FE’s new student leader has pledged to reconnect the National Union of Students (NUS) with further education learners whose needs have been “marginalised” and “overlooked” by the union and sector.
Qasim Hussain, currently the full-time student union president at Leeds City College, part of Luminate Education Group, was elected by NUS members to be its next vice president for further education (VPFE) on Friday.
The former history, geography and politics A-levels student pledged to work with sector bodies to campaign to “protect the resources and support services that students rely on” alongside making FE issues more of a priority in the national union.
Hussain said NUS has become “disconnected” and “inaccessible” to its further education members with financial constraints in the sector blocking students from taking part in NUS’ campaigns and democratic decision-making bodies, like its national conference.
