President for Societies & Community

Briefing - President Societies & Community:

The President (Societies & Community) is a role focused on bringing students together, amplifying and promoting student voices, and helping build a strong, connected, and inclusive community at Edinburgh Napier University.

This role is about representation, collaboration, and care. Working closely with the University, student societies, community partners, and external organisations, the President ensures that the diverse experiences of students are reflected in decisions that affect campus life, belonging, and wellbeing.

What the role involves

As President (Societies & Community), you will have the opportunity to:

• Represent the student community in conversations with University senior leadership and the University Court, ensuring student perspectives are heard and valued
• Act as a visible, approachable spokesperson for students on matters relating to societies, community life, and the wider student experience
• Help foster a sense of belonging and shared identity across courses, campuses, and backgrounds
• Support and promote student societies, encouraging participation and helping new and existing societies grow and thrive
• Highlight the value of extracurricular involvement — including societies — in building confidence, skills, and employability
• Convene the Societies Forum at least twice a year and support the facilitation of Student Council in inclusive and welcoming ways
• Lead and support projects focused on sustainability, equality, and supporting a diverse and international student community
• Advocate for improvements to student accommodation and housing, both within Edinburgh Napier accommodation and across the private housing sector

Making a meaningful impact

Previous Presidents (Societies & Community) have supported positive change by:

• Creating the Napier Student Film Festival, Edinburgh’s first student film festival, welcoming submissions from students around the world
• Establishing the annual Global Horizons event to celebrate and uplift the international student community
• Successfully lobbying for the introduction of an international student guarantor scheme
• Campaigning for student housing rights in collaboration with national organisations such as NUS

Why consider this role?

This role is ideal for students who care about connection, inclusion, and student voice — not just those who see themselves as “political” or outspoken. Leadership in this role looks like listening, advocating, and building relationships.

You don’t need to have done everything before or feel fully prepared. If you care about community, fairness, and helping students feel they belong, you already bring something valuable to this role.

The President (Societies & Community) role offers the chance to:

• Shape a more connected and welcoming student culture
• Build confidence and transferable skills in advocacy, communication, and leadership
• Represent students in ways that feel authentic, compassionate, and inclusive
• Make a lasting difference to student life at Edinburgh Napier University

Hear from past Presidents

Check out what some of our past Presidents had to say about the job: