Job Description/Duties
This is part of the following Scheme
Exclusive to LeedsAbout this role
Start Date: Late October 2026
End Date: Early July 2027
Hours per week: 4 hours
Faculty/Service: Language Zone
Location: Hybrid (at least 50% of working hours will be worked on campus)
Salary: £13.87 per hour
Number of positions: 1
Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday 7th October 2026
The Language Zone has developed a successful online conversation programme for students on online pre-sessional courses and those studying at the SWJTU-Leeds Joint School in Chengdu, China. The sessions provide opportunities for students to practise English, build confidence, connect with peers and strengthen their sense of belonging to the University community.
Demand for the programme has grown alongside increasing student numbers, with over 500 students on online pre-sessional courses each summer and almost 700 students studying at the Joint School. The next stage of development focuses on creating a sustainable, volunteer-led model that can support long-term growth and engagement across different time zones.
Working with Language Zone staff, student volunteers and participants, the intern will help develop, test and evaluate this model. They will contribute to volunteer recruitment and training, support programme delivery, gather student feedback and identify ways to increase participation.
A key aspect of the role will be evaluation. The intern will assess the programme's impact on communication confidence, belonging, wellbeing and intercultural understanding, using participant feedback to make recommendations for future development. Student voice will play an important role in shaping activities and ensuring the programme remains accessible, relevant and engaging.
The project will also explore how the programme can be embedded within wider Language Zone provision and contribute to the University's international engagement objectives. By the end of the internship, the intern will have helped develop resources, processes and recommendations to support a sustainable student-led community that promotes language practice, cultural exchange and peer support.
This internship offers a unique opportunity to lead a meaningful project that directly enhances the student experience while developing skills in project management, communication, research, evaluation, stakeholder engagement and leadership.
The intern will support the ongoing development and delivery of the online conversation programme for students on pre-sessional courses and at the SWJTU-Leeds Joint School.
Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting the design, implementation and evaluation of a volunteer-led delivery model
- Recruiting, training and supporting student volunteers, and helping to develop guidance and training resources
- Organising and promoting online conversation sessions, including creating discussion materials and supporting facilitators
- Gathering and analysing feedback from participants and volunteers to identify strengths, challenges and opportunities for improvement
- Working with students to ensure activities reflect their needs and experiences
- Contributing to digital communications, social media content and impact reporting through case studies, testimonials and engagement data
- Collaborating with Language Zone staff to explore opportunities to connect the programme with wider student engagement and internationalisation activities.
By the end of the internship, the student will have helped establish processes and resources to support future delivery, evaluated the effectiveness of the volunteer-led model, and produced recommendations for the programme's long-term sustainability and growth.
This internship offers the chance to contribute to the University's international engagement activities while developing valuable professional skills.
The intern will gain:
- Experience in programme development, including activity design, volunteer coordination and impact evaluation
- Intercultural communication skills through working with students, staff and partners across different cultural contexts
- Leadership and facilitation experience by supporting conversation sessions, events and peer engagement activities
- Experience supporting student wellbeing and belonging through initiatives that foster connection and community
- Networking opportunities through collaboration with Language Zone colleagues, student volunteers and international partners in Leeds and Chengdu.
The role provides a meaningful opportunity to make a positive impact on the student experience while developing skills relevant to careers in education, project management, international engagement and student support.
- A current University of Leeds student for the duration of this internship (including postgraduates and those returning from work placement or study abroad years)
- You have an interest in intercultural exchange, language learning, and supporting students from diverse backgrounds. You are passionate about fostering a welcoming environment and creating a sense of belonging through meaningful dialogue and shared experience
- You enjoy working with others, contributing ideas, and learning from different perspectives
- You are open to feedback and committed to co-creating solutions with students and staff
- You can communicate clearly and confidently with a range of people, both online and in person
- You can manage multiple tasks effectively, prioritise your workload, and communicate with clarity and reliability
- You are proactive in identifying opportunities, suggesting improvements, and responding to changing needs in a dynamic, student-focused environment
- You are interested in supporting and encouraging others, helping participants and volunteers feel welcomed, valued, and confident in their involvement
- You are comfortable using digital platforms to communicate, collaborate, and engage with students in an online environment
- You are curious and reflective, and able to gather feedback and use insights to help improve activities and services.
- You may have experience of peer support, mentoring, facilitation, volunteering, or student leadership
- You may have experience of organising events, activities, projects, or community-building initiatives
- You may have experience of creating engaging content for social media or other digital communication channels
- You may have an interest in evaluating student experiences and using feedback to inform service development
- You may have experience of working with students from different cultural, linguistic, or educational backgrounds.
How to apply
Apply by submitting your answers to the 4 questions listed below.
Please do not submit a CV or covering letter as these will not be considered as part of the application process.
Once you’ve read through the job spec, click ‘Apply Here’ to the right of the page and you will be prompted to answer these questions:
- What appeals to you about this role and why have you chosen to apply? (150 words maximum)
- What skills/experiences have you gained from your studies, voluntary work and/or paid work that you feel would help you to be successful in this role? (300 words maximum)
- What do you feel you will gain from undertaking this internship? You may wish to identify any skills gaps you have and how the role might enable you to develop those (150 words maximum)
- How would this internship contribute to any future career plans you might have? (150 words maximum)
While the use of tools like AI is not automatically a disadvantage what matters most to the shortlisting panel will be whether applications feel personal, reflective, and clearly rooted in your own experiences and voice. The strongest applications use any tools thoughtfully while still making it clear who you are, what you’ve learned, and what you’re hoping to gain from the opportunity.
The Careers Service can check your application for you. Peer Support Assistant drop-in appointments run from 10am-4pm Monday to Friday during term time. Alternatively, you can book an Application Support appointment, and all appointments can be booked by clicking on Appointments on MyCareer.
Eligibility:
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You must be eligible to work in the UK for the duration of the placement. Information is available at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/ or from the International Student Office on campus http://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/10500/international_students/877/international_student_office
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Please note - as a current student applying for a work opportunity, you’ll need to be aware of any work restrictions that may apply to you. For more information, please refer to the University of Leeds ‘Work Restrictions’ page: https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/1000099/work-volunteering-and-your-visa/695/work-restrictions This details restrictions for both home and international students so please read the information provided carefully, regardless of your status.
Support for applicants with disabilities, impairments or health conditions:
We want to make sure that all candidates have equal access to our recruitment and selection procedures. If you have a disability, impairment or long-term health condition that may affect your ability to submit an application, or if you need any adjustments to be able to attend an interview, take part in the selection process or to carry out the job you are applying for, please send details to the Work Based Learning & Partnerships team at workbasedpartnerships@leeds.ac.uk This will enable us to make any reasonable adjustments. Any information provided will not inform any part of the recruitment and selection process.
Organisation
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Education
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