Become a Student Leader
Céim wouldn’t exist without Student Leaders.
Student Leaders are 2nd year Engineering students who have made it through 1st year and are keen to help new 1st years adjust quickly to university life and get up to speed with their coursework. Student Leaders will work in pairs to facilitate weekly Céim sessions for 1st years throughout the 2013-2014 academic year. It’s important to note that Student Leaders do not teach, they facilitate 1st years to work things out for themselves.
Research and anecdotal evidence from similar schemes at other universities show that Student Leaders often gain as much as 1st year students from taking part in Céim. Benefits of being a Céim leader can include development of key transferable skills, valuable experience to use on CVs and in interviews, an expanded social network, improved grades and much more.
Why become a Student Leader?
A. Increased employment prospects
- Receive intensive skills training
- Practice and develop valuable transferable skills, including leadership, facilitation, communication, active listening, organisational and teamwork skills
- Gain relevant work experience to enhance your CV
- Take part in a CV workshop for Student Leaders specifically focusing on articulating skills acquired via Céim, your career in Engineering and interview skills
- Be awarded the NUI Galway ALIVE Volunteering Certificate
- Be awarded a certificate by the College of Engineering & Informatics and the Students’ Union to recognise the training undertaken, commitment demonstrated and new skills learnt
- Get reduced rates on Students’ Union Life Skills courses
B. The feel-good factor
- Gain the satisfaction of helping 1st year students to develop their skills and settle into university life
- Be part of piloting an innovative new peer support model at NUI Galway
- Increase your confidence
C. Perks
- Hoodies
- Free weekly lunch vouchers
- Free locker
- Print credit
- Students’ Union Umbrellas
- Branded Folders
- Access to supplies for classes/stationery for own use
- Phone credit if contacting students by phone
D. Social/team building
- Expand your network by working closely with other students and staff members
- Christmas Party
- End-of-year party with awards ceremony
- Free tickets to events such as comedy gigs
How much time is involved in being a Student Leader?
It is expected that PASS will run for around nine weeks in semester 1 and nine weeks in semester 2 of the 2013-2014 academic year. Student Leaders spend on average 2.5 hours a week working on PASS:
- Running the PASS session (1 hour)
- Taking part in the weekly debriefing session (1 hour)
- Preparing for next week’s session (30 minutes – but this could take less time or more time depending on you)
What type of people make good Student Leaders?
All sorts! Specifically, we are looking for students who are committed, reliable and enthusiastic, who get a buzz out of helping others, who enjoy working with other people and who can think of creative ways to facilitate learning.
Training
Student Leaders take part in a 2-day training session at NUI Galway on Friday, 30 and Saturday, 31 August 2013. All Student Leaders must complete the training on these dates (most likely two cosecutive days) as a specialist facilitator from the UK will be running the training and it will only take place once. Leaders then receive ongoing training as part of the weekly debrief sessions with other Student Leaders and staff.
The two-day training is highly participative and is based on group discussion and experiential learning. Topics covered in the training include:
• Background to PASS
• Facilitation
• Communication
• Icebreakers
• Structuring Group Discussions
• Questioning Skills
• Effective Listening
• Difficult Incidents/Challenges
• Boundary setting
• Communication Cycle
• Benefits of Group Work
• Thinking and Learning
• Process – session planning, session topics, weekly meetings
• First Year Experience
• Student Supports
Apply
To apply, just complete the quick online application form.
Apply Now
Got any questions?
Contact the Students’ Union at su.ceim@nuigalway.ie or 091 494290.
