes from you, and together, we’re unstoppable.

Wishing you a holiday season filled with laughter, good vibes, and maybe even a mince pie or two. Take care, and let’s make 2025 our best year yet!

Catch you soon,
Zuber
Your Postgraduate Officer
Students' Union, University of Bath