1. Briefing 2012 www.shef.ac.uk/sure/lets

2. Today’s Briefing Welcome and Introductions
Louise Woodcock, Head of Learning and Teaching Services
SURE 2012 Overview
Louise Woodcock and Amy Jeffries (SURE Co-ordinator, LeTS)
SURE – An academic supervisor’s perspective
Professor Tammy Hervey (School of Law)
SURE - A student’s perspective
Bernadette Deere (previous SURE participant)
Key information and deadlines
Amy Jeffries
Any Questions?

3. Why A SURE Scheme?
To support our aim of celebrating and strengthening the links between learning, research and teaching
To increase student awareness of what academic research involves
To enable students to extend their skills and knowledge (Sheffield Graduate Attributes)

4. SURE: Summary of Scheme
Funded research scholarships for undergraduates
Become directly involved in the research activity of the University
Take part in real life research projects in subject areas of special interest to you
Experience what it´s like to work in partnership with academic staff or collaboratively in a research group

5. What you will gain: Students
Valuable experience for your studies and life beyond
Deeper knowledge of a subject you’re passionate about
Enhanced research skills
Additional skills such as project management, collaboration and communication
Awareness of the academic research environment and career options
Enhanced CV and employability

6. What you will gain: Staff
Progression of your research interests and activity through a student project that connects in with your aims
Working with a student who shares your passion for your subject
Opportunity to support the development of students who have potential to progress to PG level studies.

7. What will students do?
Depending on the subject area: All projects require:
Experiments
Archive work
Interviews or focus groups
A survey
Review existing literatures
Visit precedent studies
Facilitate participatory research
A time of writing up
A programme of work
Appropriate outputs as decided with the supervisor
Outputs could be an integral part of a larger ongoing research project or a stand-alone piece of work

8. What will students produce?
Outcomes depend on the topic and methods
All projects will require a final report
All projects need to be disseminated to students’ peers, in departments and beyond.
Dissemination may include producing a poster about the research, giving a PowerPoint presentation, podcasting or writing an article for a professional journal
A Showcase of SURE 2012 is planned for February.

9. What’s offered?
Bursaries based on a standard rate of £180 per week full time – maximum pay is £
Projects will run for 6 weeks commencing 11thJune
Training day: 11th June
Student payments are made in two parts
Some funds are available to cover materials and other costs needed for projects
Students will be supported in their research in two main ways: by academic staff supervisors; by involvement in the SURE student network

10. Prof Tamara Hervey (Tammy) School of Law
Previous SURE Academic Supervisor

11. Why participate in SURE?
Double (or more than double) your research capacity
12 sole or co-authored publications from summer internships since 2004
Work with an enthusiast
Show students a real research experience
Show ability to supervise a research project
Not easy to get this experience in some disciplines
16/06/2019
© The University of Sheffield

12. Some pitfalls ... and solutions
Over-estimate student ability
Over-estimate own ability
Carefully plan time; think about student skills; pick from among best students in cohort
Be honest! Learning process for both parties? Be ruthless!
16/06/2019
© The University of Sheffield

13. More pitfalls ... and solutions
Student isolation
Ethics
SURE helps; use School PGR community and admin staff
Be open and clear about expectations and outcomes
16/06/2019
© The University of Sheffield

14. Previous SURE Student Participant
Bernadette Deere
Previous SURE Student Participant

15. How to apply?
Academic staff nominate potential projects. They put forward their proposal to SURE. If it is accepted, they will seek a suitable undergraduate student to work on the project. As a student, you should ask a member of staff in your department whether there are appropriate projects for you in your department
Students identify a project idea AND a member of academic staff who is prepared to work with them in a supervisory role. Students put forward their proposal to SURE. If it is accepted, the member of staff will be asked to confirm their agreement to supervise the project

16. Funding Criteria 80 projects will be funded this year (16 per Faculty)
Bursary Funding Panel (including Faculty Directors of Research and Teaching) will select projects based on the information supplied in the research application.
The Panel will be looking for:
A clearly defined objective
Authentic discipline-based or interdisciplinary research activity
That projects are not part of the student’s normal programme of work

17. Who is Eligible?
Students need to be a registered UG at University of Sheffield during 2011/12, studying at level 2 (or level 3 if 4 year programme)
Students will need to have the signed agreement of an Academic Supervisor before applying for funding

18. Key Information Complete an Application Form Attach a Covering Letter
Refer to the Guidance Notes
Deadline to apply noon on 16th March
Hard, signed copy to Amy Jeffries, LeTS, 205 Brook Hill
Electronic copy to

19. Key Dates 2012 Project start date/ training event 11th June
1st instalment payment 15th June
Project end date 20th July
2nd instalment on submission of a completed report
Showcase event: February 2013
Application deadline
12 Noon 16th March
Notification of outcomes by 12th April
Pre project information event April / May (date TBC)

20. Contact Details Amy Jeffries, LeTS
Website: