Champions for change

 

Undertake one role where you are an agent for change, for example representing the voice of your peers or helping make change happen at the university.

Champions for Change is designed to provide you with the opportunity to influence change for the student population, such as leadership roles, Student Partner Intern roles, SU research roles, student staff and ambassadors. You'll learn to make the world a better place through social awareness, active allyship, the consciousness of the individual impact on society, critical thinking, and in-depth analysis of local and global communities.

You will need to complete one Champions for Change role to count towards achieving the Stellify Award - take a look at the eligble roles below:

‌Paid roles                                                                                   

The role is a supportive one in the Teaching, Learning and Students Team and is part of a large group of current students (UG/PGT) and PGR and PhD candidates that support the teaching, learning and student support activities in the Library. This can include supporting our workshops and sessions for My Learning Essentials, working on projects around widening access and outreach and writing blogs, analysing data and more.

Contact: Kathryn Miller - kathryn.miller@manchester.ac.uk (the role is advertised on Career Connect)

Careers Students Interns support students in 1-1 appointments giving them feedback on their CV, application form, cover letter, personal statement or LinkedIn profile.  Full training is given.  Interns also work with Careers staff on a wide range of projects to improve and promote the services that the Careers Service provides. 

The internships run September-June.  The post is open to returning University of Manchester students at all levels, PGTs can apply if they graduated from a degree from The University Manchester and have a CareerConnect account at the time of application.

All information regarding the role requirments and application process can be found via Career Connect in early August.  All training wil take place in September.

Student Partners are current students paid to work in equal partnership with University staff on projects that aim to support the student experience. Student Partners are trained to work with staff on projects across the University, focusing on a range of themes and delivering tasks such as student consultation, data analysis, and report writing. 

Contact: the Student Partnership Team (studentpartnership@manchester.ac.uk). All opportunities are advertised via CareerConnect.

From February to July each year, the Manchester Calling Campaign matches international offer-holders of UoM with current international students from their country or region for an informative telephone call about their next steps. Our student callers use their own personal experience to help offer-holders find answers to any questions they may have about life and study at Manchester. Eloise Baker eloise.baker@manchester.ac.uk / Chris Gibson christopher.gibson-3@manchester.ac.uk

(Recruitment for this role will normally take place from October onwards)

Work opportunities include working with prospective UG and PG students at University Open Days, campus tours, UCAS fairs, higher education conventions in secondary schools and community outreach schemes. Please contact ambassadors@manchester.ac.uk 

(Recruitment for this role will normally take place from October onwards)

The University of Manchester’s fundraising programme raises crucial funds to support projects including life-changing student scholarships and world-leading research. You will raise money to support these life-changing projects at the University and engage with our alumni and friends on the phone. As well as asking alumni for their support through a donation, you’ll also answer any questions they may have and keep our database records up to date.

Contact: lucy.hobson@manchester.ac.uk (the role is advertised on Career Connect)

Available to students within School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, School of Social Sciences, School of Environment, Education and Development and the Alliance Manchester Business School.
 
You are the voice and face of the university - You will represent The University of Manchester to prospective students, current students, and more! You will also highly influence decisions that have a big impact on the university including a student's decision to study with us. We’ll have blogs, podcasts, webinars, on-campus events and videos that you can get involved with in the coming academic year.

Recruitment Period: October/November

Please contact dependent on school:

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures – salcambassadors@manchester.ac.uk

School of Social Sciences – sossambassadors@manchester.ac.uk

School of Environment, Education and Development – seedambassadors@manchester.ac.uk

Alliance Manchester Business School – ambsambassadors@manchester.ac.uk

MEC open elective units‌                                                         

Business creation and development MCEL60032

This unit provides you with case study experience of the processes and activities involved in developing a new venture at the start-up or early stage of development. You will work in groups with a real-life client business, conducting analysis on the business owner, the internal operations of the venture as well as the venture’s external business environment. Using the outcomes of this analysis, you will develop a set of strategies and recommendations for progressing the development of the firm. The unit will help develop applied skills, testing your academic knowledge and technical skills in a consultancy-style client relationship, with specific focus on business analysis and business planning. 


Formative assessment: Individual critical reflection outline; Interim group presentation
Summative assessment: Individual critical reflection - 60%; Group business report - 40%

Shaping ideas for the market MCEL60021/60022

This unit provides a detailed examination of one of the primary steps in the entrepreneurial process: identifying an opportunity and subsequently developing a business model. Entrepreneurs must learn how to build and leverage their networks to gain information from potential suppliers, partners, and customers. Throughout this unit, students will learn about various methods for obtaining market intelligence and how to analyse and interpret that research to identify, evaluate, and refine valuable opportunities. The ultimate goal is to develop a viable business model that indicates how value will be created for whom, how it will be delivered, and how value will be captured by stakeholders. 

Formative assessment: Individual PowerPoint slides  
Summative assessment: Individual report part 1, 1600 words (40%); Individual report part 2, 2400 words (60%)

Essential risk management for business MCEL63402  

This unit takes a holistic approach to risk management in business and provides practical tools for managing risk, with a strong emphasis on effective risk communication methodology. Our practical tools include the use of a visual tool (BowTie) that makes risk understandable to all stakeholders, and software by CGE Risk Management Solutions that provides a state-of-the-art risk management solution. Rest assured that this unit will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to confidently manage risk in any business setting. 

Formative assessment: Summary report 
Summative assessment: Individual report - 60%; Individual presentation - 40%

Developing enterprising individuals MCEL60142  

Ever thought about why people become entrepreneurs? Or if you could become one yourself? Being an entrepreneur is tough, physically and emotionally. This unit will show you how successful entrepreneurs use motivation and selfreflection to improve their decision-making skills and enhance their personal and venture’s performance. You’ll study case studies and personal development tools, models, and theories of entrepreneurship to develop your own entrepreneurial skills. 

Formative assessment: Small set of PowerPoint slides related to assignment topic 
Summative assessment: Structured report - 50%; Self-development plan - 50%

‌Step up and lead roles (available to PGT students)           

As a Student Rep, you are the link between students and the University on all things course related. You'll listen to students' thoughts and ideas about their course, and feed this back to your School. 

What do I need to do?

  • You must attend all relevant meetings or send apologies
  • You must do two of the following:
  • Gather feedback from a group of students (this could be online or face-to-face) and present this at Staff Student Liaison Committee (SSLC) or equivalent.
  • Close the feedback loop; report to students the results of an SSLC.
  • Report key successes of Student Reps. This would include any change made as a result of Student Rep actions.
  • Work with other Student Reps to solve an issue or feed an issue up to a Faculty Officer or the Education Officer.
  • Your activity will be verified through meeting minutes and documentation collected through your submissions to Rep Hub.

What training do I need to complete?

You will need to attend a face-to-face training session within your school or programme. Online training is currently being developed so get in touch if you're interested.

Find out more about the role of a Student Rep

Contact: StudentReps@manchester.ac.uk

Running a society comes with its fair share of responsibilities and you're bound to learn so many things during your experience of managing a student group.

What do I need to do?

  • You must be an active committee member of a Students’ Union club or society. The society/club must have achieved at least three of the following:
    • Grown the societies membership
    • Submitted a bid to 'Fund it'
    • Organised an approved society event
    • Organised an approved society trip
    • Organised an approved society fundraiser
    • Organised an approved volunteering project
    • Booked spaces for society meetings
  • You must be listed as a committee member for an approved society/club.
  • All activities are verified and recorded through the Societies dashboard.
  • In addition at the end of the year you need to email activities.su@manchester.ac.uk and copy in the Chair of the Society to ensure that your activity has been recorded.

What training do I need to complete?

Attend one of the following: a one to one training session, the societies training day or societies conference day, role specific training.

Find out more about the role of a Students’ Union Club or Society Committee Member.

Contact: societies.su@manchester.ac.uk

At Manchester every halls of residence has a Hall Exec Team. These are made of up students who live in the Hall and are either Student Voice Reps or Events Reps who represent other students or organise social events for their halls such as summer balls, quizzes, BBQs and more.

What do I need to do? 

  • As a Student Voice Rep you’ll need to engage with other residents to gather their views, feedback to Residences Senior Managers, as well as represent Student voices within halls to the SU.
  • As an Events Rep you’ll need to organise and lead a variety of events, trips and activity in your hall.
  • Both reps will be involved in the planning and delivery of Welcome Week and handover to the Hall Exec Team when term of office ends.
  • You must be registered through the Students' Union as Halls Exec Rep.
  • Your activities are verified and logged through the Students' Union.

What training do I need to complete?

Attendance at an essential annual role specific training event or workshop organised through the Students' Union to suit the requirements of the position.

Find out more about the role of Halls Reps.

Contact: halls.su@manchester.ac.uk

Sustainability Champions are students who take on an additional role promoting awareness of sustainability issues amongst their student peers to encourage environmental action. You’ll work with staff to raise awareness of opportunities to engage with sustainability across the University and Manchester.

What do I need to do?

As a Sustainability Champion you will:

  • Be active in your role for at least two academic semesters.
  • Attend an initial briefing session and any further information sessions as required.
  • Run at least one social media takeover to raise awareness of environmental sustainability activities.
  • Organise at least one event on campus per semester to encourage peers to take part in 50,000 Actions and the Sustainability Challenge.
  • Champion environmental sustainability in you subject area.
  • Regularly record your environmental actions on 50,000 Actions.
  • Have the opportunity to take part in other activities such as environmental audits, 6R and Carbon Literacy activity

What training do I need to complete?

There will be an initial briefing session to outline the University’s approach to environmental sustainability and your role. You’ll be invited to further training as required, for example on running events, social media, zero carbon, and 6R. You’ll be supported throughout the year by the Environmental Sustainability Team intern.

Find out more about becoming a Sustainability Champion

Contact: es@manchester.ac.uk

As a SALC Employability Champion you will be a student influencer on employability issues.  You will ensure the student voice is represented in SALC to help your fellow students gain a competitive edge for the future.
 
Each Employability Champion takes primary responsibility for an Employability Theme.

What do I need to do?

As a SALC Employability Champion you will:

  • Collaborate with other Employability Champions on a monthly ‘student takeover’ of SALC social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
  • Design an alumni event (online or on campus) related to their Employability Theme
  • Interview a key figure in a sector related to their Theme, for publication online as e.g. a video, podcast or blog post. 
  • Help to shape student-led Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity strategies and activities 
  • Collaborate and liaise with leaders of student societies to gather feedback and amplify the student voice on careers and employability issues
  • Participate in relevant careers events of special relevance to your Theme, including workshops and drop-in sessions, and share the key points you have learned with students right across SALC, using e.g. SALC websites and social media

What training do I need to complete?

You will particiapte in training sessions to develop the skills required.

Contact: Maria-Ruth.Morello@manchester.ac.uk

THIS ROLE IS CURRENTLY BEING RESTED AND ISN'T AVAILABLE IN 2023/24. IT WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR.

International 12 is a unique project that brings together a diverse group of 12 students from 12 countries. The students are selected through informal interviews at the beginning of each academic year. If selected, you will be part of a unique cultural and educational experience.

This project aims to bring people together to learn about each other’s culture as well as learning life lessons along the way.

What do I need to do?

As a member of international 12 you will be responsible for:

  • Attending weekly meetings
  • Planning, organising and delivering social events throughout the year

What training do I need to complete?

You will complete training which is relevant to the specific role.

Contact: info@internationalsociety.org.uk

UCIL units (available to PGT students)           

PGT Creating a Sustainable World: Interdisciplinary Applications of the Sustainable Development Goals

This online unit will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to address the SDGs. It presents the concept of sustainable development and explains the basis of partnership working that underpins the SDG approach. Each SDG is explored through its own module, drawing on cutting-edge research carried out by world-leading experts across the University of Manchester, together with input from external experts and international policy-makers and practitioners.

Assessment:

  • Applied research sustainable development Project set by external organisation 2000 to 2500 words (70%)
  • Research proposal for your applied research sustainable development project. 1000 words (20%)
  • Interdisciplinary discussion with fellow students using Blackboard discussion board about how to enhance research project 2 x 200 words (10%)