Student Assistant

Job Description

The Queen’s University Widening Participation Unit (WPU) require Student Assistants to provide support for a range of events and activities across our key programmes. These programmes are delivered with WPU key stakeholders, including but not limited to, primary and post-primary school pupils and current Queen’s University students and cover a range of activities including; campus visits, summer residentials, and university “Taster” days. The majority of events run throughout the academic year between the hours of 9.00 am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. WPU also deliver Summer Residential activities outside Term Time and occasional weekend events. Full training for the role will be provided. Please note that the hours of the role will be dependent on scheduled events. 

Posts are available from 1 November 2023 to 15 September 2024 in the first instance, with the possibility of extension into academic year 2024/2025, subject to a continuing right to work in the UK, active registration on Qwork, re-registration with the University in September 2024 and being a registered student of the University for the full duration of the post.     

Working variable hours, as and when required, up to a maximum of fifteen hours per week during term-time, with the potential for additional hours outside of term-time, based on the study level (UG/PGT/PGR) of the candidate appointed.   

Student Assistants act as a ‘role model and ambassador’ for Higher Education and support the work of the Widening Participation Unit in the delivery of aspiration and attainment raising programmes. This includes:   

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  Engaging with pre-entry students, ranging from primary to post-primary pupils   in addition to students from colleges and Community Education Centres participating in the various WPU programmes (referred to hereafter as programme participants);   

  
  


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  To act as a ‘role model and ambassador’ for Higher Education to programme participants providing potential students with an enthusiastic insight into life at Queen’s;   

  
  


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  To provide assistance to Widening Participation staff through facilitating small group discussions and activities on subjects relevant to programme participants;   

  
  

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  To assist in motivating and encouraging programme participants to engage fully in all aspects of the delivered programmes;   

  
  


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  Dealing with queries to include signposting programme participants to suitable sources of help, support and guidance (training will be provided for the purposes of this duty);    

  
  


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  To have knowledge of the Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Groups Act (training also to be provided by Widening Participation in line with QUB code of practice and good conduct policies);  

  
  


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  Carry out any other duties which are appropriate to the post as may be reasonably requested by the supervisor   

  
  

Applicants must currently be registered as student at Queen's University Belfast.

Essential Criteria:  

Students applying for this post MUST be able to evidence in writing how they meet the essential criteria outlined below.  Students who DO NOT provide evidence will not be shortlisted and the application will not be considered.  

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  Registered students (undergraduate and postgraduate) at Queen’s University Belfast for academic year 2023/2024.  

  
  


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  An understanding of the issues and barriers pupils from Widening Participation backgrounds face when considering or applying to Higher Education;  

  
  


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  Experience of working within a team;  

  
  


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  Interested in assisting and motivating young people from disadvantaged backgrounds progress to higher education;  

  
  


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  All students for whom English is not their first language must have achieved a minimum pass mark of 7.0 in the writing and speaking band of IELTS (International English Language Test Score) or equivalent. (Please note a copy of your IELTS results will be requested by email to your QUB email address following submission of your application). 

  
  

Desirable Criteria:  

Students applying for this post MUST be able to evidence in writing how they meet the desirable criteria outlined below.  Students who DO NOT provide evidence will not be shortlisted and the application will not be considered.  

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  Experience of working with young people;  

  
  

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  Experience of working effectively in a supportive capacity with young people through engagement as a volunteer or as member of a social organisation;  

  
  


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  Knowledge and/or experience of the Widening Participation Programmes currently offered by Queen’s University;  

  
  


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  Knowledge of the Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Groups Act and experience of applying that knowledge.  

  
  


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  Applicants should have an awareness of a range of Queen’s University Schools/ Departments and Services