The 2015/16 Board

Hello, my name is Saba'a and I am going into my third year studying Law at the University of Manchester. Since my degree primarily entails independent study and managing your own workload, I appreciate the importance of coherent and easy-to-grasp learning resources. I believe that academic performance relies importantly on the availability of a wide range of resources to students who then are able to tailor their learning.

Being a student representative in the law school I understand the importance of the student experience and how best to advocate and represent my peers interests. I enjoy being able to help my peers and being involved in and contributing to the student representatives' meetings.

I joined the Student Advisory Board as I feel it is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in contributing to, developing and advising on a very important aspect of student life. I also feel it is a good platform to develop my communication and teamwork skills by working with students from around the UK who will all undoubtedly bring something unique to the Board. I am excited about joining the Board and learning more about Pearson and how I can contribute to the educational experience of students.

Hi, I’m Daniel. I’m a second-year law student at Liverpool. After university I hope to go on to become a criminal barrister. I applied to join the PSAB because I enjoy sharing my ideas and believe that the Board is a great way to meet new people and hear other people’s ideas as well. In my spare time I enjoy playing golf and writing.

Hi, my name is James and I am a second-year biology student at the University of Lincoln. I chose a life science for my further study because I want to develop the knowledge necessary to work in a field that will enable me to aid the medical challenges of the 21st century.

Throughout my A levels and degree, I have covered a vast range of different subject areas, all of which required me to thoroughly read through textbooks and use other learning resources such as Pearson’s own Mastering Biology. Therefore it is great to be a member of the Pearson Student Advisory Board because I want to make a positive contribution to the development of these learning resources which will help current and future students succeed.

I am a member of my university’s Medical Society and also a tour guide for open days. I have volunteered in the Young Leaders Programme and completed the Duke of Edinburgh award. Through these challenges, I have developed the skills necessary to collaborate with a range of different people. I am grateful for the privilege of being able to contribute my ideas to such a successful company while also gaining valuable insight and experience.

Hello there, I’m Oliver. I am a second-year student studying Economics at Coventry University. Often I have taken my education for granted; however, when I think about each stage of my education I realise that Pearson has been there every step of the way. I became fascinated as to how such a vast company could have such a unique effect on the lives of so many individuals worldwide. This is the main reason I wanted to join the Student Advisory Board - to make sure Pearson is leaving the best possible impact on the lives of the students.

I’m Giulia, a second-year Information Management for Business student at University College London. I love my course as it is a combined IT and Management degree with strong connections with the banking, consultancy and IT industry.

Education has always been a fundamental part of my life. I will always be grateful for the opportunity of experiencing both traditional Italian schools and more practical environments of international institutions. This gave me a great overview of different approaches to education and helped me understand the importance of high-quality learning materials. I am very excited about bringing my ideas to the PSAB and contributing to improving education from its basics, the textbooks.

In my free time I am very active on campus where I am a Finance Executive in the Economics and Finance Society and a member of the Pole Fitness team.

Hi, my name is Farheen Jannath and I am a second year studying Business Management at the University of Birmingham. My interests lie in the corporate world and I hope to manage a big company someday.

I decided to join the Advisory Board in order to help others and improve their successes in the future. Studying Business means that I understand how essential it is to meet customer requirements. Students are Pearson’s customers - and being a student myself means that I can offer first-hand experience.

Offering my opinions as a customer of Pearson is very exciting; however, it will also be a challenge to meet the aims of developing new and innovative educational resources. The importance of education, especially in such a competitive world, is more intense than ever – contributing to aiding this will be invaluable. I am very enthusiastic to help pave the route of education in the future.

My first year at university provided me with many opportunities, from active campaigns for Amnesty and debating in university competitions to completing PADI’s open-water diving course in Wraysbury and being awarded distinguished delegation as part of the National Model United Nations in New York.

For me it is important to be proactive, particularly as a Student Advisor for Pearson. This year I will be president of the Diving Society and secretary of the Debating Society. As co-president of the Blueprint society for investment and trading I will be conducting lectures for students. Through my leadership roles I will be able to network with a large group of students, providing more feedback for Pearson. Most importantly, being a maths tutor enables me to appreciate the directly positive impact education can have, which is why I am keen to work alongside PSAB members in improving educational resources.

Hi, my name is Giri and I am a second-year student of Human Biosciences at Coventry University. I have always been told about the importance of education but I recently realised the importance for myself which made a profound difference in my approach to learning. Independent learning is a key part of succeeding in any course at university. My course covers topics ranging from microbiology to macromolecules and anatomy. As with any science course, the use of textbooks and media resources has been invaluable to understand these often invisible and highly complex concepts. Throughout my course I have realised the importance of using various resources for different topics.

As a course rep I collected feedback from students to improve my course and student learning experiences. As a PSAB member, I look forward to expanding on my skills and making a positive difference on the academic and personal growth of students.

I am second-year economics student at Lancaster University Management School. I have a passion for economics where I enjoy the quantitative and qualitative nature of the subject. There has been a large movement to revamp the abstract economics curriculum as students demand more. This is a tremendous opportunity to help students achieve the changes required through Pearson core product - textbooks. I also wish to work closely with Pearson on MyEconlab with the surge in demand for e-textbooks and online learning materials with built-in quizzes. I look forward to working with my fellow board members to help shape the future of education publishing.

Hi, I’m Shannon, a second year at the University of Liverpool studying Law. My degree entails a lot of self-motivation and independent research, which means I have developed strong independent learning skills. Books are the heart of my degree and without them I couldn’t have achieved such a success in my first year. That’s why I am so excited to join Pearson! I am really looking forward to the opportunity of being a board member, as I love to learn and believe that opportunities like this are hard to find.

As well as studying for my degree I have had many inspirational experiences which have influenced my decision to carry on with higher education, one of which was being a member of my local council. I thrive on finding new inspirational experiences that will benefit me whilst I undertake them and in the future. I look forward to what this opportunity will bring!

Hi, my name is Avnish and I am a second-year Forensic Biology student studying at Kingston University London. I believe that education is not a right that is given or earned but a one that everyone is born to experience and make of what they will. It is through studying at university that I have become more interested in ways to enhance the learning experience so that every student has the opportunity to rise to their potential.

The need for good-quality learning material is essential for students across the board from pre-school children to Ph.D. scholars; having the opportunity to directly influence this is an honor and one that I hope to learn from. I look forward to meeting my fellow Board members and colleagues at Pearson, to help enhance learning through published resources so every child has the capacity to stride higher.

Hello, my name is Anna Taylor and I am currently in my second year studying Psychology at the University of Liverpool. When the chance arose to work on the Pearson Student Advisory Board I knew this was a great opportunity to involve myself further in how education and educational resources can effectively develop and benefit students.

The aim of psychology is to understand mind and behaviour through scientific study. I am extremely passionate and interested in my degree choice due to the fact that psychology affects everything and everyone. With this being said I think education plays a vital role in development of individuals as well as psychological theories and other fields. Coming to university has allowed me to understand the importance of educational resources in maximising the success of individuals. Pearson effectively uses different ways and resources in order to achieve this, which as a student is something I greatly value.

I am grateful for the opportunity given to me by Pearson, which will allow me to make a difference to the development of others and myself. I look forward to being challenged and working with other students in a field as significant as education.