University of Westminster students and colleagues have visited Clapton Girls Academy (CGA) in London as part of a Quintin Hogg Trust-funded (QHT) mentoring project. During the event, colleagues and students ran two workshops with Year 12 Sociology and Religious Education A-level students to prepare them for their future professional and educational endeavours.
On 16 June, CGA welcomed Kerry Gilfillan, Academic Engagement Learning Developer, Dr Naomi Rudoe, Senior Lecturer on Westminster’s Sociology BA Honours course, and five Westminster students and graduates, for two workshops and a mentoring lunch. The event followed on from a previous workshop in November where CGA visited Westminster.
The first workshop focused on academic reading and writing skills. The CGA students were given extracts from academic articles on the impact of social media on adolescents’ mental health and were asked to respond to the question: Should the UK enact an Australian style ban on social media for under 16s? Students favoured solutions such as more effective media literacy and online safety training in schools, as well as more regulation of social media companies.
The second workshop was on research methods. Following a presentation from Sociology and Criminology BA Honours alumna Jasmen Khanom on her dissertation work with British Bangladeshi Muslim women in Higher Education, students participated in a competition to design a research project addressing the question: How does school uniform affect young people’s sense of identity? The winning team designed a mixed methods study and received a prize of Amazon gift vouchers.
Project organiser Dr Rudoe said: “The QHT funding allowed the time and space for Westminster colleagues and students to work together to produce two exciting workshops, as well as eye-catching resources and lunch. The day was much enjoyed by all and we are extremely grateful to the QHT for making this project possible.”
Sociology and Criminology BA Honours alumna Maheera Choudhury added: “Being a part of the CGA project was such a rewarding experience. It was amazing to watch the students grow in confidence and open up over time. I think we really built a supportive and encouraging little community! One of my favourite parts of mentoring was how much I learned from the students, just as they were learning from us.”
The project directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more Sociology and Criminology courses at the University of Westminster.
To find out how you or your organisation can make a difference by supporting Westminster students, please get in touch with the Development Team or visit the Donate Westminster site.
