Who are the Student Officers?
The student officers are eight students, elected by the whole student population, who work full time at the Students' Union for a year.
Fadi Dakkak, International Students' Officer
Email: international.officer@shef.ac.uk
Phone: 0114 222 8531
Supports and represents the University's international student population. Works to support and facilitate integration of home and international students at Sheffield.
Sits on key University committees relating to international students and internationalisation.
N.B. Only international students can stand to be the International Students' Officer, but all students can vote in the election.
Introducing Fadi...
Hi all, I'm Fadi and I come from Jordan. I just finished my degree in Civil and Structural Engineering, and it was a brilliant experience. I would like to be able to share my experience this coming year through my role as International Students' Officer. I am aiming to make your university life more diverse and internationalised! I hope you're looking forward to becoming part of a community that has over 130 nationalities!
Fadi's Objectives
Objective 1: Developing the Global Perspective
Aim
A key benefit of membership of the SU is developing a Global Perspective for all its members. We are also committed to working together with the University to ensure that all our members have an international student experience.
1. Create more diversity within the members of staff
- Look into the possibility of having internships for international students at the SU.
2. Support residential Mentors
3. Create a summit to share good practice within the SU and University on the creating the international student experience.
4. Showcase the value of International Students
- Work alongside the University on showcasing the value of international students and leading the SU on that campaign
5. Encourage SU staff to share their international experiences and skills for example by wearing flags to show which languages they can speak
6. Language Board
- Make use of a peer to peer language board at the SU to promote languages around
Objective 2: More Involvement from National Societies
Aim
To get national societies more involved in events run by representative groups and working committees in the SU. Furthermore, to give better support to events run by national societies.
1. National Society Contribution to Events
- National societies to contribute and help other representative committees in their events
2. Support system for International Students
- To work with the Student Advice Centre and Careers and the national societies in order to create a network to communicate and support international students more effectively.
3. Encourage a diversity of membership within national societies.
4. Create a Nat-Soc Events Fund
5. Develop a link between national societies and SU outlets and departments.
Objective 3: Create a home and international student peer support network
Aim
Create a peer support system to help international and home students to make the transition into a new and unfamiliar academic and social culture.
1. Further develop the 100 Things I Wish I had Known to include home students.
2. To provide cross cultural awareness training to all SU councillors to ensure they can support both home and international students..
3. Create a Global Café to help international and home students to socialise and share their language and cultures.
4. To develop a Sports Programme to bring home and international students.
