Keble Access Society | Jafar Bin-Faisal

Jafar at Matriculation

Jafar Bin-Faisal (2023 History), President of the Keble Access Society (formerly Keble at Large), talks to us about the society’s mission here at College and the impact they’ve been making in outreach.

What is the Keble Access Society, and what does it aim to do?

Keble Access Society (KAS) is the College's student-led outreach society, dedicated to improving access for students from underrepresented socio-economic and educational backgrounds.

Did you personally benefit from KAS or other outreach initiatives before starting here?

I didn't personally engage with KAS when I was applying, likely because I didn't grow up in the West Midlands — the College's linked outreach region. However, I did benefit from other outreach initiatives, such as the Oxford Muslim Access Conference (OMAC). OMAC played a crucial role in demystifying Oxford for me as a Muslim student, explaining what the experience would be like. The opportunity to speak with current students (and realise how normal and relatable they are!) helped me see that Oxford was an attainable goal. Before that, I had never seriously considered applying to a university like Oxford or Cambridge.

Why did you want to run for president of KAS?

Giving back has always been something I’m passionate about. On my journey to Oxford, I benefitted from the generosity of people who took the time to explain the application process and offer advice. Now that I’m fortunate enough to be here, I feel it’s only right to do the same for others.

Through speaking with students from disadvantaged backgrounds, I’ve seen first-hand how much potential they have. However, due to their circumstances, many feel they are not deserving of a place at Oxford or that the university "isn’t for people like them." I completely understand this feeling — I once thought the same way. That’s why I decided to run for President of KAS: to show these students that Oxford is a place where they belong. I wanted to lead initiatives that would level the playing field and truly break down misconceptions about Oxford.                                                                                           

What projects has KAS been up to this year?

This year, two of our key projects have been filming mock interviews and creating "day-in-the-life" videos. Both these projects are I feel really useful in helping students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Access to mock interviews provides a valuable resource, especially for those who, unlike their privately educated peers, may not have had the opportunity to practise before the real thing. Similarly, the day-in-the-life videos, filmed by students from diverse backgrounds, offer tangible proof that no matter where you come from, you can find a sense of belonging at Oxford.

Beyond these initiatives, we’ve also been working behind the scenes to formalise the society. This includes introducing official committee roles, undertaking a full rebrand, and drafting a formal constitution. In the long run, we hope that these steps will pave the way for even bigger and better access initiatives in the future!