Internship Title: Identifying ARU student priorities in relation to planetary health to improve access and wellbeing
Proposed Start Date: 16th March 2026
Duration: 10 weeks
Hours: 20 hours p/w, working pattern to be discussed
Location: Chelmsford Campus or Remote
Pay Rate: £13.45 p/h
You must be a current ARU student to apply for this role.
Role Overview:
Students and particularly, non-traditional students are disproportionally affected by environmental challenges related to living conditions, travel and general wellbeing, including climate shocks and biodiversity loss. The big green conversation previously identified a need to engage students in sustainability conversations. At the same time, they are invited to take part in curriculum that may or may not yet support their understanding of environmental stewardship (i.e. concerning AI use, active travel etc) to prepare themselves for careers in a climate changed world. The Green Heron Audit is helpfully assisting with this transformation, but wider initiatives are needed.
The primary purpose of the role is to offer a student perspective on the design of a student survey relating to planetary health priorities at ARU. Access and participation in ARU is affected by their experience of sustainability that links to their values and wellbeing. A survey of student views in relation to planetary health is a pre-requisite to understanding what is important and how students need support in relation to full access and participation. The intern will be supported by a small senior team allowing results to be reported at ARU Senate to inform further priorities for planetary health activities.
The role will involve:
- Initial appraisal of materials and concept of planetary health as a core knowledge-base
- Co-design a JISC survey for ARU students to identify their concerns about planetary health climate change and bio-diversity loss in relation to students’ personal wellbeing at University.
- Support the distribution of the survey tool via the ARU survey office
- Collate results and help to produce a report, and presentation for senior staff in the University
- Design a simple briefing for students to explain planetary health to add to the sustainability web site
Outcomes
1. Learning outcomes
At the end of the internship the student will be able to demonstrate:
- Have a critical understanding of planetary health as a route to sustainability
- An understanding of survey methods for gathering information from large groups
- Identifying and targeting selected groups via the university web-site
- Project management and co-design of a survey tool
- Critical understanding of planetary health as a way of understanding sustainability
2. Project deliverables
- A report and materials highlighting student priorities for planetary health in the University
- Presentation to Senate, supported by academic sponsors
Required skills/qualifications
- Interest in environmental sustainability and associated wellbeing
- Able to work with a small group of academic mentors in a collaborative way
- IT literate and able to use Microsoft Office
- Capable of collating results into a set of student priorities
- Skilled in or able to quickly learn to use the JISC survey software
- Experience in producing short reports in plain English
How to apply: Please click on the apply button and ensure you have an up-to-date CV and Cover letter to submit
Please ensure you use the Employability Service for help with your CV, Cover Letter and interview preparation
Application close date: Wednesday 4th March, 9am
Interview Date: Monday 9th March - the interviews will be remote via MS Teams
Only successful candidates will be contacted due to the number of applications received.