Our 2021 cohort of 70 Sussex students was one of the largest groups to become JRAs. Due to the ongoing pandemic the 2021 students completed their research online. While the current situation with the pandemic is ongoing we are planning for this year's projects to be conducted online or in person, as long as University and government guidelines are followed at the time. However it may be necessary to switch to remote projects only if the situation changes, so it is important to discuss with your supervisor how that will work.
Despite the challenges they faced due to the pandemic, 2021's JRA students found the scheme a rewarding and enriching experience:
- 94% of JRAs found the scheme a rewarding experience.
- 100% found the experience of working with a supervisor rewarding.
- 100% would recommend the JRA scheme to other students.
- 100% found participating in the scheme has helped them with post-degree study/career plans.
- 71% will be taking their JRA research further.
We also received extremely positive feedback from our supervisors:
- 100% of supervisors felt that their JRA project was successful.
- 93% of academics were either 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with the academic performance of their JRA.
- 100% of academics would be willing to supervise a JRA student again in the future.
We are aware that the scheme has experienced some significant growth in recent years which has created new challenges and highlighted the need for structural changes. We were therefore keen, when reading feedback from former JRAs, to note any concerns and suggestions they had regarding how we could improve the scheme. We have tried to incorporate these suggestions into our planning and to come up with solutions. For example:
- Several of you expressed a wish for a clearer timetable and more explicit statement of your duties as a JRA, delivered in advance of the scheme's commencement: you will find timetables of all events, plus other useful information, on this website by the end of April.
- A small number of students expressed a wish for more social interaction among the JRAs themselves. This year we are hoping to have several social meet-ups, depending on government guidelines during the pandemic.
- Several students mentioned that they would like clearer channels of communication. We will be keeping in regular contact with all JRA students and supervisors this summer, and if you contact undergraduate-research@sussex.ac.uk we will respond to queries promptly.
It is our hope that these changes will make the scheme an even more rewarding experience for both students and supervisors. If you have any more suggestions, we'd love to hear them. We hope to see you all soon!
Carmel Stevenson, Sussex Undergraduate Research Office