Learning & Teaching Academy Research Intern

Reference
1106781

Branch
Heriot-Watt University

Start date
26/01/2026

Duration
3 Months

Hours and days
8-10 hours per week between 0900-1700 Monday to Friday

Dress code
Smart Casual

Rate of pay
£14.97

Holiday rate
£1.81

Role

The Research Intern will play a key role in advancing the STEP Belonging Project by supporting research and engagement activities. This includes reviewing literature, assisting with data collection and analysis, creating communications and digital content, and helping to plan and deliver dissemination events. This hybrid role is central to the success of the Belonging Project and will make a meaningful contribution to enhancement across Scotland’s tertiary education sector. The STEP Belonging Project is being led by Stella Howden (based at Heriot-Watt University’s Learning and Teaching Academy, LTA) along with co-lead Jane Roscoe (based at Dundee and Angus College).

About STEP                                                                                                                                       

Scotland's Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) is the national initiative designed to bring colleges and universities together to enhance learning, teaching, the student experience, and staff development across the tertiary sector. Delivered by QAA Scotland and the College Development Network, STEP runs on a four-year cycle and focuses on collaborative projects that drive meaningful improvement. The current theme (2024–2028) is Supporting Diverse Learner Journeys, reflecting a sector-wide commitment to inclusivity and innovation.

Duties and responsibilities

This internship directly supports the project’s strategic aim: ‘To inspire and support colleges and universities to systematically embed belonging and mattering into institutional practice.’

Duties:

• Evidence Gathering: Conducting literature reviews and data analysis to identify effective belonging initiatives.
• Evaluation Development: Assisting in creating frameworks and indicators for measuring belonging.
• Knowledge Sharing: Supporting early dissemination activities, including an online event and social media communications.

• Assist in collecting, cleansing, and organising data from various sources.
• Support thematic analysis of qualitative data (e.g., interviews, focus groups).
• Help refine project inclusion/exclusion criteria for case studies.
• Contribute to the development of evaluation frameworks and indicators.
• Create visual representations of data (infographics, charts) for reports and presentations.
• Assist with planning and delivery of an online event to share initial findings.
• Generate content for early-phase communications (social media, short updates).
• Collaborate with project staff and partners via Microsoft Teams and shared platforms.

Skills and experience

• Must be a registered student at Heriot-Watt University during the internship period. 
• Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret qualitative and quantitative data. Ability to use data analysis tools and basic statistical techniques. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 
• Digital proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams). 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 
• Good organisational and prioritisation skills. 
• Attention to detail and respect for confidentiality.

 

Desirable:

• Experience with design tools (Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent) for creating infographics.
• Interest in education, student engagement, or social research. 

Location
Heriot-Watt University (Hybrid role)

Additional information

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