Our students regularly work on active projects in the real world. These can be as part of their core modules or as paid extra work. They can be with external organisations doing practical work on social justice, or they can be research into underlying social issues. Here are some of the recent projects our students have worked on:
CIWM
Background
As part of their module Researching the Social World, students worked with the Chartered Institute of Waste Management on a project looking at the new skills needed in a greener economy.
What the students did
The students conducted live interviews with real participants in the waste management sector, to understand the needs and opinions of those directly working in this area.
The results
The students’ interviews informed the final report, and will support the CIWM’s work improving the sector and providing evidence to government.
Who’s at stake?
Background
As part of the University-funded project – Who’s at stake? Power and stakeholders in UK tech policy – Dr Garfield Benjamin (Senior Lecturer in Sociology) was able to three students to work with them on a real academic research project.
What the students did
The students acted fully as researchers, analysing policy documents, hosting workshops with government and think tanks, and presenting their findings.
The results
The project led to students being co-authors on a report that went to government, think tanks and academia, and are working on writing an article to publish in an academic journal.
Alt Valley
Background
As part of their module Applied Sociology in the Community, final year students worked with Alt Valley Community Trust as part of a new partnership.
What the students did
The students shadowed a particular member of the Alt Valley team to observe their work. They then applied sociological theory to provide recommendations for improving the services Alt Valley offer.
The results
The students’ gained valuable insight into how a charity works in practice, and immersive experience in how communities are supported. Alt Valley gained independent observers to assess strengths and areas of potential improvement, as well as sociologically-informed recommendations.
Toynbee Hall
Background
As part of their module Researching the Social World, students worked Toynbee Hall on a project tackling issues facing young renters in London.
What the students did
As part of a Participatory Action Research method, students worked as peer researchers to understand the background and relationships of landlords to tenants and estate agents, and how they make the decisions they do.
The results
The students’ work led to a Solent University report which in turn fed into Toynbee Hall’s larger project. The project highlighted issues at a local level while also creating more widely accessible information to improve renting conditions for young people.
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