Student Ambassador and Mentor Scheme

About the Scheme

The Student Recruitment and Outreach (SRO) team at Aston University helps prospective students, parents, teachers, and careers advisers find out information about Aston University and higher education. We organise many different events throughout the year and employ student ambassadors to ensure these events run smoothly.

Student Ambassadors

As a Student Ambassador, you will be working with young people, usually between the ages of 14 and 19. Your aim will be to inspire and encourage prospective students to consider higher education and Aston University in particular.

The role is varied and you can take part in a range of different activities as part of the scheme.

Core duties will include:

Showing prospective students and their parents around the campus on organised tours
Helping out at events such as Open Days, virtual events, interviews, and Applicant Visit Days (for offer holders)
Helping the SRO team run school visits on campus

Some Student Ambassadors may also visit schools to give presentations and help run workshops. Others may attend higher education exhibitions and careers fairs as a representative of Aston University. Some ambassadors will also develop further skills as mentors, working with school students to raise their attainment and build aspirations for the future.

As an ambassador, you are able to choose the type of work that you wish to take part in, at a time that is convenient for you.

Full training will be given.

If you have any queries that are not answered on this page, please email the Ambassadors team.

Benefits for Ambassadors

There are plenty of opportunities to develop different skills and the scheme is well recognised by many employers.

Benefits include:

Full training once selected
Payment of £11.11 per hour
Flexible working hours to fit in with your studies
Build up your network and gain employment experience – great for CV
Most events are on campus
Help to promote Aston University and higher education
Meet other Student Ambassadors and make new friends
Gain experience in working with young people

You will receive full training prior to working as a Student Ambassador. If you are successful and have worked a number of shifts for us, you will receive a certificate at the end of the academic year stating that you have taken part in the scheme.

The current rate of pay is £11.11 per hour.

Work available and payment

Student Ambassadors have the opportunity to assist in a number of activities, including but not limited to:

Mentoring local secondary school pupils
Careers and Higher Education fairs
Campus tours and Open Days
School visits on-campus and off-campus
Virtual events
Interviews
Administrative work
Other jobs may also be available as required by the SRO team, such as photo shoots or event support

How much do I get paid?

Student ambassadors receive £11.11 per hour (inclusive of holiday pay).

How many hours do I have to work?

Work opportunities are available throughout the year.

The number of hours that you work and the type of work that you do is flexible. Jobs are advertised in advance so you can plan your time effectively. You will be on a zero-hour contract so there is no obligation for you to work shifts, however, we ask that you are available to work at least once over a 3-month period.

Job description and Person specification

Job Description

Job purpose

The Admissions, Recruitment, and Outreach department comprises four front-facing dynamic teams whose responsibilities are to meet recruitment and conversion targets as well as wider government set targets. The department has strong links with key external stakeholders, as well as fruitful relationships with all departments across the University. The team has a high-performance culture and would welcome applications from forward-thinking, innovative, and driven applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to Aston University’s ethos and values.

The Student Recruitment and Outreach (SRO) team organises and delivers a wide range of events to encourage prospective students between the ages of 14-19 to progress to higher education. As a Student Ambassador, you will support the SRO team in delivering on- and off-campus recruitment and conversion activities.

This role is a development opportunity that will allow current students to develop a range of transferable skills. We would like to encourage all first-year undergraduate students who are passionate about developing themselves to apply regardless of previous experience.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

Supporting the Student Recruitment and Outreach team
Supervise and lead groups of participants and support their engagement in workshops, presentations, discussions, and project work, both on and off campus
Deliver highly informative and engaging talks, workshops and campus tours
Attend HE fairs on and off-site
Act as a positive role model for Aston University
Ensure young people are safe at all times, referring any concerns to a member of the SRO team quickly and responsibly
Support the coordination and delivery of events, including overseeing participant activities, registration, meeting, and greeting visitors
Provide accurate information, advice, and guidance to a variety of stakeholders, including students, teachers, and parents
Offer occasional administrative support to the SRO team, including data entry
Engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities
Undertake all work in line with Aston University policies, procedures, and regulations including promoting equality of opportunity and supporting diversity and inclusion
Fulfill any other duties commensurate with the grade and purpose of the role

Additional Responsibilities

In addition to the main responsibilities listed, you may also have the opportunity to complete further training and development to allow you to undergo additional work opportunities. These will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, and can include, but aren’t limited to:

Visit schools and colleges to represent Aston University at higher education fairs to give presentations and offer information, advice, and guidance about Aston University, student life, the university application process, and student finance
Supervise participants during breaks, off-site activities, evening activities, and overnight stays in Aston University halls of residence
Support peer-to-peer academic tutoring and mentoring

Person Specification

	Essential Criteria	Method of assessment
Education and qualifications	Current first-year undergraduate student at Aston University (essential)	Application form
Experience and knowledge	Good knowledge of Aston University and its student offering (essential) A basic understanding of the aims and objectives of widening participation (essential) Experience of working with children or young people, through paid or voluntary work (desirable) Experience of facilitating group workshops and/or mentoring (desirable) Awareness of the current process of applying to higher education, including student finance (essential)	Application form, interview Application form, interview Application form, interview Application form, interview Application form, interview
Aptitude and skills	Excellent oral and written communication skills (essential) Ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders including, but not limited to, young people from diverse backgrounds, parents, teachers, and University staff (essential) Ability to work individually and as part of a team (essential) Ability to take and give instructions effectively (essential) Ability to take initiative and resolve problems when needed (essential) Ability to be a positive and professional role model for Aston University (essential)	Application form, interview Application form, interview Application form, interview Application form, interview Application form, interview Application form, interview
Attributes	Ability to reflect on own performance and improve, and to respond well to constructive feedback (essential) Reliable, punctual, organised, and conscientious (essential) Enthusiastic about the benefits of higher education and willing to communicate these benefits to young people (essential)	Application form, interview Application form, interview Application form, interview

How to apply

All applicants to the Student Ambassador and Mentor Scheme must be current students at Aston University.

The application process usually consists of an online written application form followed by an assessment centre if you are shortlisted. If successful, you will be able to start work as a Student Ambassador pending the completion of mandatory training and the successful outcome of a Right to Work (RTW) check.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23.

Right-to-work checks

According to the UK Border Agency legislation, Aston University is required to record information about its employees and check certain original documents (this is known as a Right to Work check). We must check the documents of all students who will be working for us before they start work.

We will need to see your original (i.e. not a photocopy) proof of ID documents regardless of your nationality.

Please note that all documentation must be in-date. Some key points to consider:

UK nationals

A valid, in-date passport is an acceptable form of identification.

If you do not have a valid passport you can bring in your National Insurance card and full-length Birth Certificate (the full-length UK Birth Certificate will have at least one parent's name on it). Please note that shorter-length Birth Certificates cannot be accepted.

A UK Driver’s Licence is not an acceptable form of identification.

EU/EEA nationals

A valid, in-date passport or National Identity Card is an acceptable form of identification.

Croatian nationals should provide a valid purple registration certificate or contact HR for further information (HR_helpdesk@aston.ac.uk)

International (Non-UK or EU/EEA)

We will need to see your in-date passport and your current visa/work permit.

The University has the right to refuse employment if you are unable to provide satisfactory documentation. Further information can be found on the UK Border Agency website

For further clarification on the University’s employment and immigration requirements, please contact Human Resources.

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