Across UCL and Students’ Union UCL, we are excited to introduce ExtendED Learning , an initiative designed to offer you a unique, hands-on learning experience with a focus on practical skills, such as teamwork, negotiation, listening and quick thinking.
One of the standout strands of this programme is Connect With Communities , delivered by the SU’s Social Impact department. This strand provides you with the opportunity to make a real social impact while gaining valuable experience.
Connect With Communities is all’about bridging the gap between your academic learning and applying in it in the real world, for social good! When you leave UCL, you won’t be given weeks to write an essay; you’ll have to work with colleagues on a topic and you’ll be expected to present your ideas with little notice.
To give you a chance to check this out, all the problems or challenges at the centre of any Connect With Communities activity are real, direct from a local non-profit community organisation. As well as contributing to meaningful community projects, with your actions making a real difference, you’ll also experience the workplace firsthand, engage with diverse knowledge and expertise, and discover new facets of London.
Sound good? Here’s what others have said
We love hearing about students’ transformational experiences when they try out our activities. Darcy Lan , your 2024-25 Postgraduate Officer, took part in a Social Hackathon while she was studying her MA Primary Education and told us this:"I absolutely loved participating in social hackathons. They were incredibly rewarding and offered a fantastic learning opportunity, allowing me to develop skills in teamwork, research, writing and presenting.
"I also gained a deeper understanding of how community organisations and charities operate. Working with a community organisation involves connecting with the founder’s story, embracing their vision, understanding their current challenges, and applying my experience from past hackathons, work and academic knowledge to support and build connections with them."
In another flagship opportunity, the Consultancy Challenge, Mya, a Human Sciences undergraduate, loved swapping campus for a commute to one of the most vibrant, diverse and culturally important parts of London. She even found her dream career:
"Throughout the experience of commuting to Brixton to go to our workshop - which was so cool by the way - where we were developing the prototypes, our group got a taste of what it would be like to work as a consultant in the real world. It felt as though we had stopped being students for a week! Not only did I get a good insight into the area of consulting, it made me realise that this is what I want to do in the future. It was so rewarding hearing about the potential impact that our work will make on local people in Cambodia."
How to sign up
Want the same experience as Darcy, Mya and hundreds of other students before you? Here’s how to book your spot!Getting involved in Connect With Communities is easy and it’s open to all’undergraduate and postgraduate students. Simply visit the ExtendED Learning page on the UCL website or the Students’ Union UCL page to explore the available opportunities. You can already book your spot in the activities that excite you the most.
So, check your exam timetable and then slot in something from Connect With Communities before the end of term to have a fun, meaningful and useful experience with new friends. Don’t miss out on this chance to enhance your skills, make a positive impact, and discover new aspects of London and the non-profit sector.
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