The student ambassador role involves working with groups of under-represented learners to nurture their aspirations and aid their progression into higher education.

You will help the team deliver the Access and Outreach Programme to a variety of learners to help improve access into Higher Education. As a role model, you will assist and lead on activities to provide real life student experiences to support the various transition stages that learners face throughout their educational trajectory.

Hear from last year’s Student Ambassadors to find out why they applied for the role, what they did, and how they found it.

The Community Ambassador is a pilot project starting this year based at the Luton campus only. The role involves working with groups of under-represented learners across the Bedfordshire community, with the aim of aiding their progression into higher education and nurturing their aspirations.   

Community Ambassadors will be based in schools, colleges, third sector charities, and community groups, helping the Access and Outreach team deliver to a variety of key projects that are focused on raising attainment and supporting achievement, to improve access into Higher Education.  

If you are thinking about becoming a community ambassador, the role will help you in building valuable experience of working with community groups and young people, whilst providing regular employment during your studies. You will assist and lead on activities to provide real life student experiences to support the various transition stages that learners face throughout their educational trajectory.

• Work with learners from all age groups from primary to undergraduate students
• Adhere to child protection and safeguarding protocols
• Attend all training sessions (where applicable) to the role
• Lead on specific workshops virtually, with support from the core team.
• Deliver bespoke mentoring sessions to enhance students understanding of career options and university life
• Develop new skills and improve employability

We will provide you with training and pay you for your time. It is compulsory for all and includes safeguarding. You must be available for the training run by the Widening participation Team.

Essential

• Currently studying at the University of Bedfordshire
• Excellent time keeping skills
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to reflect and communicate a range of experiences
• Ability to liaise with a wide range of people from various backgrounds and roles
• Ability to be creative and adapt activities to suit learners
• Accurate record keeping
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Have a clear understanding of the various UK education routes
• Understand the benefits of Higher Education
• Interest in working with (young) people or in educational institutions
• A flexible approach to work
• A positive approach when dealing with sensitive situations
• Reliable
• Good time management skills
• Behave professionally
• Act as a role model to help motivate learners to participate in activities
• Have no spent or current criminal convictions relating to children or vulnerable adults (DBS check will be completed if successful in post)

Desirable

• Good computer skills and experience using virtual platforms to deliver sessions
• Ability to speak other languages
• Awareness of the various challenges learners face during their different transition stages in school, college and university
• Awareness of how disability, age, ethnicity and other equality issues might affect students/learners
• Understand the range of support services available at university
• Worked/volunteered in an educational setting or with young people
• Experience of teaching, training, coaching or mentoring
• Experience of working with people from a variety of backgrounds e.g. age, race, social and cultural backgrounds