Meet the next Students' Union president

Matt Stanley, 25, from Tenterden, won with a landslide 87% of the vote and will fight the corner of fellow students at both the Medway and Maidstone campuses from September.

Also a member of the National Union of Students’ National Executive Council, Matt said he was looking forward to helping make a difference.

“I ran for presidency because I think it’s important for students to have a strong voice and someone who advocates for them,” he added. “The election turnout was up considerably this year, which is a really positive step forward and a validation of what I was standing for.

“I’m an adult learner so that gives me a different perspective on things to most of the students in the College, but I don’t think that’s necessarily an advantage or a disadvantage.

“The most important thing is to provide a voice for everyone, and that’s what I’m hopefully going to do.”

Matt is currently studying the Level 3 Diploma in the Children & Young People’s Workforce, which covers child development from birth until the age of 16.

Before joining the College’s Medway Campus he spent a year working for the South Korean government in its office for education, where he helped to improve the standard of English language teaching.

“I’d always been interested in Asian culture and actually ran a radio station that played Asian music for a time,” he said. “I had a really good experience out there and made a lot of friends, but I missed my family and decided to come home after a year.

“My friends were telling me not to because of the recession and lack of available jobs, but I think it was the right decision because I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t.”

Matt also paid tribute to outgoing SU president James Phillips, who has been praised by fellow students, staff and governors for a job well done.

“James has really helped put the Students’ Union on the map, both in the College and on a larger scale with the NUS,” he said.

“He’s done a great job as president and is well respected by everyone, so hopefully I’ll be able to do just as well as he has.”

___________________________________________________

For all media enquiries, please contact Steve Knight, Marketing and Communications Officer, on 01634 383277 or email steve.knight@midkent.ac.uk.