About Us

About ULPSU
The ULPSU was initially formed as the Postgraduate Students’ Association (PSA) in September 2002. Since that time it has directly represented every postgraduate student that has passed through the doors of UL. Initially a much smaller operation, the PSA continued to develop and expand throughout the 2000s. The PSA became the Postgraduate Students’ Union (PSU) in the academic year 2012/13, and has continued to increase its operations.
At the AGM in the autumn semester of 2015/16, the proposal for a part time Vice President was passed. At an EGM in the spring semester of 2018/2019, it was proposed that the role of Vice President would become a full-time Sabbatical Officer; the proposal was unanimously passed. At the same AGM, it was unanimously decided that the working hours of the Sabbatical Officers would be reduced from 44 to 40 hours, thus enabling international students to run for either position.
This same year saw the creation of a much-needed support and continuity role for the Union and its Officers, that of the Secretary-General.
The current President is Rania Shadeed, and Vice President is Louis Pemble. Their term in office began in August 2021. Vedant Modi is the Phd and Research Officer for the 2021/2022 Academic year.
ULPSU Presidents
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Rania Shadeed 2021/2022
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Andrea La Touche 2020/2021
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Abraham Agboola 2019/2020
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Dean Lillis 2018/2019
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Aimée McKenzie 2016/2018
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Seán McKillen 2015/2016
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Seamus Noonan 2014/2015
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Lily Carroll 2013/2014
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Cian Spillane 2012/2013
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Sarah Jane Hennelly 2011/2012
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Dan Comerford 2010/2011
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Michael Bourke 2009/2010
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Emma Murphy 2007/2009
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Maya Niebrzegowska 2006/2007
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Maria McHale 2005/2006
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Sorcha Keegan 2004/2005
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John O’Reilly 2003/2004
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Jarleth Munnelly 2002/2003
ULPSU Vice Presidents
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Louis Pemble 2021/2022
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Rania Shadeed 2020/2021
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Sanjana Shashikumar 2019/2020
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Hala Jaber 2018/2019
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Declan Mills 2016/2018
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Elaine O’Connor 2015/2016
How your union works
UL Postgraduate Students’ Union (PSU) is the chief representative body for postgraduate students at the University of Limerick. The PSU is a democratic organisation run by two full-time officers elected by the Postgraduate Student Body along with the staff. The PSU’s main functions are to provide academic assistance to postgraduate students, to provide support to students in need, to lobby the University and the government on issues affecting postgraduate students, and to promote social and cultural inclusion.
There are two officers working full-time, the President, the Vice President Academic along with a part-time PhD Officer. Each of these officers has responsibility for their own brief and work to provide the best possible service and representation to our postgraduate students.
The PSU is located near the stables courtyard. The ULPSU is established in accordance with its constitution, statutes and regulations of the Governing Authority of the University as the sole representative body for UL postgraduate students. Each postgraduate student is automatically a member of the PSU.
The PSU sabbatical officers represent students on a number of committees including UL’s Governing Authority, Academic Council as well as other academic and social committees.
Sabbatical Officers

Rania Shadeed
Hi, I’m Rania and I am your Postgraduate Students’ Union President.

Louis Pemble
Hi, I’m Louis and I am your Postgraduate Students’ Union Vice President.
Executive Team
- The PSU Council will exist to facilitate democracy and representation in terms of policy-making and transparency.
- The PSU Council, hereafter known as Council, shall be the supreme decision-making body of the PSU, except for a decision that is made in a referendum or general meeting.
- It shall also raise issues that are of concern to its members to the senior management team of the University through the Executive and the President.
- Council shall have the power to mandate the Executive.
- The structure of the Council shall be no smaller than 8 and no larger than 18 members.
- Job descriptions for each member are outlined in Schedule IV (Council and Executive Job Descriptions and Terms of Office) :
- PSU Executive Committee (10 members) 5
- Arts Humanities and Social Sciences Representative
- Education and Health Sciences Representative
- Kemmy Business School Representative
- Science and Engineering Representative
- PhD Representative
- International Representative
- Council members (two in total)

Council Members
The ULPSU Council acts as the Postgraduate Student Parliament for UL.