The new Students Union Presidents at Northern Ireland's two universities are just settling into their posts and beginning to unpack some of the issues facing students ahead of the new academic year.
The past two years have been both challenging and unpredictable for third-level students due to Covid-19 restrictions.
At the height of lockdown, young people had to make the daunting transition from class to online learning at the expense of forming new friendships and enjoying many of the usual social outlets that university life affords.
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The campuses at Queen's and Ulster universities were much quieter places with fewer students rushing around to get to lectures and seminars on time.
Ahead of the new academic term, both incoming SU presidents are looking forward to welcoming students back to their respective campuses in the coming weeks.
Both Emma Murphy of Queen's University and Grace Boyle from Ulster University plan to use their roles to better advocate for and represent students across their universities on a range of issues.
One of their main focuses in the coming year will be demanding better outcomes for students, supporting their mental health and helping them navigate the current cost of living crisis.
Queen's SU president Emma, 22, who is from Belfast and an English Literature graduate, takes on the role after serving as Education Officer for the previous 12 months.
Emma told Belfast Live : "We're more certain that things will be happening in person this year after all the restrictions were lifted so we can provide more visibility for the Students Union and all the services we offer.
"We've had a tough time for the past few years but I'm really hopeful that this year will bring a bit of fun back on campus as well as getting a quality education - everything you would want from a university.
"From an SU perspective we want students to have a better experience on campus this year so we're certainly hopeful for the year ahead."
Looking to the challenges ahead, Emma added: "Having more in person events and engagement will be key over the coming year but there will also be a massive focus on the cost of living for students.
"Fuel poverty is a big issue for student nurses in particular who have to travel to their placements yet their bursary hasn't been lifted in almost a decade.
"With no functioning Executive, it will be a case of lobbying politicians to see what can be done to help but also the university does have some responsibility to its students in terms of widening the support that's there.
"We have a hardship fund for students going through different issues but an increase to that would be really helpful to many of them."
While it may still be the summer break, there's already a buzz happening around the QUB campus as One Elmwood, the university's new Student Centre and Students’ Union, nears completion.
The new South Belfast spot will house both the Students’ Union and University Services currently in the Student Guidance Centre, in one purpose-built facility to give better access to a range of services and opportunities all in one building.
The old union was more than 50-years-old and originally designed for a student population of 5,000.
Now, there are around 25,000 students on the campus, and it's hoped the new state-of-the-art facility, set right at the heart of campus and with a rooftop terrace overlooking the area, will better serve the modern student population.
Emma added: "Covid has had a big impact on student life over the past few years so with moving into One Elmwood, we're really hopeful that will drive that hub on campus again.
"It will also give students that real experience once again where they can enjoy all the entertainment on offer and be able to join all the various clubs and societies.
"We're really excited that the work will be completed in time to host Freshers Week."
It's also a case of new beginnings over at Ulster University where Interactive Media graduate Grace Boyle, 25 and also from Belfast, is taking over as Students Union President after a year as Vice-President For Education.
"We want to get that sense of community and belonging back onto the campus so we're feeling really positive this year," Grace said.
Aside from that, UU also has two major transitions ahead. Over 600 health science students will relocate from Jordanstown to Magee in Derry from the start of the academic year in September
Around 15,000 staff and students will be relocating to the new 75,000 sq metre site at York Street in from nearby Jordanstown.
"These two transitional periods will be key for us this year and we want to ensure these transitions are as seamless and smooth as possible so students feel welcome and comfortable with the changes," Grace added.
On the key issues over the coming months, Grace said: "We have established a Mental Health Action Plan, which will be the bedrock of objectives for us to help students with their mental wellbeing and to integrate them within our SU services.
"From a national perspective, the cost of living crisis has been a major focus for us within NUS-USI (the student movement in Northern Ireland) and we have established the All-Party group that meets with MLAs and government bodies.
"We are currently working with NUS-USI on their cost of living campaign and planning ourselves within UUSU in terms of our objectives because this is the number one issue.
"We will be consulting with students in terms of what they want to hear too because we know the last couple of years have been really challenging. One of our other main issues will be tackling the accommodation crisis."
Grace was also part of the campaign to make period products freely available to all in schools, colleges and public buildings, a move passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly in March.
The Private Member's Bill brought by SDLP MLA Pat Catney creates a legal right of free access to items such as tampons and sanitary pads.
Previously, Northern Ireland had been the only part of the UK not to have a permanent scheme in place to tackle period poverty.
Grace runs the Period Poverty Action Group, working with representatives from QUBSU and NUS-USI to encourage young people to fight the taboos about menstruation.
She has been an avid activist in the fight against period poverty since she experienced first-hand what it was like to have no access to sanitary products while in her first year.
"In 2017, I was staying late at the Coleraine campus one night and I got my period unexpectedly but I didn't have any pads or tampons with me.
"I looked around all the bathrooms and discovered there were no dispensers altogether and on further research, I found out there weren’t any in all four campuses."
Since then, Grace has worked with UU and the UUSU to ensure no other student again faces what she did.
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