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SAC Students Find Their Voice: First Ever Student President Elected

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N54
Published: 06 May 2011

Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) students have found their official voice with the election of the institution’s first event Student President. On what is already a big day for election results, it has been announced that Margaret Burns from Lossiemouth has won the campaign to become SAC’s most senior student representative.

The post is full time, paid and lasts for one year. It can be held either by a student taking a sabbatical from their studies or, as in Margaret’s case, a graduate taking up office for the year following the completion of their course.

Margaret, 22, will graduate in June, having spent the last four years studying for a degree in Sustainable Environmental Management at SAC’s Craibstone Campus in Aberdeen. Her term as Student President begins on 1 July. She will continue to be based at Craibstone but, in order to fulfil her role as the voice of the entire SAC student population, will regularly visit students at SAC’s two other campuses, in Ayr and Edinburgh.

Margaret will represent students’ views at the highest levels within SAC by sitting on various committees and by communicating directly with the SAC Board. She will also ensure students’ views are heard by external agencies including academic quality assessors and bodies such as the National Union of Students.

SAC’s intention to seek a Student President was agreed in tandem with it gaining Higher Education Institution (HEI) status in 2008. SAC is keen to ensure that, like other HEIs, its student body has formal and robust representation. A Student Association Development Officer, David Devlin, was appointed to oversee this process. David, a former Student President at the University of the West of Scotland, drew on his experience firstly to increase the number of student class representatives. During subsequent consultations with the class reps and with other HEIs, the remit of the role of Student President was developed. A student election was then set up, during which Margaret saw off stiff competition from two rival candidates – Louise Dixon from the Ayr campus and Jennifer Elliot from Edinburgh. The election result was announced at a ceremony at SAC’s Edinburgh Campus today - Margaret joined by videolink from Craibstone.

Margaret’s key pledges are to increase communication and interaction between students and to provide what she believes is a vital intermediate point of contact between students and SAC’s academic staff. Margaret said: “I’d like to thank everyone who voted. This is not really about me but about the interests of the SAC student body. After four years of study within SAC I feel I can identify with all students, whether young mature or distance-learners. My aim is to provide a voice for all, in order to continue to ensure they have the best possible experience while studying at SAC.

“My key to success will be to promote effective communication and interaction between the students across all three campuses, in Ayr, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. I promise to have an open door policy and to become a recognisable face across the three campuses.  Everything I push for I will give 100%!”

David McKenzie, Vice Principal of SAC’s Learning Division said: “I congratulate Margaret warmly on her appointment as Student President and I am certain that she will be a success in what promises to be a challenging but rewarding and exciting role. It is also a role that is very important for SAC. It reflects the student representation structures which exist within many other Higher Education Institutions and further recognises our commitment to ensuring that the views of our students are heard and taken on board, both internally and by external bodies.”

After leaving Lossiemouth High School, Margaret made the decision to study at SAC as she wished to pursue her interest in environmental issues. Through her course, she says she has developed a scientific knowledge in the fields of agriculture, ecology, renewable energy and associated industries. While she has not ruled out a future career in politics, Margaret would like to travel in South America before embarking on a career in the renewable energy sector, either in Scotland or overseas.

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News Release Issued By

Ms Jane Smernicki
Head of Communications
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4331

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