STUDENT GROWTH

TUSA Summer Research Program

Executive summary

The TUSA wants to gain a greater understanding of UTAS students, by engaging students in sharing their collective experiences. The TUSA is offering an exciting opportunity for students to get involved this summer through a series of short research internships. We want to work closely with students to learn more what each student values. For this reason, we are launching four research projects to be led by UTAS students in partnership with UTAS academics.

What are we offering?

• This is a fixed-term contract offering part-time research work for the TUSA.
• You will partner with esteemed research academics from UTAS who will mentor, support, and work with you on the proposed project.

Essential Criteria

• Completion of at least two semesters of UTAS studies.
• Be a current student while appointed to the role.
• Sound communication and organisation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in teams.
• Demonstrate an ability for willingness to learn.

Project summaries

1. Online engagement: Research and develop a report on the best practice for online engagement with students from Australian student unions and universities along with any outstanding and applicable examples internationally. This project will include a review of UTAS distance student demographics and geographics along with needs and wants to determine how and what type of online engagement would involve this cohort of students.
2. Food security: This project aims to identify the needs UTAS students have in terms of food insecurity and then propose a series of solutions that the TUSA could take to satisfy those needs. This could involve reviewing access to food on-campus and in personal student circumstances.
3. Adventure clubs and societies: This project will review the current offering, training, and engagement gaps that adventure societies are experiencing and provide recommendations on what steps the TUSA could take to help strengthen these clubs and societies. Research on other Universities and Unions Australia-wide or internationally (where relevant) who have similar adventure clubs and societies (rock-climbing, white water rafting, highlining, bushwalking, diving, fishing etc) is necessary to determine how the TUSA can maximise student experience in this area.
4. Clubs and societies membership analysis: This research project includes a review of the personality and individual differences for members of clubs and society including their year at UTAS, school, and faculty. It will provide invaluable insight for TUSA in its future direction.