Leyla Hussein is the first black woman to hold the post of Rector of The University of St Andrews in the university's 600 year history. Shutterstock
Leyla Hussein is the first black woman to hold the post of Rector of The University of St Andrews in the university's 600 year history. Shutterstock
"If I can achieve anything in this role, it's really to be an advocate for the students," said Leyla Hussein. Alamy
"If I can achieve anything in this role, it's really to be an advocate for the students," said Leyla Hussein. Alamy
St Andrews University is Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world. Getty Images
St Andrews University is Scotland's first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world. Getty Images
Her predecessor as rector is Serbian political activist Srdja Popovic, seen here during a procession through the streets of St Andrews after he was installed as rector. Getty Images
Her predecessor as rector is Serbian political activist Srdja Popovic, seen here during a procession through the streets of St Andrews after he was installed as rector. Getty Images
Academics take part in the procession through the streets of St Andrews after Popovic was installed as rector. Getty Images
Academics take part in the procession through the streets of St Andrews after Popovic was installed as rector. Getty Images
John Cleese is one of a number of high profile figures who have held the position. Seen here after he was gifted a piglet during his time as rector. Getty Images
John Cleese is one of a number of high profile figures who have held the position. Seen here after he was gifted a piglet during his time as rector. Getty Images
Author Rudyard Kipling, who was also rector, smiling in acknowledgement of his appointment in 1923. Getty Images
Author Rudyard Kipling, who was also rector, smiling in acknowledgement of his appointment in 1923. Getty Images
Leyla Hussein receives her OBE at Buckingham Palace in 2019. Getty Images
Leyla Hussein receives her OBE at Buckingham Palace in 2019. Getty Images
"With everything going on in the world, Covid killing many black and ethnic minority groups, the resurfacing of the Black Lives Matter movement, there are things that can be disheartening. But to have a majority of white students vote for a black woman - when many of those conversations don't necessarily affect them - really sends out a big message." Alamy
"With everything going on in the world, Covid killing many black and ethnic minority groups, the resurfacing of the Black Lives Matter movement, there are things that can be disheartening. But to have a majority of white students vote for a black woman - when many of those conversations don't necessarily affect them - really sends out a big message." Alamy

Europe

FGM campaigner takes on the plight of students facing a 'terrible cancel culture'

First black woman in prestigious role as rector of St Andrews wants everyone to have a voice

Damien McElroy
Damien McElroy

November 19, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

As the founder of the organisation Safe Space for Black Women, Leyla Hussein has definite ideas about how to make a difference as she takes on a leadership role at one of Scotland's oldest universities.

The post of rector of the University of St Andrews is unusual in that it is a position elected by the student body. While not involved in day-to-day management, the rector embodies the university and the welfare of its students.

Over the years, some high-profile figures have occupied the position, from the actor John Cleese to the author Rudyard Kipling and former UK prime minister Arthur Balfour, who wrote the Balfour Declaration.

The first black woman to hold the post in the university's 600 years campaigned for the job as the biting winds came off the North Sea earlier in the year. Amid the privations of lockdowns and the coronavirus pandemic, she this month began undertaking her first public functions in the role.

The Somali-born psychotherapist and activist wants students to firstly know that she can represent them across the board, whether that is addressing issues of diversity with the university authorities or the vulnerabilities created by Covid-19 restrictions.

"With my therapy hat on, I would say I am a great believer in having very uncomfortable conversations," Dr Hussein told The National.

"In order to do that, we need to create those safe spaces. We live in such a terrible cancel culture right now [an opinion she shares with one of her rectorial predecessors John Cleese] that people can't even discuss what they are thinking or what they are feeling without being judged or attacked. I want everybody to be heard by creating that space."

The overall tone of 2020 has been unrelentingly grim, but for Dr Hussein there is an encouraging takeaway from her appointment.

"We all know that St Andrews is very white," she said. "It is a very privileged space and, with everything going on in the world – Covid killing many black and ethnic minority groups, the resurfacing of the Black Lives Matter movement – there are things that can be disheartening.

"But to have a majority of white students vote for a black woman – when many of those conversations don't necessarily affect them – really sends out a big message."

Dr Hussein remembers going to women's marches with her half-Somali-half-Yemeni grandmother in Mogadishu as a young child.

After her family quit her homeland, she was taken first to Italy and then to the UK, where she for the most part grew up.

Finding the right mix at St Andrews

She was a youth worker when she became a campaigner for the three million women threatened by female genital mutilation, and achieved a change in the law to ensure that the crime was pursued by the British police.

The first encounter with St Andrews undergraduates was a moment of great coming together for Dr Hussein.

"I really, really appreciate that, and I was very clear from day one where I said:  'Listen, I don't want to be a token black person, I want to be engaged.

"They were a representation of my world because my world is not just black women or black people," she said. "You know, it's mixed. So to log into a Zoom call with black men, black women, you know, Asian, white, it was just young people from different parts of the world."

Now her advocacy skills – she was named campaigner of the year by a UK magazine in 2010 – are at the service of St Andrews' students.

"If I can achieve anything in this role, it's really to be an advocate for the students," she said. "I want to be a bridge between the authorities and the students.

"We live in a world where we have been separated physically but we have technology to be more interactive and while we can't fix every problem straight away, people need to be heard.

"I need to hear what the students want and I can go and advocate that on their behalf."

Parts of Scotland entered the highest tiers of its pandemic lockdown regime this week. Dr Hussein is determined to ensure that the mental health of students is not the real victim of the coronavirus crisis.

"We need to expand support around mental health now that the lockdowns could be extended further and it's winter, which is going to have a real impact," she said. "We need to make sure they are physically, emotionally and socially safe."

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

UAE squad

Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.

Scores in brief:

  • New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
  • William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
  • Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
  • Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

GP3 race, 12:30pm

Formula 1 final practice, 2pm

Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm

Formula 2 race, 6:40pm

Performance: Sam Smith

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Company%20profile
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The studios taking part (so far)
  1. Punch
  2. Vogue Fitness 
  3. Sweat
  4. Bodytree Studio
  5. The Hot House
  6. The Room
  7. Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
  8. Cryo
57%20Seconds
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rusty%20Cundieff%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJosh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Morgan%20Freeman%2C%20Greg%20Germann%2C%20Lovie%20Simone%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
On Women's Day

'Skin'

Dir: Guy Nattiv

Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

UAE players with central contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.

While you're here
Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

While you're here
While you're here...
England squad

Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zodi%20%26%20Tehu%3A%20Princes%20Of%20The%20Desert
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEric%20Barbier%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYoussef%20Hajdi%2C%20Nadia%20Benzakour%2C%20Yasser%20Drief%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Naga
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Polarised public

31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all

Source: YouGov

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier

Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August

 

Group A

Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar

 

Group B

UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

On Women's Day
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency
MO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Ramy%20Youssef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Teresa%20Ruiz%2C%20Omar%20Elba%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
Sunday's games

All times UAE:

Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace, 4pm

Manchester City v Arsenal, 6.15pm

Everton v Watford, 8.30pm

Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.30pm

Biography

Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related

Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.

Family: Wife and three children.

Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.

Washmen Profile

Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

Army of the Dead

Director: Zack Snyder

Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera

Three stars

New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
MATCH INFO

What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)

Sugary teas and iced coffees

The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.

For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

The bio

Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales

Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow

Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades

Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus

Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga

Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

F1 line ups in 2018

Mercedes-GP Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas; Ferrari Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen; Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen; Force India Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez; Renault Nico Hülkenberg and Carlos Sainz Jr; Williams Lance Stroll and Felipe Massa / Robert Kubica / Paul di Resta; McLaren Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne; Toro Rosso TBA; Haas F1 Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen; Sauber TBA

Company%20profile
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While you're here
The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Power: 575bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh554,000

On sale: now

Rahul Gandhi in UAE:
The biog

Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Favourite holiday destination: Spain

Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody

Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa

Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl

Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: Dh99,000

On sale: now

EuropeUK