Call for UCL students to support research project on UCL developments in East London

1 December 2016

The Bartlett and UCL Urban Laboratory are seeking applications from twelve students from across UCL to collaborate in a research project exploring students' experience of the Bloomsbury campus, and developing recommendations for new UCL developments in the east of London - UCL East and Here East.

UCL East has been billed "as a model for the university campus of the future". To inform this ideal, this student-led project will investigate perceptions of and interactions with the Bloomsbury campus and surrounding environs, by using a range of interdisciplinary research questions developed in collaboration with staff and lead students. These could touch upon spatial analysis, transport planning, local business consultation, and inclusive design, amongst other topics. Utilising comparative skills, recommendations that could aid the student experience at the two new East London sites will be drawn up. The output of the research will be circulated widely to key stakeholders in the development process.

Funding for the project comes from UCL ChangeMakers and The Bartlett, Faculty of the Built Environment. The project is led by Rebecca Payne (Student Experience Officer, The Bartlett) and Jordan Rowe (Centre Manager, UCL Urban Laboratory).

A separate call has been issued for student project leads, open to postgraduates in The Bartlett (access here).

What will I do?

In partnership with two lead students, eleven support students, and members of UCL staff, you will work in a team to conduct the above research.
You will commit to a provisional schedule of weekly meetings with participants of the project, occasional meetings with staff, and site visits to UCL East and Here East between January and March 2017.

What's the benefit?

You will be paid £50 for participating in the research.
You will collaborate with staff and students across UCL and external organisations, and acquire skills in teamwork and project management.
You will gain critical interdisciplinary and comparative skills and methodologies through workshops and site visits with the trans-disciplinary, cross-faculty UCL Urban Laboratory.
You will have contributed to a print report with the potential to influence future university development decisions, both in the context of UCL, but also referred to further afield.
You will receive certification of your involvement from UCL ChangeMakers and the opportunity to present your research in front of different audiences.

Who should apply?

To apply, you must be a current student at UCL. You can be from any faculty, department or programme, at undergraduate, postgraduate taught or postgraduate research level.
You should be confident in presenting your work and collaborating with a team of peers.
You should have an interest in urban regeneration, student experience, and the relationship between universities and their local communities.

How do I apply?

Send a CV, and a paragraph outlining your interest in the project and why you feel you would be a suitable participant. Ensure that your CV contains information on your current department, course title, and period of study.

Send to Rebecca Payne bartlettstudentexp@ucl.ac.uk by 6pm on Wednesday 21 December 2016.

Please note that we will need to see your passport in order for you to receive the £50 Changemakers fund.

The first project meeting will take place at 16.00 - 18.00 on Wednesday 18 January. Please ensure you keep this date free.

Expected timeframe

18 January	Initial roundtable discussion to produce preliminary research questions.
January - March	Research conducted, with regular workshops and site visits.
Mid-March	First research output produced by all participants, e.g. interim briefing, executive summary of initial recommendations, research poster (to be decided).
April	Two lead students compile report, in liaison with staff and input from support students.
Start of term 3 (April/May)	Presentation of report and recommendations in front of key stakeholders, attended by all participants.

Further links