Hello students,

As my term comes to an end, I have been thinking a lot about what it has meant to serve as your Vice President External.
Serving in this role and serving students have been among the most meaningful experiences of my life. The role has come with pressure, long days, difficult moments, and decisions that have often felt heavy, but through all of that has come its own purpose: that students deserve better, and it is the SU’s job to fight for that.

When I first stepped into this role, I did not have it all figured out. I was still learning how government systems worked and how decisions were made. There were moments when I questioned whether I was doing enough or whether I was approaching things the right way. 

Over time, I found my footing and developed the philosophy of advocacy that has guided my work throughout my term. I believe that advocacy starts with relationships. It is built through trust, consistency, and a willingness to find common ground, even when that common ground is hard to see. For me, this work was never about simply being in the room. It was about making sure students were respected in the room as partners in the decisions that affect their education, affordability, housing, transportation, and future.

At the same time, our advocacy cannot only happen quietly behind closed doors in meetings. There are moments when our students need public advocacy. There are moments when we need to push harder and make sure decision-makers understand the urgency of what students are facing. My motto is “alignment where possible, escalation where necessary.”

One of the greatest honours this year has been serving as Chair of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), in which I had the privilege of representing 500,000 post-secondary students from coast to coast and leading the board of directors, seven student leaders from across the country. That experience taught me so much about national student advocacy and the strength of students when we work together. CASA has delivered important wins for students this year.

This has been one of the most fruitful years for student advocacy in recent history. We have secured major monetary and regulatory wins for students at each level of government. We were able to do this in a difficult environment, with a new federal government, federal and provincial budget pressures and a new municipal council. 

I am proud of what we achieved, but I am even more grateful for what made it possible. None of this work happened alone. I am thankful to the students who shared their stories, the student leaders who showed up, the staff who supported this work, and the partners who believed that students deserved better.

As I step away from this role, I do so with deep gratitude. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for allowing me to serve you. In the pages that follow, I want to share some of what we accomplished together this year . 

Federal Advocacy:

1. Advocated and secured the extension of the Canada Student Grant at $4,200 and protected the Canada Student Loan limit at $300 per week with a total investment of $1.2 Billion after it was cut in the Budget 2025.
2. Advocated and secured $635.2 million over three years for the Student Work Placement Program, which will provide 135,000 work-integrated learning seats to students.
3. Advocated and secured the removal of the separate co-op work permit requirement for eligible international students in mandatory work placements, and reduced delays.

Provincial Advocacy:

1. Advocated for increased employment opportunities and programs that incentivize businesses to hire youth, resulting in the launch of the $8 million Alberta Youth Employment Incentive in 2025/26 and a three-year, $20 million extension, for a total of $28 million.
2. Played a key role in securing $26.2 million in operating grant funding across two years for the University of Alberta in Budget 2026.
3. Advocated for Open Education Resources (OER) and secured $3 million over three years for Open Educational Resources, which will help reduce course material costs and improve affordability.
4. Presented and advocated to the Expert Panel on Post-Secondary Institution Funding and Alberta’s Competitiveness, and was able to see recommendations on predictable base funding, deferred maintenance, tuition regulation, performance funding, and post-secondary competitiveness, which will serve as the foundation for more post-secondary institution funding for years to come.
5. Led the transition of the University of Alberta Students’ Union from the Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS) to Alberta Student Executive Council (ASEC) and united the student movement in Alberta.

Municipal Advocacy:

1. Advocated for increased student housing and affordability, resulting in the City of Edmonton's $15 million Downtown Student Housing Incentive in 2025/26.
2. Led and pushed for the Housing and Transit Surveys by the City of Edmonton.
3. Secured a $1.2 million municipal and federal investment in 2025/26 to improve transit ridership data collection in Edmonton, which will help future student leaders maximize the value of the U-Pass, while permanently enhancing‬‭ ETS' ability to allocate safety resources toward the areas and times that need them the most.
4. Helped in delivering UASU’s biggest Get Out The Vote campaigns, which mobilized over 100 volunteers and a mayoral forum which elevated student priorities in the municipal election.
5. Pushed for cellular service in the underground LRT stations, which will help in improving safety; the transit experience for students and the cellular service will begin in 2026.

You can find more information and details about how our advocacy led to wins here.

As I step away from this role, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude. Not just for the outcomes, but for the people, the relationships, and the moments that defined this experience.

Because in the end, what stays with you is not just what you accomplished, but who you accomplished it with.

Abdul Abbasi 
Vice President External 2024-2026