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How you can partner with students to improve their UCL experience

26 January 2022

UCL ChangeMakers helps you partner with students on a project to improve an aspect of their educational experience at UCL. We set out 5 easy steps to developing a successful project idea and securing funding to make it happen.

Three staff and students in conversation

UCL ChangeMakers supports students and staff to work in partnership on projects that improve the learning and wider student experience at UCL. Staff and students bring different but equally valuable perspectives, ideas and experiences to working as a team to address a problem, explore an idea or make improvements. Changemakers is a great opportunity to act on student feedback and ensure students can take an active role in bringing about change.

You can apply for funding of £450 or £850 by 25 February 2022 to make improvements in your department. Any staff member or student can submit a proposal, although we strongly encourage you to develop and submit your application as a team.

Projects should fit under one of our four 'Change and Innovation Themes'. This is to ensure that the projects are a good use of student and staff time and will address areas of most pressing concern. The 2021-22 project themes are:  

  • Learning communities & belonging
  • Inclusivity in the curriculum
  • Developing authentic and inclusive assessment
  • Academic development and support

Interested? Follow our five simple steps below to develop your idea and get funding for your staff-student partnership project.

1. Browse the ChangeMakers resource bank

Our bank of resources will help you develop your application, engage with our ethics process, support your whilst doing your project and then evaluate, report and disseminate it at the other end. 

2. Come to a drop-in or workshop 

The ChangeMakers team are hosting online 15 minute 1-to-1 drop-in chats throughout February to advise staff and students on project ideas or answer any questions about the ChangeMakers process. Whether it's just a spark or more fully formed, come along and get our input on how to develop your application. 

    f you already know which theme your ChangeMakers idea fits under, why not attend one of our themed workshops to to hear about ongoing work in that area, ask questions and develop your idea further.

    Sign up to attend a themed workshop:  

    • Authentic and inclusive assessment projects: Tuesday 8th Feb, 12:00-13:00
    • Inclusivity in the curriculum projects: Thursday 10th Feb, 13:00-14:00
    • Learning communities projects: Friday 11th Feb, 13:00-14:00

    3. Read our case studies from past projects

    Consult our case studies of past ChangeMakers projects for inspiration! See what you can achieve with the funding or where you might build on those who've come before you.

    4. Download an application pack with guidelines

    Download our ChangeMakers project application pack at the link below for the full application guidance and form.

    5. Finalise your idea and submit by 25 February

    Any other questions? See our ChangeMakers FAQs or reach out to the team on changemakers@ucl.ac.uk if you need any other help to finalise your idea.

    That's it! Make sure you submit your application by 25 February.  If your application is successful, funding will be transferred to your department to be spent by the 31st July 2022. 

    Good luck!

    Apply for ChangeMakers project funding