The University launched The Bath Award to recognise the skills and experiences that students gain through University life and in the wider community, and presented the first awards at a ceremony on campus last night (Thursday 28 May).
(Media-Newswire.com) - Forty-one students at the University of Bath have received a new award marking the skills and successes they have achieved alongside their academic studies.
The University launched The Bath Award to recognise the skills and experiences that students gain through University life and in the wider community, and presented the first awards at a ceremony on campus last night ( Thursday 28 May ).
The Bath Award is designed to help students stand out from the crowd, showing prospective employers that they have made the most of their university experience to build and expand their abilities and develop themselves as people.
It was run as a pilot scheme this year, approaching 100 volunteers through the Students’ Union to apply for the award.
To submit an application the students had to complete at least 100 hours of extra-curricular activities or work experience and meet standards in a set of key skill areas: teamwork, leadership, communication, commercial awareness and problem-solving.
The students were asked to assess what they learnt through their experiences and reflect on the skills that are transferable to the job market.
Samantha Chaffey, The Bath Award coordinator said: “It has been a privilege to develop and co-ordinate The Bath Award scheme and to work so closely with the students. I’ve seen first hand how the process can prepare them in terms of their employability and it stands to have a significant impact on their future careers.”
Heather England, a 21 year-old Sociology with Human Resources Management student from Buckinghamshire said: “I am thrilled that I have been given The Bath Award and I am pleased that the University has found a way to officially credit time spent volunteering by dedicated and passionate students.”
Heather is a member of Rag, the students’ Union charity fundraising arm, and has led street collections and other activities to raise thousands of pounds for local and national charities. She has been a student trainer ( through the SORTED scheme ) and a member of the University of Bath Entrepreneurs Club ( BANTER ). She has also worked for Camp America teaching riding skills to children and caring for them during their stay.
Matthew Van de Schootbrugge, a 19 year-old Accounting & Finance student from Oxfordshire, said in a speech at the ceremony that applying for the award had made him reflect on his experiences and what he had learnt, helping him to get maximum benefit.
Matthew has been involved in a number of teams and committees at the University and taken part in the Students’ Union’s Leadership Academy Project, setting up an eight week swimming course for students who have not had the opportunity to learn to swim, particularly focused on international students.
Samantha Chaffey added: “This pilot paves the way for the award scheme to be fully rolled out in the future, for the benefit of those pro-active students who give so much of their time to help the university and the wider community.
“It has been a great achievement to have got the pilot off the ground in such a short space of time and for it to be so well received and appreciated by the students.”
Significant funding to help develop and launch The Bath Award has been provided by Abbey-Santander through their Santander Universities Global Division.
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