Student-led, Employer-focused Extra-curricular Activity Proposal– Guidelines
Groups of students from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) departments at
Loughborough University are invited to submit a proposal for a student-led, employer-focused extra-
curricular activity.
Call for proposals opens: 06 October 2010
Closing date for proposals: 03 November 2010
Decision made: 01 December 2010
Submit to engCETL: Glynis Perkin G.Perkin@lboro.ac.uk
Please read these guidelines, complete a draft outline of your idea in the form below and send to
Glynis Perkin in the engCETL via email as soon as possible. Glynis will then review your submission
and arrange with you to talk through your proposal and finalise the paperwork. All applications
completed by the above deadline will be put to the project panel of employers, academics,
professional bodies and a student representative for formal review.
Guidelines – who can apply?
Applications are invited from any group of students, or representatives of these students, in the
following STEM departments:
Aeronautical & Automotive Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil & Building Engineering
Department of Materials
Design & Technology
Electronic & Electrical Engineering
Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Computer Science
What type of activity are we looking for?
The aim of this project is to enhance further the quality of STEM education at Loughborough
University through the stimulation of relevant extra-curricular student-led activity, therefore developing
the employability skills of future science and engineering employees.
This call for projects is hoping to inspire students to explore, develop and undertake relevant extra-
curricular activities, which will enable them to gain additional skills and experience that in turn lead to
them becoming the strong, diverse and sustainable engineers and scientists required for the 21st
Century. Successful proposals will be actively supported and encouraged by academics, senior
managers, employers and professional bodies.
Be inspired by, but in no way feel limited to, the ideas given at
http://www.engcetl.ac.uk/students/employerfocused/.
In most circumstances, it will be expected that activities funded by this call will commence during
December/ January of the 2010-2011 academic year, be supported for the complete year and aim to
become an established group for the foreseeable future. Successful proposals will be allocated a
maximum of £1,000.
All successful projects will need to operate through, or work closely with, the Umbrella Society of the
Student Union. The lead proposer of successful projects will join the committee of this society. The
Student-led, employer-focused, extra-curricular activity 1
lead proposer of each successful project will be responsible for producing an interim report of 500
st th
words (minimum) by 1 March 2011 and a final report of 1500 words (minimum) by 20 May 2011.
There may be opportunity for successful project holders to present their work at a conference.
All outcomes from successful proposals will be evaluated, case studies written and reports produced
(via engCETL staff), with support from the activity proposers, as appropriate.
Criteria used for assessing proposals
Assessment of the proposals will be carried out by the project panel of employers, academics,
professional bodies and a student representative. The following criteria will be used for assessing
proposals:
Clearly defined activities and deliverables, which are relevant to the overall aims of this project.
Experience gained by students through this activity
Employability skills developed by students through this activity
Multi-disciplinary nature (across STEM subjects) of this activity
Innovative nature of this activity
Impact on Loughborough students studying STEM subjects
Use of funds available
Feasibility of the timetable
Sustainability potential of activity
Student-led, employer-focused, extra-curricular activity 2
Student-led, Employer-focused Extra-curricular Activity Proposal
– Submission Form
Please complete this form as far as possible, but remember that it will be finalised following a meeting
with Glynis Perkin – so do not worry about anything you are unsure of at this stage.
Activity Title Provide a brief title here
Lead Proposer Name the person who will act as the key contact for the group
Email
Year of study
Degree being studied
Department
Key group members List anyone else who has a key role in developing this idea and
indicate departments if different from the key contact. Projects that
include/will include students from more than one STEM department
will be viewed favourably but is not essential
Expected membership How many people do you expect to join your group? Try to
of the group substantiate any estimated numbers
Brief outline of Keep this brief – it can be discussed and finalised with Sarah – about
proposed activity 300 words max. What do you intend to do? How will you do it? Who
will it impact and how? Has it been done before at Loughborough?
Key dates Briefly include details of any key dates that are relevant for your
activity
Benefits of this activity What additional employability skills and experience do you expect
to the students involved students to gain from this activity?
Support required How will you benefit from support from engCETL staff, employers,
academics and professional bodies? Detail any support you already
have (if applicable).
How the funding will be A brief outline of how you anticipate the funding will help to get the
used and how you will proposed activity off the ground and, if relevant, how it will be used in
sustain the activities the running of the activity. If further funds are required either now or in
the future, what plans do you have to raise this money? How will you
try to ensure the sustainability of your planned activities?
Please send completed form to Glynis Perkin – g.perkin@lboro.ac.uk as soon as possible.
Glynis will then be in touch to arrange a meeting to discuss your idea and finalise your
submission.
Student-led, employer-focused, extra-curricular activity 3