Kamil Lawal – Student Union President of Education at York St John
The HERG is happy to welcome Student Union President of Education at York St John, Kamil Lawal, as Internal Stakeholder to the group to ensure that students’ perspectives are considered in our work. He introduces himself in this blog post, and reflects on some challenges facing international students
Hello everyone, I am Kamil Lawal, the current Student Union President of Education at York St John University. I am an international student at YSJ and studied in London campus. I have an educational background in computer science (HND), management and accounting (Bachelors) and a master’s in business administration (MBA). Throughout my studies, I have held various student leadership roles. These experiences have given me a strong understanding of student voice and representation.
In my role as President of Education at the Students’ Union, I have led various initiatives aimed at improving student representation and fostering an inclusive learning environment. I oversee a team of academic representatives, ensuring that students’ voices are heard at the highest levels of university governance. Through this role, I have become acutely aware of the importance of promoting inclusive education that caters to the diverse needs of students, including international students, students of colour, and those from underrepresented backgrounds.
Recently, I have been reflecting on the relativity of knowledge. How does knowledge relate to students from different cultural backgrounds? How can international students apply their educational experiences from the UK in their home countries? These questions have led me to join this research group to further explore epistemic injustice in higher education. I am particularly interested in how international students face barriers to participation and are often excluded from critical academic conversations. My goal is to investigate how universities can create inclusive educational environments that respect and value the diverse contributions of students from all backgrounds.
My leadership experience has strengthened my understanding of how educational policies can impact students’ academic success and well-being. I believe that by integrating student leadership with research on epistemic injustice, we can develop more effective strategies to create inclusive educational environments that allow every student to thrive.
As an international student, I have first-hand experience of the challenges that come with transitioning to a new academic environment, especially in a different cultural setting. The process of adapting to culture shock, navigating the complexities of visa regulations, mental health, and experiencing educational inequality are some of the issues I faced when I began my academic journey in the UK. These experiences have made me reflect on the systemic barriers that international students face and motivated me to focus my research on tackling these barriers.
Furthermore, I am passionate about the intersection of mental health and education. As an international student myself, I have experienced the impact of cultural differences, isolation, and academic pressures on mental well-being. My work as President of Education has allowed me to engage directly with students’ concerns about mental health and advocate for more accessible, inclusive support systems within the university.
As I become affiliated to the Higher Education Research Group, I am eager to collaborate with fellow researchers, share my lived experiences, and contribute to a broader understanding of the challenges facing international students. Together, I believe we can make significant progress towards creating a more inclusive and equitable education system that values all forms of knowledge and supports students from every walk of life. I look forward to engaging with the research group and contributing to the ongoing efforts to enhance student experiences, tackle epistemic injustice, and promote mental health and inclusive education at York St John University.