Student Ambassador Update - April 2023

Recruitment

As you are already aware recruitment for a new cohort of Student Ambassadors is open.

Please forward the recruitment link to your fellow students.

Thank you for helping us share this.

Student Ambassador Activity 

Student Ambassadors – Nottingham Trent University

The Student Ambassadors set up a British Psychological Society at NTU with the Student Union. Here they provide careers related information and opportunities which are available in the field. They hosted an event with Paul Britton as the speaker. This sparked a lot of student interest, and they had a great turnout. Many students were also interested in becoming a BPS Student Ambassador and learning more about the BPS.

Hannah Lillis, Sienna Wellington and Emma Strong – University of Leeds 

The Student Ambassadors have organised and hosted an array of careers talks. The event they held included a range of respected psychologists in their fields. Students were also able to ask questions in relation to opportunities and specific roles they were interested in. 

Inas Adam – University of Sheffield

Inas organised a casual career chat with undergraduate and postgraduate psychology students. Delivered the BPS careers resources and presentation, here volunteer speakers shared their experiences of working in different industries. The informal career event was successful, students also networked after the event. Collaborative approach was taken with the Head of Student Voice to start a monthly newsletter for Psychology students which will showcase opportunities available through the BPS. 

Kelvin Connolly – Open University

Kelvin has promoted many careers events on their online community and focused on revision and exam strategies with a mixture of other events. Also had guest speakers from the open university. Had a main focus on student wellbeing, with exam tips and advice to reduce anxiety and stress levels. Kelvin has also collaborated with the careers and employability team to share careers resources with the Psychology student cohort which will be shared in the BPS events and information forum thread at the Open University. 

Student Ambassadors – University of Highlands and Islands 

Sam and Nicola attended the Scottish Undergraduate Conference at University of Dundee. Organised a display with BPS careers resources to share information. They also promoted the BPS Student Membership and Natalie from our Careers Team delivered a talk during lunchtime. Feedback from students was well received.

Carolina Nyakila and Hanaa Khan – Brunel University London

Hanaa and Carolina have been conducting online meetings with Brunel Psychology Society leads and a student course representative. Currently in the process of brainstorming possibilities for an end of year event.  

Updates from the Careers Team: 

Visits

We visited Scotland, specifically University of Striling, The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University. It was lovely meeting with Careers and Psychology staff to present our Careers Strategy. We received some great feedback in relation to the areas we would like to develop. Such as the BPS Careers Webpages, our Psychology Careers Festival which will be held in November and how we are consulting data to inform our strategy. We are also looking forward to collaborating with the members of staff in future. 

Message from the BPS Academic Publications Team 

You are invited to participate in a forthcoming student survey that will feed directly into the BPS's books publication strategy.  

The BPS are exploring a new series of study skills and support books for Psychology undergraduate students. We want to hear from you about which book topics you would find most beneficial for your learning and development in Psychology, both academically and personally. We are currently considering different topic areas such as:  

• Learning and Study guides ('How to' guides)  
• Self-development and improvement  
• Career guidance and advancement 

Your feedback will inform what type of books the BPS should consider publishing for Psychology undergraduate students.  

The survey is due for release in early May and will be shared via MS Teams – watch this space! 

Job Opportunities

PAPYRUS – UK charity of prevention to young suicide has the following vacancies available. More information can be found via Papyrus Current Vacancies Webpage. 

• HLUK Adviser – Warrington 
• HLUK Adviser – Warrington (FTC Mat Leave Cover) 
• Volunteer Coordinator – Derry/Londonderry 
• Grants & Trusts Fundraising Officer 
• Fundraising & Engagement Assistant 

The Psychology of Friendship Competition

Are you fascinated by the importance of friendships for our childhood development, and how friendship grows and changes with us as we move through different stages of life? Do you have a unique perspective on the Psychology underlying friendship? We want to hear from you! To mark friendship awareness day this year, we're calling on all students with an interest in psychology to submit articles on "The Psychology of Friendship" for the Psych-Talk August 2023 issue.  

This is your chance to share insights, challenge conventional thinking and spark meaningful conversations about friendship. Your article can delve into the importance of friendship for our childhood development, how animals can offer us companionship, or explore the latest research in the field – it's totally up to you! So, don't hesitate – put your pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and submit your article before the 6th of June 2023 to get a chance to be one of 3 articles featured in our next issue. 

Deadline: 06 June 2023 

Send Submissions to: [email protected].

Competition voucher prizes: 

1st place: £100 

2nd place: £75 

3rd place: £50 

Further article submission information can be found at www.bps.org.uk/publications/psych-talk.

Events for you to promote within your university:

Is Counselling Psychology for me?

• 15 May 18:00-19:30
• Online 
• Find out more about this event 

Are you a final year psychology student or a recent graduate who might be interested in considering a career in counselling psychology? This is a free event which has been set up to inform and encourage aspiring counselling psychology applicants who identify as belonging to an underrepresented group who are interested in a career in counselling psychology.

Future of Counselling Psychology – training standards

• 17 May 10:00-12:00
• Online 
• Register for this event 

The Division is hosting a series of discussions with representatives from the Training Committees and BPS Workforce persons. The discussion will inform the standards of our training and how we represent ourselves as a workforce for mental health and wellbeing. Following a series of closures of Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology courses, the Division as well as members have been trying to understand the reasons for this.

Connecting communities through psychology and social changes

• 16 June 09:00-18:00
• Online 
• Find out more about this event

You are invited to the BPS Welsh Branch 2023 Annual Conference which will be held on Saturday 10 June 2023 at the University of Wales Trinity St David, Swansea Campus.

The conference aims to explore community and build a network of connected communities through psychology and practice within the psychological framework in Wales, across specialisms, divisions and communities. If you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student or early career psychologist ready to share your ideas with your peers, this is an excellent opportunity!

Theme for May – Revision advice and tips 

We know how challenging it can be preparing for exams. Please ensure to take regular break and bear in mind that what works for someone else may not work for you. Take some time out to figure how you learn and retain information. The BPS website has some great tips related to exam season; they are pretty detailed but definitely worth a read.

Access our exam season tips here.

Drop In Sessions 

Due to exam season fast approaching we will not have a drop-in session. The next drop-in session will be the celebration session which will be held in July. We would encourage you to attend that. Monthly drop-in sessions will then resume from September. 

Student Newsletter/The Psych-Talk Magazine

As a reminder, we love to share your work across our communication channels. If you have carried out an activity within your student ambassador role that you are particularly proud of, please send over a short description of the type of activities you have been doing within your role so far, and perhaps some accompanying photos, to [email protected].