The University of York’s Access and Outreach team and Academic Support Office are looking to recruit a number of Postgraduate students to support the delivery of various online outreach activities for post-16 students for the summer of 2022. All opportunities are designed to support students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in Higher Education to reach their full potential.
This is an exciting and unique opportunity to provide crucial support to students as they prepare to transition from A Level/BTEC to studying at Higher Education.
Job description
Realising Opportunities is a collaboration of research-intensive universities including York. We’re working together to promote fair access and social mobility for students from under-represented groups. The project supports selected students, in their post-16 studies with skills development and guidance. The programme begins in Year 12 and offers many opportunities to experience university first-hand, as well as allowing students to realise their potential to study at a research intensive university.
The Role
The Access and Outreach team are looking for four postgraduate students who are confident in lecturing and/or presenting, one for each of these academic subject areas: Engineering and Physical Sciences; Life and Health Sciences; Creative Arts and Humanities; Social Sciences.
- Applicants are required to send a proposal for a 50 minute lecture plus a follow-up 50 minute interactive session that will include group-work. Students will already have attended a session on academic note-taking skills, so note taking needs to be included in the seminar.
- Please note that your lecture/seminar should not be specific to your discipline but will need to be more generalised around your Academic Subject area. For example: Life and Health Sciences rather than a single subject such as Nursing or Psychology.
Availability
| Induction | Briefing session |
| Contract | 50 minute lecture and 50 minute follow-up discussion session / seminar over a period of 2 hours on Wednesday 22nd June 2022, (Early Evening, time TBC) |
Rates of Pay
This role will be paid at the standard Graduate Teaching Assistant rate; £13.65 per hour (+45 minutes, plus holiday pay)
Person Specification
| A current Postgraduate student at the University of York | Essential |
| Have a clear Enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check with the University of York, or be willing to complete one in order to take up their role (costs covered by the relevant team) | Desirable |
| Experience of working with post-16 students in an academic capacity | Essential |
| Confident using technology and adapting to new softwares where needed (eg. lecture recording, virtual conferencing, live chats) | Essential |
| Exceptional communication skills with understanding of challenges and solutions to communicating with people online | Essential |
| Able to thrive working independently | Essential |
| Able to work well with others | Essential |
| Ability to identify and/or create relevant resources around topics including (but not limited to) subject-specific study skills, further reading, virtual opportunities to enhance FE learning | Essential |
| Able to use initiative to identify areas where bespoke academic support is required (eg. as requested by student participants) and create solutions to address requirements | Essential |
| Able to work creatively whilst meeting a brief | Essential |
*If you are unsure if your academic background is appropriate, we recommend making an application and stating why you are interested in working with us and your relevant experience, even if not any formal qualification.
What we can offer you
By working on a project with the Access and Outreach and Academic Support Office teams, you will become a highly valued member of teams that are working innovatively to address the current challenges faced by pre-entry students nationally. Your ideas and opinions will be heard and will contribute to the shape and design of our work. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills, build on your experience and have a fantastic asset to your CV.
Making an application
To apply, please complete our online application form by 4 pm Tuesday 3rd May 2022.
Interviews for all roles will take place 9 am – 5 pm on Thursday 19th May 2022 and will take place online.
Contact the team
Any questions about the role and/or job advert can be sent to:
- Emma Stephen: realising-opportunities@york.ac.uk
- Tamlyn Ryan: tamlyn.ryan@york.ac.uk