Meet Ahmad Ali
A journey that began with a foundation year became five years of growth, community and purpose at Salford. From discovering new passions to shaping student experience at a university‑wide level, Business Management graduate Ahmad Ali's time at Salford transformed both who he was and what he wanted to contribute.
I studied BSc (Hons) Business Management, starting with a foundation year that helped me build on my qualifications and progress onto the full degree. Including my time as a Sabbatical Officer, I spent around five years connected to Salford, and each year added something I didn't know I needed.
Choosing Salford
I chose Salford because it met me where I was. Coming from Italy, I needed a university that recognised my qualifications and offered me a real pathway in. Salford did that through the foundation year, and from the moment I arrived, I found something I had not expected: a community. Students and staff were warm, welcoming and genuinely invested in each other, and that sense of belonging stayed with me.
Becoming part of the community
As I settled in, I quickly moved from benefiting from that community to wanting to help build it for others. I started by getting involved in student societies, then stood for election as Sports Clubs and Societies Officer. Later, I became the Business and Law Students’ Union Officer, a full-time sabbatical role in which I represented over 28,000 students at the University’s highest governance bodies, including Senate. Including my sabbatical year, I spent around five years connected to Salford, and each year added something I didn’t realise I needed.
Building change through collaboration
The work I’m most proud of centred on embedding a definition of Islamophobia into university and Students’ Union policy. Through collaboration and genuine partnership between students and the institution, we successfully embedded Salford’s own definition of Islamophobia into policy, alongside other EDI initiatives. This work was recognised nationally - a testament to what student voice and institutional partnership can achieve when both sides commit to meaningful change. Alongside this, I contributed to the Student Jobs Strategy, co-drafted the Students’ Union’s first sustainability strategy, and helped build a partnership with an external legal charity to provide free legal advice to students.
Developing transferable, life-long skills
Across my time at Salford, I held a wide range of roles, with each role added a new dimension to my understanding. The skills I’ve taken from Salford into my career are ones I use every day: project management, event management, coordination and strong interpersonal skills that shaped my overall transferable skillset. These didn’t come from textbooks alone - they came from doing, leading, and being part of something bigger than myself. I also developed a real passion for community development, public affairs, sustainability, and a growing interest in public policy and how it shapes communities. These interests now guide the work I want to do.
My advice for new students
My advice to any new student is simple: get involved. Salford offers a huge range of opportunities, from workshops and events to societies, and roles through the faculty, Students’ Union, Library and Careers service. Each one is a chance to make connections, discover new interests, and grow in ways you might not expect. The students who thrive at Salford are the ones who show up, get involved, and make the most of what the university offers.
Interested in what life at Salford could look like for you? Find out more about our supportive community and the opportunities waiting for you.