Student ambassador experience in higher education: skills and competencies for the future?

Abstract

Lifelong learning, where individuals keep modifying, renewing and updating their existing skills and competencies, is an essential requirement in the knowledge economy. Yet research has shown that employers often find it hard to hire individuals who are equipped with sufficiently rounded competencies in areas such as commitment, enthusiasm and timekeeping. The Student Ambassador (SA) scheme offers university students the opportunity to undertake relatively well-paid and flexible part-time jobs around widening participation initiatives, which, in general, focus on raising aspiration and attainment of young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds. This article examines research evidence into the SA scheme in South-East London and, in particular, focuses on analysing whether the scheme offers students an ideal part-time job opportunity while in higher education. It will be seen that SAs not only gain complex transferable skills while earning money, but also engage in something that they perceive to be a highly rewarding and valuable experience.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Gwen Evans and David Chilosi for carrying out the interviews.

Notes

1. This was the situation at the time of writing at the end of 2010—it has since become clear that most universities will apply to charge the maximum tuition fees of £9000 a year.