Student 1)
What were your reasons for doing the module?
The volunteer module helped me to balance my volunteer work and University work perfectly. I was worried I was going to be pushed for time because of over commitment, but the volunteer module allowed me time to do all I wanted.
Were your expectations of the module fulfilled?
Yes, it allowed me to document my voluntary work and use it as a part of my degree. I've now got a lot more documented evidence of the skills I learned and improved whilst on the module that I wouldn't have done if I wasn't doing this as a degree module.
What were your favourite and least favourite things about the module?
I liked how the module allowed me to focus on my voluntary work as it was a big part of my life. I didn't like a lot of the paperwork which could be tedious!
What is the main thing that you took away from the experience?
The documented skills I could now demonstrate in an interview situation.
How do you feel the module compares to others that you were enrolled on?
I think the workload is high, but it is work I would have been doing for free anyway. It's great that the University are now recognising voluntary work and taking it seriously.
What one piece of information or advice would you like to pass onto prospective volunteer module students?
Only do a project you would have been doing for free anyway. It's a lot of work and if your heart isn't in it you won't see it through.
Student 2)
What were your reasons for doing the module?
The fact that the module offered employability skills and an opportunity to explore a practical element which is lacking in an academic course such as English Literature, appealed to me. I also felt that as I spent a lot of time on the Courier it would be beneficial to me to get academic credit for the work that I was doing.
Were your expectations of the module fulfilled?
Yes and no. I enjoyed the practical element and the chance to clearly define employability skills that I already had, as well as learn new ones. However, at the time that I did the module I had to do more work than expected outside the work that I already did for the Courier. This is not to say that I wasn't expecting to put a lot of effort in to the module, rather that I had not understood the set up of the module before I began.
What were your favourite and least favourite things about the module?
Favourite: My module enabled me to make contact with various people in the Union Society which has helped me in my current job. I also enjoyed researching my topic (environmental awareness in The Courier and The Union Society).
Least Favourite: I least enjoyed compiling the log sheets (of which there were three) as I found it hard to put into words which matched the criteria of smart targets and employability skills, the activities which I had completed.
What is the main thing that you took away from the experience?
Although as an English student I have been doing this for the length of my course, this module further helped me to write for a specific audience/ write when constrained to specific guidelines, which will help me when compiling a CV. It also helped me to specifically define my employability skills such as communication and innovation.
How do you feel the module compares to others that you were enrolled on?
It was completely different to Literature modules; although they take up time it is in a completely different way, and as you are used to writing Literature essays they seem to take less effort than something you don't know how to do. It was much more practical than English modules, although with the same element of research. As I was not used to it I found the assessment criteria difficult to meet at times.
What one piece of information or advice would you like to pass onto prospective volunteer module students?
Do not underestimate how time consuming this module is. Ask for as much help as you need, the staff working on this module are very friendly. Log everything that you do to make it easier to fill out the log sheets.
