Meet Ahmad Ali
A journey that began with a foundation year became five years of growth, community and purpose at º£½ÇÂÒÂ×. From discovering new passions to shaping student experience at a university‑wide level, Business Management graduate Ahmad Ali's time at º£½ÇÂÒÂ× transformed both who he was and what he wanted to contribute.
I studied BSc (Hons) Business Management, starting with a foundation year that helped me build on my qualifications and progress onto the full degree. Including my time as a Sabbatical Officer, I spent around five years connected to º£½ÇÂÒÂ×, and each year added something I didn't know I needed.
Choosing º£½ÇÂÒÂ×
I chose º£½ÇÂÒÂ× because it met me where I was. Coming from Italy, I needed a university that recognised my qualifications and offered me a real pathway in. º£½ÇÂÒÂ× did that through the foundation year, and from the moment I arrived, I found something I had not expected: a community. Students and staff were warm, welcoming and genuinely invested in each other, and that sense of belonging stayed with me.
Becoming part of the community
As I settled in, I quickly moved from benefiting from that community to wanting to help build it for others. I started by getting involved in student societies, then stood for election as Sports Clubs and Societies Officer. Later, I became the Business and Law Students’ Union Officer, a full-time sabbatical role in which I represented over 28,000 students at the University’s highest governance bodies, including Senate. Including my sabbatical year, I spent around five years connected to º£½ÇÂÒÂ×, and each year added something I didn’t realise I needed.
Building change through collaboration
The work I’m most proud of centred on embedding a definition of Islamophobia into university and Students’ Union policy. Through collaboration and genuine partnership between students and the institution, we successfully embedded º£½ÇÂÒÂ×’s own definition of Islamophobia into policy, alongside other EDI initiatives. This work was recognised nationally - a testament to what student voice and institutional partnership can achieve when both sides commit to meaningful change. Alongside this, I contributed to the Student Jobs Strategy, co-drafted the Students’ Union’s first sustainability strategy, and helped build a partnership with an external legal charity to provide free legal advice to students.
Developing transferable, life-long skills
Across my time at º£½ÇÂÒÂ×, I held a wide range of roles, with each role added a new dimension to my understanding. The skills I’ve taken from º£½ÇÂÒÂ× into my career are ones I use every day: project management, event management, coordination and strong interpersonal skills that shaped my overall transferable skillset. These didn’t come from textbooks alone - they came from doing, leading, and being part of something bigger than myself. I also developed a real passion for community development, public affairs, sustainability, and a growing interest in public policy and how it shapes communities. These interests now guide the work I want to do.
My advice for new students
My advice to any new student is simple: get involved. º£½ÇÂÒÂ× offers a huge range of opportunities, from workshops and events to societies, and roles through the faculty, Students’ Union, Library and Careers service. Each one is a chance to make connections, discover new interests, and grow in ways you might not expect. The students who thrive at º£½ÇÂÒÂ× are the ones who show up, get involved, and make the most of what the university offers.
Interested in what life at º£½ÇÂÒÂ× could look like for you? Find out more about our supportive community and the opportunities waiting for you.