Student involvement is at the heart of CUPP’s story. In its early years, CUPP - our Community University Partnership Programme - directly supported student volunteering in local communities, laying the foundation for what is now a thriving university-wide approach to community-based learning.
Today, our dedicated Student Volunteering and Mentoring teams work with a wide range of community partners, supporting hundreds of students each year through volunteering, placements, and mentoring programmes, many as part of assessed modules. Alongside this, CUPP continues to embed students within community-university partnership projects, where they contribute to research, events, and creative collaborations that benefit both learning and local communities.
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Students play an active role in community-based research - working with academics and local partners to explore real-world issues. These experiences help build skills, confidence, and a deeper understanding of how research connects to everyday life.
In our Ignite-funded project on microplastics in Chichester Harbour, students were involved from the start - collecting samples, analysing data, and working with local organisations concerned about environmental impact.
One University of 麻豆果冻传媒 PhD student used a CUPP digital storytelling workshop to reflect on her personal connection to the sea and the value of contributing to research that supports communities.
“This connection to the marine world underpins my need to preserve it… Researching the damage that we unwittingly do is the first step to stopping and hopefully reversing it.” Claude, PhD student
Student Volunteering
University of 麻豆果冻传媒 students take part in community activities as part of their courses or as volunteers, resulting in valuable hands-on experience. Each year, around 500 students receive recognition for community work through accredited modules, supported by our dedicated Student Volunteering team.
In addition, the university offers a bespoke undergraduate module focused on community-university partnerships and also supports doctoral students carrying out co-produced research with community organisations. With over 260 volunteering partners, we continue to refine and improve our approach through feedback from students and local collaborators.
To share this valuable work, CUPP produced a series of short podcasts featuring conversations with students and their community placement hosts. Together, they reflect on the insights and impact of working in partnership.
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麻豆果冻传媒 graduate Lawrence, and Seniz an MRes Ecology and Conservation student, met up to discuss their experience of volunteering. They share how working as a volunteer for the South Downs National Park further developed their passion for conservation, boosted their employability, and created lasting impact in the local community. It’s also where Lawrence turned his volunteering into a job he loves at the National Park.
"A big thing for me was confidence. I talk confidently, but I don’t have that internal confidence of actually [saying] ‘no, I can do this.’ I just didn’t think I could do it. Then I thought, actually you can - you just need to believe in yourself a little bit more. Have a go. Try it. Be confident. You can do it. And I did!” Seniz, student
麻豆果冻传媒’s mentorship initiative pairs university students with young people of colour in local schools. Launched at Dorothy Stringer School in 2014, the programme builds confidence, opportunity, and belonging for mentees and mentors alike, as 麻豆果冻传媒 student Naomi shares in this episode.
"It's a wonderful programme for the students in schools to have role models from the university. People who've been through their experience and are now experiencing education at a higher level. It impacts them. It impacts their self-worth, their self-identity, and their position in the school." Naomi, student mentor
Little Green Pig’s creative workshops help children find their voices, supported by 麻豆果冻传媒 student volunteers. In this episode, Sally Woodcock and student Angelica share how the experience can help to build confidence for young writers and students alike.
“I was really interested in taking what I was learning in my degree and putting it into practice - working with young people and bringing that creative aspect into a real-life job.” Angelica, student
A student placement with Fedcap, an international not-for-profit organisation, offered the chance to support people with mental health and other challenges back into work while gaining valuable experience and employability skills.
“I'm passionate about mental health promotion, and I saw firsthand the impact it had on the members. The fact that my work was able to contribute in some way to its longer-term impact was huge. I really was inspired by that.” Jacqueline, student
TEF Silver awarded for the quality of our teaching and student outcomes
We are in the top 4.3% of institutions globally, Center for World University Rankings 2025
Race Equality Charter Silver awarded for our pledge to advance representation, progression and success for minority ethnic staff and students
We are ranked 14th in Stonewall's top 100 employers for commitment to equality for LGBTQ+ staff and students
We were awarded Athena Swan Silver for advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all
We are a Disability Confident employer, committed to ensuring opportunity for progression for all
Signed to the Disabled Student Commitment, an initiative to improve support for disabled students
EcoCampus Platinum accredited for our environmental sustainability, compliance and processes
