PTAS | The University of Edinburgh

In 2020, UNCOVER received a grant from the Principal's Teaching Award Scheme to further develop its innovative staff-student working model.

The grant has two main aims:

To explore how we can integrate UNCOVER’s working model with dissertations and projects by piloting approaches within relevant undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
To work together with students to identify desired skills and attributes, and to co-create a development pathway for current and new students who become involved with UNCOVER.

This project explores ways to embed UNCOVER’s model within student teaching programmes in ways that enhance learning and contribute to the achievement of graduate attributes; helping to make this innovative, inter-disciplinary approach a sustainable part of the University of Edinburgh student experience, and considering how we might provide a direct connection between student dissertations and the work of national and international policy-makers, strengthening the links between the University and the local and global community it operates within.

How we're using it

Following a competitive application process, six student members of UNCOVER were appointed to lead on this project. The project team worked together to define their plan and objectives, supported by Dr Neneh Rowa-Dewar (UNCOVER's staff-student liaison) and Emilie McSwiggan (UNCOVER Project Manager). Two project sub-teams were set up: one team has worked on the creation of a resource pack for students who have newly joined UNCOVER, and the other has led a qualitative study of staff and student experiences of UNCOVER, in order to discover opportunities for improvement. The whole team have also led on the organisation of the 2021 UNCOVER Conference, and are working on producing an UNCOVER Charter for Staff and Students.

Access our Resource Pack for New Volunteers on Pebblepad.

Meet the team

	Thulani Ashcroft Thulani has been a member of UNCOVER since it began in March 2020. She is a member of the team leading on the qualitative study of Staff and Student Experiences of UNCOVER.
	Damilola Iduye Damilola joined UNCOVER in early 2021. She is a member of the team leading on developing resources for new volunteers.
	Ashmika Motee Ashmika joined UNCOVER in early 2021. She is a member of the team leading on developing resources for new volunteers.
	Farirai Nzvere Farrie joined UNCOVER in early 2021. He is a member of the team leading on developing resources for new volunteers.
	Kayla Ostrishko Kayla has been a member of UNCOVER since it began in March 2020. She is a member of the team leading on the qualitative study of Staff and Student Experiences of UNCOVER.
	Jasmin Rostron Jasmin joined UNCOVER in early 2021. She is a member of the team leading on the qualitative study of Staff and Student Experiences of UNCOVER.

This article was published on 5 Oct, 2021