Muhammad ‘Raja’ Khan enrolled at Walsall College in September 2010 on Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL courses. At that time, less than 3 years ago, his English was very limited, which shows just how far he has come in becoming Student President & Governor.

He started to volunteer in college almost immediately and despite the language difficulties, became a course representative and doing various charity fundraising. He has been volunteering with the student led anti-bullying team since 2010.

In May 2011, he stood for election to the Students’ Union Executive as Treasurer and then in May 2012 became President and Student Governor.

He is a very strong proponent of students having their say at college. He is also very keen for the students to know that they do make a difference and are being listened to.

Since his election, Raja has successfully engaged with students at both campuses in a way that no previous student presidents have.

Before September 2012, there was only one Students’ Union office where students could access their student representatives at the main campus. Raja successfully lobbied the College to get another office at the Green Lane campus. Raja now bases himself there at least twice a week to both raise his profile and listen to student views. In response to student feedback he negotiated the release of Students’ Union funds to purchase an Xbox games console for the student common area there.

In his role as Students’ Union president, Raja produces regular reports for Corporation where his professional demeanour and warmth have earned him both respect and recognition. Raja has been passionate about encouraging learners to see student life as a spring board for success, as a result the student union have developed the strap line “Are you ready?. When presented to Governors’ they were very pleased with this plan believing to be motivational and therefore endorsed its use within the College.

He has introduced a more business-like approach, which is respected by those who he works with, including staff, students and Governors

“Raja has been professional in his dealings with College staff and has shown great passion and commitment for his work on the Board. He has also brought fresh thinking to engagement and has adopted a creative approach to support his fellow students his colleagues so their voices are heard.” Jat Sharma (Principal Walsall College)

To support Leaner Voice activity and to promote the work of Student Union and Student Governors he started visiting classrooms at both campuses. He is probably the most recognisable Student in the college and he has greatly increased the visibility of the Students’ Union and the role of the Student Governor.

Raja has been on the interview panel for many high profile appointments at the college including the Principal. Staff and Governors have admired his professional attitude and insightful questions

In December 2012, after the latest round of course rep meetings, he came up with an innovative way to make sure students got feedback. Raja persuaded members of the Students’ Union team to take turns to put on a sandwich board covered with college feedback to student questions and then parade around the two campuses with megaphones, loudly making sure students knew that their voice was being listened to.

He is very active in the community around college too. In January 2013, Raja organised a special display where students could sign a statement of commitment to recognise the holocaust and prevent genocide in all forms. He then took the display, signed by several hundred students to a special memorial service at the Town Hall to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and remember the millions of victims who lost their lives.

As a student and a Muslim, Raja sits on the Walsall Multi-faith forum, a charity set up to encourage understanding of the different faiths in Walsall and to foster community cohesion. This forum also co-ordinates the STAR Programme (Standing Together Against Racism).

He also is a regular member of the local Police & Community Partnership group’s monthly meetings which, thanks to Raja, are frequently hosted at the college.

As an immigrant himself, he asked how international students could be more integrated into college life and this query led to regular International Buddy Parties. These are run usually twice a year and encourage international students and domestic students to mix. Raja has been lead student on these since he joined the Students’ Union exec.

Raja has further developed a strong relationship with the NUS which has nationally raised the reputation of the learner voice at Walsall College. In April 2013, at the National NUS Conference, Raja took the brave step to stand for one of the five places on the Democratic Procedures Committee of the NUS.

He has a warm, natural rapport with staff and students with which people easily respond. He received more votes in his election for president than any previous candidate because he made it his mission to try and speak to every student, no matter if they voted for him or not. In elections since, even though he isn’t standing, he has made sure that students have their say and put their tick on the ballot paper. He used his experience and people skills to promote and recruit to the vacant student Governor post recently

His enthusiasm is infectious. On ‘Children in Need’ day, he led the students and staff in a mass Gangnam Style dance (something he also did with the delegates at the NUS Zone Conference).

Raja has a strong work ethic which he balances with his warmth and humour and we are immensely proud of him.