The Social Network: Using Student Societies to Develop

Communities of Learning

Who are we?

An overview of Departmental Societies

• What do you know about your own departmental society?

• Does your department have lots of International students? Do you engage with them?

• What activities for the benefit of students does your department struggle to provide?

Departmental Societies at their best.

Departmental Societies at their best.

• A month in the life of GeogSoc

Departmental Societies at their best.

• Funding in exchange for Open Day help• Promotion in the Intro Pack• Joint newsletter, celebrating academic achievement

and encouraging study abroad opportunities• Increased participation in Internship opportunities

provided by the department.

Other Societies

• EconSoc: Careers Week• Guest Lectures: PolSoc -> The Exchange• Not just departmental societies! Natural

History Society• Peer support: PTLL, PG Café Forums• Sense of community outside a physical space:

VodSoc

Encouraging Diversity and Inclusion

• A community of learning requires an initial community i.e. a society.

• Integration between home/international students. Can it be integrated into the curriculum using national societies?

• Do you introduce students to their departmental and national societies?

Supporting your societies

• Two way communication! • Give responsibilities to students.• Attend an AGM. What are student priorities for

enhancement?• AGM FORTNIGHT: 8th – 19th April

Supporting your societies

• Don’t just grant them lecture shoutouts! Use each other to promote priorities

• Societies change year on year. Create the link in April.• Don’t give up on your society after a bad year.• Help students to help themselves.

Awards! Awards! Awards!

• A big deal for societies. Celebrate their achievements!• Activities Awards

– Departmental Society of the Year– Think Global Award– Most Inclusive Society of the Year– Enterprise Award

• Academic Awards– Departmental Society of the Year– Enterprise Award– Student Experience Award

Any questions?

tom.dixon@sheffield.ac.uk richard.alderman@sheffield.ac.uk0114 222 8258 0114 222 8607