Placements offering teaching assistant experience for undergraduates into schools have become increasingly recognised as an important mechanism encouraging wider participation in further and higher education particularly in strategically important science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) discplines. At the same time those participating benefit from exposure to the environment of primary and secondary education enhancing their soft skills. There are an increasing number of schemes delivered under a number of banners with a variety of stakeholders.
The Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme is perhaps the most ambitious of these. It provides university departments with a framework around which they can establish a credit-bearing module for students to work with teachers in local schools. The scheme is targeted at students studying science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM). The aims of the scheme are to:
- Provide key transferable skills to undergraduates which will be invaluable after graduation;
- Provide teaching experience that encourages undergraduates to consider a career in teaching;
- Supply role models for pupils;
- Give support to teachers; and
- Encourage a new generation of scientists engineers and mathematicians.
This document reports on a pilot project to evaluate the Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme (UAS) for Geography Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES) describing the scheme and investigating the extent to which UAS activities are effective in promoting interest in the GEES disciplines in schools.
