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The Library's Academic Skills Centre is seeking enthusiastic and committed students to join our team as Library Student Partners. Drawing on your awareness of the challenges and barriers students may face while transitioning through university, you will play a key role on the team by helping to identify and develop academic skills programmes that support students with their studies. Additionally, you will take part in participatory research, working with the Academic Skills team as research partners throughout the full lifecycle of research projects. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the support provided to students while gaining valuable skills in research, teamwork, and project development.

Job Purpose

As a Library Student Partner, you will work independently and as a team to develop online resources, workshops, or other projects that aim to help students be successful at university. The position reports to the Transition Programmes and PASS Support Officer and will work closely with Academic Skills Centre colleagues and fellow Library Student Partners. 

We are looking to recruit three Library Student Partners from February 2025 until the end of May 2025, working 4 hours per week, paying 15.82 plus holiday pay.  There may be opportunities for selected candidates to extend their contracts beyond this period.

Key Duties

Programme Development:

• Identify areas within the Academic Skills Centre where student support could be improved, collaborating with other Library Student Partners to brainstorm new or enhanced initiatives that support students? needs.
• Work independently and as part of a team to design and implement new or enhanced initiatives.
• Support the design and delivery of the Get Ahead programme for prospective first-year students.

Participatory Research:

• Act as a research partner by engaging in all stages of research projects, from planning, reviewing the literature and data collection to report writing.
• Collaborate with Academic Skills Centre colleagues to ensure research outcomes align with student needs and priorities.

Teamwork and Communication:

• Participate actively in regular meetings with the Transition Programmes and PASS Support Officer and other Library Student Partners.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with colleagues across the university to promote programmes and achieve project goals.
• Maintain open communication with your team, updating them on project progress and flagging any challenges or delays.
• Respond promptly to emails and other communications.

General Responsibilities:

• Represent Queen Mary in a professional, competent, and enthusiastic manner when engaging with students and staff.
• Meet deadlines and manage your workload alongside your academic commitments.
• Attend Library Student Partner and participatory research training sessions.
• Contribute to the Library's Transition Programmes evaluation activities and additional projects as required.
• Proactively identify challenges within initiatives and work collaboratively to develop solutions.

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Required

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate programme at Queen Mary.
• Achieved 70% or higher in at least one assignment or exam within the last academic year.
• Awareness of the challenges and barriers students may face while studying at university.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Articulate, reassuring, and clear when speaking with others.
• Effective time management, balancing the role's responsibilities with academic demands.
• Capable of engaging with colleagues across the university to promote and support the programme.
• Flexible and open to taking on a variety of tasks, including contributing to research and participating in events.
• Enthusiastic about supporting other students and improving the student experience.
• Dedicated, reliable, and punctual.
• The ability to meet UK right to work requirements.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a leadership role, such as a course representative, PASS leader, mentor, or peer-led team learning (PLTL) participant.
• Experience working in a team setting.
• Decision-making skills to ensure the successful implementation of projects are desirable.

To provide practical and emotional support to assist a student on the autism spectrum in taught sessions (lectures, seminars and labs). To support the student with explaining tasks and providing mutual regulation strategies that will ensure widening participation and access, academic progress and student retention in compliance with the Equality Act and the mission of Student Services.

This role is 9.5 hours a week distributed as below:

• Monday 2.5 hours: 10-11am; 12-1pm (IT class); 2pm-3:30pm
• Tuesday 3 hours: 11-1pm; 4-5:30pm
• Wednesday 1.5 hours: 9- 11am
• Thursday 1.5 hours: 10-11:30am (lab)

There will be breaks in between taught sessions.

Minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade A-C including English and Mathematics - Essential
A level qualifications (or equivalent), or equivalent relevant experience - Essential
Educated to degree level in a relevant field or equivalent experience - Desirable 
Relevant further educational or professional qualifications e.g. Mental Health First Aid. - Desirable
 

Experience

• Experience of studying in Higher Education - Essential
• Knowledge of autism spectrum condition - Desirable
• Some experience/understanding of providing support for individuals on the Autism Spectrum - Desirable

Skills

• Knowledge of SCERTS/Autism Spectrum Condition - Desirable
• Mutual Regulation strategies: e.g. deep pressure techniques, grounding and breathing strategies - Desirable
• Thorough knowledge of the campus - Essential
• Awareness of disability issues ? recognising the most effective method of communicating during periods of dysregulation - Essential

Attitude

• Outgoing; great interpersonal skills - Essential
• Must be able to work calmly under pressure - Essential
• Must be able to support and manage fluctuating behaviours - Essential
• Must be willing to attend relevant training sessions arranged by the Disability and Dyslexia Service - Essential

Other - All essential

• Flexible working timetable
• This post is subject to a basic DBS check.
• The ability to meet UK ?right to work? requirements
  
  
   

The role will involve screening and recruiting to a longitudinal research study, participant follow-up, and other study administration. Approc 20 hours per week.

Minimum - Bachelors degree. 

Exceptional organisational and communication skills. 
Experience recruiting to research studies. 
Understanding of psychological assessments and an interest in women's health. 
Exceptional time management skills.