New documentary depicting student life to premiere in Glasgow

Not Your Student, produced by the Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) Students’ Association, will premiere in Glasgow on Thursday, May 21, at The Social Hub.

The film questions what needs to change about the student experience in 2026, as the higher education sector continues to grapple with major challenges.

Oluwatomisin (Tom Tom) Osinubi, GCU Students’ Association president 2025-26, co-director and producer, said: "Through two years of representing and engaging with students across Scotland and the UK, I saw firsthand how much of the student experience goes unseen or misunderstood.

"I felt a responsibility to tell that story, drawing on my background in acting and filmmaking to create something that captures these realities in a way data alone never could.

"The student experience today is complex, layered and constantly evolving, this film brings that into focus, creating a space for those shaping the system to feel deeply, reflect and take responsibility for what needs to change."

The documentary is the culmination of a year of lobbying, advocacy and policy engagement by the GCU Students’ Association.

It aims to move beyond traditional metrics and shine a light on the "lived realities" of students today.

Voices featured in the film include students, university staff and sector professionals, offering a wide-ranging look at the current state of higher education.

The film also aims to challenge long-held assumptions about the student journey and inspire sector-wide change.

Anthony Aladedahunsi, co-director and technical producer, said: "It has been an exciting journey to collaborate with the Students' Association president on telling this impactful story.

"I served as co-director and technical producer for this initiative. I am passionate about social impact storytelling, and my background in documentary storytelling, visual production, and social impact narratives aligns strongly with the vision of this project."

Anthony, who studied digital media and content creation at GCU, said the project was a chance to put his education into practice.

He said: "It has been incredibly rewarding to directly apply what I learned as a student under the Department of Media and Journalism at GCU to this project."

The documentary premiere is free to attend, and registration is currently open via Eventbrite.

The screening event on May 21 will feature a red carpet welcome, reception drinks and a 60-minute showing of the documentary.

This will be followed by a panel discussion titled Beyond the Data: Rethinking the Student Experience, with opportunities for networking among attendees.