Role Summary

As a Student Panel member, you'll work with fellow students and the Public Programmes team to co-produce a public event at The Exchange, bringing exciting, cutting-edge research from across the University to life for diverse audiences. You'll gain hands-on experience in event planning and delivery while building confidence in public engagement.

The Panel meets once a month in person at The Exchange. Together, you'll develop ideas, shape events and activities, and learn how public programmes are created in a supportive, collaborative environment where your ideas will be valued. You'll also meet members of the Public and Cultural Engagement team, artists, and other contributors, giving you a behind-the-scenes insight into how cultural events are developed and delivered.

There may also be opportunities to work additional paid hours around key events and group visits, with all working hours agreed in advance with the Public Programmes team.

The Student Panel runs from October 2026 to April 2027. You will have one assignment between October-December 2026 and a second assignment from January – April 2027.

Main Duties

Through this role, you'll gain valuable, hands-on experience in co-producing and delivering public events, while developing skills in collaboration, communication, and public engagement. You'll also have the opportunity to visit other cultural organisations, hear from guest speakers, and take part in additional learning experiences throughout the programme.

Required knowledge, skills, qualifications & experience

We are looking for students who:

• Are currently studying at the University of Birmingham, in any subject and at any level.
• Have an interest in public engagement and are enthusiastic about connecting diverse audiences with university research.
• Are confident, self-motivated, and willing to take initiative while also working collaboratively as part of a team.
• Enjoy sharing ideas, listening to others, and contributing positively to group discussions, recognising that events are co-produced with fellow Student Panel members and the Public Programmes team.
• Are open to new experiences, value different perspectives, and are willing to try new approaches.
• Have strong communication, organisational, and time-management skills.
• Are reliable, responsible, and able to commit to the programme throughout its duration.

Further details

In partnership with the Careers Network, membership of the Student Panel can be counted towards The Birmingham Award, the University's employability skills award for undergraduate students, or the Postgraduate Professional Development Award (PPDA), which is the equivalent for postgraduates. The awards support students from all disciplines to develop, recognise, and articulate their skills in preparation for real-world recruitment.

If you would like to discuss the role, please email Kate O’Connor, Public Programmes Creative Producer (k.oconnor.1@bham.ac.uk)

Eligibility and Working Conditions

The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 20 hours per week during term time for a maximum of 13 consecutive weeks. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable (e.g. PGT, PGR or PhD student), you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 20 hours per week. In addition to this, please be aware if you are an international student you will be required to apply to the Registry for the appropriate authorised absence.

You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered.

To work you will need to carry out a right to work check. These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.

Regarding the use of AI in applications, we review hundreds of applications and shortlist candidates based on their unique perspective, motivations and potential. Cover letters generated through, or edited by, AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT or CoPilot) are easy to identify. They produce generic answers and will not score highly enough to progress. You may use AI tools for research, but all written content in your application must be your own work. Authenticity and originality are key to standing out in this process.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we’re unable to contact all applicants individually. You can check the progress of your application by logging into the Worklink jobs portal using the same email address you used to apply. If you haven’t heard back within six weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.