STEP gives students the opportunity to take ownership of the University of St Andrews. Through this summer programme they are given an active role, working for different schools, and add value to the current projects taking place at the University. In the process they develop essential Graduate Attributes such as learning social responsibility, valuing diversity, and building an entrepreneurial mindset.
Watch the STEP 2021 Documentary
STEP 2021, consisted of 26 teams, 195 students and 17 coaches and sponsors together putting in over 1000 hours of work to further enhance the St Andrews experience.
More than the numbers though, their collective work will positively influence the way coming generations will interact with St Andrews. STEP students have created virtual historical tours and archival databases so that St Andrews’ intellectual and cultural histories could be easily accessible; They researched and foregrounded lesser told histories about prominent female figures in St Andrews; In order to make the university more inclusive one team made podcasts of stories of academics who were first in their family to go to the University; Another team uncovered the names of victims of witch trials so that could restore some dignity to them; Finally, different teams also took on consultancy roles to support local charities in preserving cultural heritage sites and improve the quality of tutor training at the University respectively. This is a mere snapshot of the impact that STEP students have made.
Truly, the students have STEPped up to the challenge! In a whirlwind 6-week program they learnt how to work effectively online, across continents and time-zones, to deliver their project outcomes. They’ve achieved this during a period of great uncertainty and difficulty globally. They have taken the challenges head on and honed their enterprise skills throughout this process.
One can go on waxing eloquent about STEP, but what really fills us with joy is that the participants found the experience rewarding. Here are some things that the STEPpers had to say about the program:
“The immense success of our project also means that my leadership role is not only for the duration of this six-week summer project, but can be taken beyond into the future, as my team is devising different ways we can implement our research beyond plaques.” - Mia Kellner, Re-Plaquing St Andrews
“Leadership is not all about taking control; it is about accountability, commitment and teamwork (among other elements)” ..[..]…“STEP has taught me to believe in myself and my skills because I successfully led my team to produce beneficial suggestions for the sponsor.” - Katie Kamm, Supporting Tutor Training
“There is a commonly held view that history students face only unemployment after they graduate. In the two months that this internship has spanned, my fellow teammates and I have developed a wide variety of skills that I truly believe highlight just how employable we as historians are.”- Isla Cartney, Women Historians of St Andrews
“The lectures I attended each week gave me a new insight of myself that I can now recognise and utilise to the best of my abilities.”- Tabitha Chapman, Student Transition
“I realized that I could actually be creative and be innovative through my existing capabilities.”
Anna Sabadze, Online Engagement: Students
This blog showcases the high-quality work of St Andrews students. All teams produced impactful and significant outputs,
many of which are currently being implemented in the University. These projects have helped shape the future direction of all the schools involved.
STEP creates an impact at the University of St Andrews. Think you could STEP up to the plate? Come and join us next year!