LITE Research Placements
This year’s internships are partially delivered through the University’s role in the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education. This aims to address under-representation in postgraduate research study with a focus on UK Black, Asian and minority ethnic students and, as such, three projects are ringfenced for UK Black, Asian and minority ethnic students.
About the placements
Each student researcher will work with a supervisor and possibly a wider research team. Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (LITE) will provide support and guidance in pedagogic research and act as a community for the successful student researchers on the programme.
Starting after teaching, exams and assessments are over, projects will be delivered over a minimum of 6 weeks, but the 210 hours could be carried out part-time. The salary for the role is £20,948 per annum, pro rata (Grade 3, £11.51/hr).
Explore previous Student Research Experience Placements.
Who should apply
Any student, registered on a UG or PGT programme 2023/24, who is interested in researching these areas and has not previously completed a placement in this scheme should apply. Some research experience would be advantageous, but only that which you have gained during the course of your studies is expected. Candidates who can bring personal perspectives from currently under-represented groups at the University (including, but not limited to people who experience racism, mature, care leaver, Access to Leeds and Plus Programme students) are particularly welcome for their contribution to delivering the Access and Student Success Strategy.
As the placements are partially funded by the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Doctoral Education (YCEDE), we welcome applications from students studying at YCEDE partner universities as well as from students studying at the University of Leeds. The partner universities are: the University of Bradford, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield and the University of York. YCEDE aims to address under-representation in postgraduate research study with a focus on UK Black, Asian and minority ethnic students, we particularly welcome applications from students in this group.
We are keen to hear from people who might not usually take these opportunities, and are offering anyone who is interested the chance to discuss the application process with the LITE research support team prior to applying.
We particularly encourage applicants who can bring personal experience of studying at Higher Education as a student from an under-represented group and/or have demonstrable understanding and awareness of the student success agenda and the challenges faced by under-represented groups.
Support in completing your application
We want to help and support students interested in applying for a student researcher role to submit the best application possible. We are offering the following opportunities to help you complete your application:
- Finding out about the research placements – hybrid information session. We will cover the structure of the scheme and how to apply for a role. You will also have the opportunity to hear from a student who completed a research placement last summer and ask questions about the placement scheme. The briefing will be recorded and the recording made available online if you are not able to make the scheduled time. Monday 12th February 12:00 - 13:00 on campus and online - you can watch a recording of the briefing here
- Applying for a student research experience placement (for University of Leeds students only) - This interactive webinar will be delivered by the Careers Service and will share guidance and top tips on how to articulate your skills and experiences into the ‘essential criteria’ section of the application form. This session is open to all University of Leeds students interested in applying for the research experience opportunities. Tuesday 20th February 14:00-15:00. You can watch a recording of the webinar here
- Help with your application (for University of Leeds students only) - The Careers Service is offering opportunities for one-to-one appointments to discuss your application. Please have a draft of your application complete before this session as you will be able to discuss specific aspects of your application and to get feedback for improvement before submission. Availability for these one-to-one appointments will be limited. Weeks commencing 26th February and 4th March. Book an appointment here.
- One-to-one meetings - if you are unable to attend any of the sessions listed, or if you are a student from a university other than Leeds and would like to discuss the placements and your application we would be happy to chat to you - please email LITE@leeds.ac.uk to arrange a meeting with someone from the LITE team.
How to apply
Read the project details below and select the one you are interested in. (If you would like the details of the projects as a Word document please contact LITE@leeds.ac.uk).
- Sign up for the support sessions
- For each of the essential criteria provide evidence that demonstrates you have that skill or quality. Be detailed in your answer, provide the context of the example, what your role was, what you did, and what the outcome was and relate to the criteria to show why it is relevant. These answers can be quite detailed.
- Bring all your answers together on a Word document so that you have a record of what you have written in your application. You will need to refer back to this if you are shortlisted for an interview.
- Submit your application using the online form (see 'Apply Here' below)
- You can apply for up to three different projects.
*Please note that if you have previously completed a placement on this scheme, you are not eligible to apply again but we would encourage you to seek opportunities available on other research schemes at the University of Leeds.
Video applications are also being accepted, so if you find it easier to explain your strengths and suitability verbally, then please consider sending us a video telling us about yourself. To submit a video application you will need to send your video to LITE@leeds.ac.uk, indicating what project you would like to be considered for.
The Careers Centre can also offer support in helping you with your application.
Applications open at 09:00 am on Monday 5th February and close at 09:00 am on Monday 11th March.
Applications have now closed for the 2024 placements.
Project Details
These projects are open to applicants who are students at the University of Leeds. If you are a student at the University of Bradford, Sheffield Hallam, Sheffield or York, please see our other research placement scheme.
1. Investigating the impact of scholarship research by professional service staff
This project is open for applications from students at the University of Leeds only
Supervised by Ben Witz
This project should be completed as a hybrid project - a mixture of on-campus and online work.
Overview of the project
Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence (LITE) provides the time and money for staff throughout the university to undertake teaching and learning-focused research that aims to benefit students' experiences and learning. These staff are known as LITE fellows. Last year, a student researcher investigated the impact of this research for 4 academic staff. We want to further understand the impact this research can have when carried out by professional service staff.
This project aims to investigate the benefits of, and outcomes from, this research for students, LITE fellows and the university. You will design questions and interview former professional service LITE fellows to investigate their experiences of undertaking the research and discuss the beneficial outcomes that resulted from their research. Using these interviews, you will analyse the data to draw out key findings and common themes. You will then summarise the findings in a creative output that can be used to showcase the impacts of LITE fellowships for students, fellows and the university.
Nature of the tasks
- Research the impacts of similar schemes and formulate interview questions
- Interview former professional service LITE Fellows to understand their experiences of undertaking their teaching and learning research project
- Analyse the interview data to identify common themes from the interviews
- Produce output to showcase the main findings in a creative format to be agreed upon between the supervisor and the successful candidate.
Developmental benefits
- Experience of working with a supervisor to undertake a research project
- Experience undertaking qualitative research
- Experience undertaking research interviews
- Analytical experience
- Evidence of a creative research output
Essential criteria
- An interest in discovering the impact of innovations in teaching and learning.
- An interest in qualitative research
- Good communication and time management skills
- An interest in producing a creative research output (e.g. a blog, infographic, video etc.)
- An ability to take initiative to develop ideas and put them into practice
2. Educational Gain: The value of the University of Leeds Education, a student perspective.
This project is open for applications from students at the University of Leeds only
Supervised by Gabriel Cavalli
Overview of the project
Measuring learning gain in English universities was set as a priority by the government as a means to evaluate the value of education at different universities. This was followed by a series of funded projects across the Higher Education sector to enable research aimed at evaluating proposals for ways of measuring learning gain. The results demonstrated that there is not a single way to measure learning gain, which can be used nationally and across all subjects, robustly. Instead, current policy is for universities to device their own ways, which require submission in the TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework, which evaluates the quality of education in UK universities). The terminology has now evolved within the TEF to "educational gain", instead of "learning gain".
While the original projects did not provide a conclusive proposal for a single measurement of educational gain at national level, their evaluation gave insight on how important it is to evaluate educational gain, and a series of recommendations. This REP project aims to conduct a small-scale literature review of learning gain measurements beyond the UK sector, which can be used to produce student recommendations on how to measure educational gain at the University of Leeds. The latter is expected to take place through a focused consultation with the wider student community at the University of Leeds. Answers to some of the following questions would be sought: "What is the value of student education at the University of Leeds?", "What are the examples of student learning experiences at Leeds, which underpin different aspects of educational gain?", "How much/little are students at Leeds (made) aware of their own learning in different aspects of educational gain?", "To what extent do these issues explicitly impact student responses on the NSS?", "To what extent do these issues explicitly impact student engagement?".
Nature of the tasks
There will be an initial work on a literature review, while the REP holder and the supervisory team support the REP holder on designing a plan to conduct a focused consultation towards answering the main research questions proposed. Subsequently, the REP holder will conduct the focused consultation and propose the recommendations. There is flexibility on how the recommendations are provided. While, at least a concise written report is expected, audio-visual formats to disseminate the findings are encouraged. We would like to encourage the REP holder to be creative in this area.
Developmental benefits
The REP holder will develop research skills in the field of education, but more widely applicable, contribute to shaping Leeds strategy in measuring Educational Gain. This is an emerging field in HE, and it will provide the REP holder with a strong narrative for future work or postgraduate research, at Leeds or elsewhere.
Essential criteria
- Curiosity and an interest in learning
- Openness (saying "I don't know, can you help?" is OK!)
- Responsiveness
- Initiative
- An interest and passion for improving student education at Leeds