Hamza Riaz (ET)

Heyy! I’m Muhammad Hamza Riaz and I am a final year student of Mechanical Engineering (bachelor). As my dark hair and height suggest, I am an international student from Lahore, Pakistan. My determination to make the most out of my student life has led me to pursue activism in addition to my studies. In my first year, I was part of four part-time boards promoting internationalization through organizing events and I won four awards at the More Than a Degree Awardshow. In my second year, I worked with the Student Union to develop internationalization projects to counter social exclusion. Currently, as a member of the University Council, I address the concerns of students to the Executive Board. Together with my faction, we have provided more flexibility to design educational programmes within TOM 2.0 – eradicating the 0-15 EC rule, improved communication about the possibility of international students to work as student assistants, facilitated a proper introduction period (Kick In) for students arriving in February, requested subsidized travel for international students in the region of Twente, argued for better matching of prospective students to fit their education profile, and highlighted the importance of learning Dutch corporate culture and language for improving the employability of international students in Netherlands after graduation. My motivation to join the University Council is to improve the student well being through focusing on education and internationalization policies of the UT and be the voice of all students in the council.