"I was studying business management and I can bring my management skills to this union because the position of president is basically the manager of theorganisation."

Students are certainly not what they used to be.

Far from the archetypal image of a student lying in bed until midday and watching Neighbours, Kingston's new student union president appears to demonstrate a disturbing amount of professionalism.

Arnold Kemevor was elected two months ago on an independent platform in the university's biggest-ever election turnout and describes himself as a business-friendly social democrat.

With a manifesto centred on improving the running of the union, the 22-year-old hopes to use his negotiating skills to get students and staff to work together better.

And on a larger scale he also hopes to get the university and the town working more closely.

He says: "The most important thing we need to do is to try to get the council and the university working together because there are some differences as to how they perceive the union.

"They want the university here but they don't want the students."

He believes both sides need to move on from the rows surrounding the planned Surbiton student village and find some common ground.

Mr Kemevor said: "At the end of the day the university is a very large employer in the community and we have to get them to understand the work we are doing for the community and how we can also work with them to resolve any problems."

Mr Kemevor, who came originally from Ghana but has spent much of his life in Kingston, said the union will step up its community volunteering work and charity fundraising.

He said many students come to Kingston because of how well the university is integrated into the community.

And he stresses that those studying at the university often choose to stay in the borough, making today's students tomorrow's pillars of the community.

While admitting there are a small number of complaints from residents about students' behaviour, he emphasises their positive economic contribution as employees and consumers.

He said: "The university is already here, it's growing and it's one of the best success stories of the former polytechnics.

"The university is not going anywhere so we just have to learn to live with each other, understand each other and address each other's problems.

"We can form a working relationshipwith each other to raise the profile of the town and the university."

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