The Saint
St Andrews award launched
Charlotte Beauclerk
This year marks the launch of the Saint Andrews Award, an award designed to reward students for the extra-curricular and work-related activities completed whilst studying for their degree.
Students in their first year at the University of St Andrews will be the first year to tackle the award, which will then be mentioned on their degree transcript.
The award requires students to involve themselves in four specific areas; contributing to university life, giving to others, working for your future and extending your horizons.
Matthew Guest, Director of Student Development and Activities, is keen to extend knowledge of the award. He said, it is important for a university with one of the top student experiences to allow students to earn formal recognition for their extra-curricular activities.
We are keen to attract all kinds of students, and the University's 101 societies as well as the Students Association offer a very wide range of opportunities which qualify for the criteria. We are currently designing fair schemes for evaluating the activities, and are confident that this award will be an added asset on the degree transcript.
The Careers Centre held a launch event last week, during which the structure of the award was explained, and several speakers told of ambitious personal projects they successfully undertook.
Jamie Andrew, the first speaker, explained how he sustained serious disabilities following a mountaineering trip, but had overcome this to resume taking part in extreme sports and establish a career and happy family life.
Gillian Gamble, a second-year student, then related her involvement with several charities and encouraged students to seek the extensive support available at the University to do similar work.
Emma Sutton, a first year student of Art History, Social Anthropology and Film Studies, attended the launch event and was enthusiastic about the opportunities offered by the award.
She said, Im already involved in several activities at the University but Im very keen to do more to help the local community. I completed the Duke of Edinburgh award at school, so I like the idea of following specific criteria to obtain an award which will help me in the future.
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