Resources for staff
This section contains information, resources and helpful links for you to support student volunteering.
a) Graduate Attributes Model
The model contains skills and attributes based around personal and professional development planning. It can be used to map Employability skills to a volunteering experience. Some skills and attributes are mentioned below.
Personal skills
Communication: oral, written and digital
Time management
Information literacy
Numerical competence
Personal goal setting and Personal networking
Working with others
Think strategically
Problem analysis and solving
b) Organisations offering volunteering opportunities.
Resources
a) Why encourage Volunteering?
This presentation outlines the benefits of volunteering to students, it can be adapted as appropriate to your requirements.
b) CV template
This template demonstrates where volunteering can be included on a CV. Students may need a CV when applying for a volunteering opportunity. This example CV shows how a candidate has used their volunteering experience as evidence of competence on their CV.
c) Case Studies
Many Edinburgh Napier students have volunteered in the past both within the University and beyond. These examples show the diversity of experience they have had.
Information
a) The Higher Education Academy
An extract from a document on volunteering in Higher Education Institutions that discusses transitions from higher education to work. Volunteering is recommended as a useful aid.
b) Scottish Government Volunteering Strategy
The report below recommends volunteering for the benefit of the economy and community. It discusses amongst other things:
- Experiences that match the needs, aspirations and lifestyles of volunteers;
- Improved opportunities for skills and personal development through volunteering
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/25954/0025523.pdf
c) What are other universities doing?
Below is a selected list of Scottish universities where volunteering is part of the student experience. These links take you to the homepage of student volunteering where you can find out how they are organising opportunities.
• Robert Gordon University
http://www.rguunion.co.uk/volunteering/
• Heriot Watt University
http://www.hw.ac.uk/careers/volunteer.php
• Strathclyde University
http://www.strath.ac.uk/careers/graduatejobsearch/sector/voluntarycharity/
• Glasgow School of Art
http://www2.gsa.ac.uk/archivesandcollections/volunteering.html
• Glasgow University
http://src.gla.ac.uk/volunteer/
• University of Edinburgh
http://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/volunteering/
If you have any questions on any of these resources, please contact:
Elaine Macdonald, Careers Education Officer e.macdonald@napier.ac.uk