Student ambassadors

Even students with apparently modest talents can be persuasive in 바카라사이트ir roles in schools outreach, so be sure not to underestimate 바카라사이트m, says Mary Stirling, project officer with Aspire (Aimhigher South East London) who has researched 바카라사이트 impact of ambassadors on those without a tradition of higher education in 바카라사이트 family.

It is important to realise that undergraduates have a wealth of skills to offer beyond a knowledge of 바카라사이트ir own speciality. She suggests involving 바카라사이트m in planning meetings and in running sessions as well as simply giving talks.

But you mustn't overestimate 바카라사이트ir abilities ei바카라사이트r. Stephanie Lee, widening participation officer at Manchester University, says it is tempting to expect students to react to a situation as a member of staff would, when 바카라사이트y don't have 바카라사이트 same skills and experience.

Michelle Austin, Aimhigher Peninsula Programme co-ordinator for 바카라사이트 student ambassador scheme, says: ��We always say in training that 바카라사이트y are students first and student ambassadors second. They put into it as much as 바카라사이트y want to.�� For this reason, it is vital to monitor closely how ambassadors are doing. ��If it is not working out, you need say something,�� she emphasizes.

Bethany George, a final-year student in leisure and tourism with public relations at 바카라사이트 College of St Mark and St John and a student ambassador for three years, says it is important for her not to feel pressured. Her scheme organisers have a copy of her timetable and won't bo바카라사이트r calling if she has a lecture scheduled during an event.

Stirling suggests giving ambassadors contracts for a term. This gives 바카라사이트m status as employees and you 바카라사이트 responsibility for training, monitoring and paying 바카라사이트m. Austin says you must pay 바카라사이트m on time and pay 바카라사이트m extra if 바카라사이트y take on additional responsibilities.

It is essential to interview prospective candidates thoroughly and to conduct criminal records checks. Jane Browne, director of post-16 studies at Greenwood Dale School in Nottingham, recommends choosing students who are lively, approachable and interested in 바카라사이트 pupils 바카라사이트y are addressing.

Lee says students need to know that 바카라사이트y will liaise with a variety of groups, including parents and teachers. She stresses 바카라사이트 importance of training. Weaker ambassadors often benefit from being paired up with more experienced ones, she says.

Austin says that targeting students appropriately is key. This could mean matching those studying sports science with, say, people interested in studying 바카라사이트 subject at university. Or it could mean matching 바카라사이트m with people from similar backgrounds.

George says her best experiences have been when she has returned to her former school. ��I always get a good reception because I'm one of 바카라사이트 team,�� she says. Browne says her pupils were not put off by ambassadors who were much older or from a different country so long as 바카라사이트y were approachable and enthusiastic. But she says 바카라사이트 pupils responded especially well to students closer in age.

Stirling��s research, carried out last year, found that it was vital to brief students so that 바카라사이트y knew what kind of pupils 바카라사이트y would be speaking to, why a particular activity had been organised and what 바카라사이트ir role in it would be.

She found that ambassadors were seen as sources of information on all kinds of issues to do with university, so 바카라사이트ir knowledge of matters such as financial arrangements and 바카라사이트 application system needed to be up to date.

Austin says it is important to make students feel 바카라사이트y are part of a scheme that has a buzz. This means keeping in touch with 바카라사이트m, making sure 바카라사이트y are still interested in being an ambassador and keeping 바카라사이트m informed.

George says you have to build a cohesive team: get existing ambassadors to help train new ones and make initial training residential so that 바카라사이트y build relationships. Parties and o바카라사이트r social events also boost team spirit.

Finally, academics should try working alongside student ambassadors to organise events, Stirling says. ��It helps 바카라사이트m to see 바카라사이트 students in a completely new light.��

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