A PhD student at Glasgow Caledonian University, Pei Ling Choo demonstrates outstanding leadership, utmost dedication and sustained contribution to a range of social causes within the university, locally, nationally and internationally, while maintaining a high level of scholastic ability.

University

As elected Postgraduate Research Students Convenor since 2012, PeiLing effectively and legitimately represents research students at GCU. She has initiated an orientation package for new research students, ensured research student representation in GCUSA Events Council and successfully campaigned for health classes to run into the summer for postgraduates.

A member of GCU’s Education Policy Council since 2012, PeiLing supports education campaigns and discusses academic issues such as the National Demo(London), STUC Demo(Glasgow), Student Summit, National Student Survey, attendance monitoring policy and ‘Unlocking Scotland’s Potential’.

Since 2012, PeiLing is Head of Regular Events at GCUSA, responsible for ensuring the smooth running of all regular events and activities. She physically coordinates the weekly yoga (Monday, Wednesday), pilates (Tuesday), celidh (Thursday) classes, ‘MovieMondays’, ‘FilmFridays’, fortnightly ‘Global Games Night’ , ‘Global Café’, 10-pin bowling events.

As Head of Diversity at GCUSA since 2013, PeiLing is tasked with increasing diversity of events within GCUSA, speaking with hard-to-reach groups to engage them and ensuring every event meets the Equality & Diversity Policy. She started celidh dance classes, created a network linking all societies and campaigned in the DiversityFest.

The Choir President since 2012, PeiLing re-affiliated the society, organised four major public performances: chancellor installation, Christmas Carol concert, radiogig and Ramshorn Theatre performance and created taster events to promote singing.

Being part of GCUSA’s Well-being Team since 2012, PeiLing has organised Diversity Fest, campaigns on personal safety, sexual health, wellbeing, alcohol awareness and stress management.

An environmental enthusiast, PeiLing is a member of GCU’s Sustainability Group since 2011. She supported GCU’s Go Green Week, audited public homes for energy efficiency and installed recycling facilities at GCU’s student accommodation where she volunteers as residential assistant.

Pei Ling sits on the university’s Health & Safety Committee.

A host with the Global Buddy Scheme, PeiLing received the Best Buddy Pair award for emulating the spirit and achieving the aims of the program.

PeiLing is also part of the founding group for the new Soup Kitchen project with Amnesty.

She is also a Nightline volunteer.

Locally and Nationally(UK)

Successfully elected as the delegate for both the NUS Scotland and National Conferences, PeiLing has supported motions campaigning for better welfare of students. Since 2013, she is elected as Postgraduate Research Representative on the NUS Committee.

A Co-opted Member for Education – Higher with the Glasgow Youth Council, PeiLing is a full Youth Councillor and has the same rights and responsibilities as Glasgow’s 16 Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament. Working with the British Youth Council and Glasgowlife, PeiLing has campaigned for equal National Minimum Wage for all young people, marriage equality for all, organised the ‘Find YOUR voice’ campaign and supported Islam Awareness week.

With the British Council, PeiLing attended the ‘Green Urban Living’ workshop 2013 in Manchester, and is now working on creating urban gardens for growing food and spaces for interaction between humans and nature.

With the Stroke Association, PeiLing is currently assisting with the Strengthening Stroke Research seminar in May 2013 to shape UK’s future research strategy.

With the Royal National Institute of Blind(RNIB), PeiLing initiated a work experience scheme for students in Higher Education from a range of degree subjects She won the Real World employability competition 2012 second prize for her efforts.

Locally and Nationally(Singapore)

A National Youth Achievement Award Gold Award Holders’(NYAA-GAHA) Alumni member- Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Program affiliate, PeiLing was appointed by the Minister into Executive Committee to lead >4,000 youths to provide them with a platform to ‘Serve Beyond Gold’. She maintains the membership database, facebook page and has helped organising Youth-Elderly integration projects (e.g. Lunar New Year Celebration with Senior Citizens, Youth Olympic Games (YOG) and Elderly, Elderly Forum), World Water Day Celebration with Christian Outreach to the Handicapped.

An Environmental Envoy with National Environment Agency, PeiLing leads online sharing sessions with fellow alumni members and support initiatives by the NEA.

For her dedication and leadership efforts in community work and environmental activism both locally and overseas, PeiLing is a Star of Shine award winner (Favourite Nominee) in 2012, coordinated by the National Youth Council (NYC) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS).

PeiLing was also recently interviewed by the Ministry of Environment and Water resources (MEWR) for her work in contributing to Singapore’s environment scene.

PeiLing is involved in organising a 1000km Charity Run 2013 to raise money for students from low-income families in Singapore to buy food during school lunch. She is the the Physiotherapist and pacer for the ultramarathoner.

Internationally

As the elected Youth Representative for the prestigious United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) South East Asia Youth Environment Network (SEAYEN) and UNEP Asia Pacific Social Network, PeiLing works at uniting international actions. She shares local initiatives through the forum and taps on the network for project collaborations such as Eco-fiesta and the Capture Nature Digital Photography Competition and Exhibition.

PeiLing is a youth activist with the commonwealth Youth Program(CYP), piloting the “Embracing Commonwealth Values”(CV) eLearning course assisted in the Perceptions of Young Commonwealth Citizens study in 2013.

PeiLing was also a delegate for the International Conference on Population and Development: Global Youth Forum 2012, formulating a policy paper that will influence population and development development.

She also volunteered at a Russian village, Karelia and constructed a wooden fence from fallen trees, filled potholes for roadbuilding and cleared logs/debris at the coast.

PeiLing is a Half the Sky Movement campus ambassador, fighting to end the oppression of women worldwide She has held 3 public film screenings in Glasgow.

PeiLing is also a holder of the prestigious Santander Mobility Scholarship 2012.

Conclusion

For her utmost dedication and commitment, she is a worthy recipient of the Student of the Year Award 2013. She is conferred the GCU Student of the Year Award 2013.