College secures £11,500 for student-led projects

At the beginning of the academic year, members of the Student Partnership Board, a strategic College committee made up of student Subject Chairs and College Officers, were invited to bid for project funding. After developing and presenting detailed plans for four ideas to implement across the College on both campuses, the student reps secured £11,500 of funding for two of the proposals.

The first successful project will see the College further its online presence through the development of a dedicated YouTube playlist featuring a variety of videos produced by students and staff. The theme of the featured content will range from topical soundbites and study skills advice, to the promotion of student and staff successes within the College. Taking inspiration from the Sixty Symbols project at the University of Nottingham, having a stronger YouTube presence will help to raise the profile of the College, its departments and research happening within, as well as increase the interdisciplinarity between staff and students within CEMPS.

The second successful project will provide further opportunities for students to get involved with undergraduate research, by expanding the College’s annual research conference. Taking place in late-May, the event aims to build on the work of various established initiatives such as the Journal of Undergraduate Science & Technology (JUST), Inside CEMPS, and Research Uncovered. The conference will celebrate the best undergraduate research taking place within the College, and will bring students together from a variety of backgrounds within the College to engage in cross-disciplinary discussions.

Speaking about both projects, Louis Tsiattalou and Natalie Whitehead, joint College Officers for EMPS and co-Chairs of the Student Partnership Board, said; "We believe that students should be able to engage with their subjects outside of their everyday lectures. We study such fascinating stuff, and are surrounded by interesting, thoughtful academics - we really wanted to make something of this! These projects aim to give students in CEMPS the chance to be vocal about the great research they're doing, and the inspiring research community they're learning in. This is for all students, across the College, and should be a hugely rewarding opportunity to do something new and exciting - we can't wait to get started!"

Professor Pete Vukusic, Associate Dean for Education in EMPS, and Professor Trevor Bailey, the previous Associate Dean, have led the project funding process. Professor Vukusic added; “Student engagement and student-centred learning are key components of the strategy for excellence in education at Exeter. This student-led venture has been a fantastic opportunity for CEMPS students themselves to take the lead on projects that will engage their fellow students and further support Exeter’s first class student experience. We anticipate stunning and very valuable outcomes from both these projects.”

Rhun Davies, President Exeter for FXU, and Ben Street, Vice President Education for Exeter Students’ Guild, also added their support to the project process; “The CEMPS Student Partnership Board is proof of the dedication of the College’s staff and students, from all campuses, working in partnership to affect change. It is initiatives such as this that outline the value of the student voice as co-creators of their own educational experience.”