A group of university students have received awards in recognition of their extra-curricular activities.
Over 40 students at the University of Bath have been presented with The Bath Award which recognises achievements made alongside their studies, including charity work, local volunteering and work experience.
The Bath Award, which is managed by the Students’ Union on behalf of the University, was presented at the Development & Achievement Awards which commend students who have not only successfully studied for their degree, but have also contributed to the wider community.
In addition to recognising student achievement, the awards evening included presentations to Student Trainers for successfully delivering quality skills training sessions to their peers.
To receive The Bath Award, students are required to complete at least 300 hours of extra-curricular activities and meet standards in a set of key skills areas: teamwork, leadership, communication, commercial awareness and problem-solving.
Over 40 students received The Bath Award this year
Isabelle Hubbard, a psychology student, received the Bath Award in recognition of her volunteering efforts at Bath’s Royal United Hospital.
Isabelle’s volunteering involved weekly visits to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. In her role as a hospital befriender, Isabelle served as a listening ear and offered comfort to distressed and confused individuals.
She said: “I am very proud to have received The Bath Award. Through my befriending role, I feel I have learnt a great deal about the challenges of communicating in a variety of contexts and hope that I have brought some comfort to those individuals. It was an emotionally demanding but highly rewarding experience.”
Speaking at the award ceremony, Professor Bernie Morley, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Learning & Teaching), said: “University education is extremely important, however in these difficult economic times just getting a good degree is no longer enough. Employers are looking for more in what is a very competitive job market.
“The Bath Award encapsulates exactly the sort of additional experiences that employers are looking for: communication skills, leadership and project management. It is an ideal addition to the armoury of any prospective job candidate.
“At the University of Bath we aim to produce well-rounded graduates and the Bath Award is an important component in that process.”
Significant funding for this award has been kindly provided by Santander through their Santander Universities Global Division.
Santander Universities Relationship Manager, Nick Butler, who helped present the awards said: “At Santander we have been supporting The Bath Award for four years and every year we are more convinced of how important it is for students to participate in extra-curricular activities that will add value to their CVs.
“In the current economic environment good academic results are important but not enough. The Bath Awards provide recognition to all participants which will enhance their chances of entering the job market.”