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 Develop your capabilities. Make a positive contribution. Create wider impact.

Overview

Today's employers are looking for graduates who can apply their knowledge beyond the classroom, contribute to organisations and communities, and demonstrate the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. 

Regardless of your discipline, Shape the Future encourages you to reflect on how your experiences have supported your development, broadened your perspectives and enabled you to contribute positively to the people, projects, organisations and communities around you.

The Shape the Future strand recognises students who engage with opportunities beyond their studies that broaden their perspectives, develop their capabilities and contribute positively to organisations, professions and society.

Through experiences such as work integrated placements, part-time employment, study abroad, mentoring, ambassador roles, industry projects and sustainability initiatives, students can develop valuable skills, gain real-world experience and make a meaningful contribution beyond the classroom.

Shape the Future is about preparing for the future whilst helping to shape it. It recognises students who actively engage with experiences that build confidence, adaptability, professionalism and a wider understanding of the world around them. 

You might achieve the Shape the Future award through activities such as: 

• Sustainability activities that contribute to a more sustainable future, whether through environmental initiatives, sustainable healthcare, food security, energy sustainability, or efforts that support the long-term wellbeing and resilience of communities and society.
• Study abroad opportunities that enable you to experience different cultures, perspectives and approaches to learning, while developing global awareness and intercultural skills, and contributing to greater understanding, collaboration and cultural exchange across communities.
• BP Student Tutoring through supporting and inspiring school pupils, helping to raise aspirations, build confidence and encourage educational attainment, while developing your own communication, mentoring and leadership abilities.
• Work-integrated placements and internships that provide practical experience in a professional setting, enabling you to apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges while contributing to organisational objectives, service improvement, innovation and the development of professional practice.
• Part-time employment that supports the delivery of valuable services to customers and communities, contributes to local and national economic activity, and develops transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving and professional responsibility.
• Industry projects that involve working with employers, organisations or external partners to address real-world challenges, delivering insights, recommendations or solutions that create value for the organisation while enhancing your professional skills and experience.
• Student ambassador roles that support student recruitment, outreach and engagement activities, helping prospective students make informed decisions, promoting higher education opportunities, and representing the University within the wider community.
• Peer mentoring through supporting fellow students in their academic and personal transition, helping to build confidence, belonging and success within the student community while developing coaching, communication and leadership capabilities.
• Professional development opportunities that enhance your personal and professional growth through training, networking, certifications, conferences and experiential learning, enabling you to contribute more effectively to your workplace, profession, community or wider society.

These are examples only. Any experience that demonstrates personal development whilst creating wider benefit may be considered. 

Skills and competencies

Employers increasingly value graduates who can apply their learning in real-world settings, adapt to new situations, work effectively with others and understand their role within society and the workplace.

Through participation in these experiences, students can develop and demonstrate a wide range of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Skills and Attributes, including:

These experiences can help you stand out to employers while making a positive contribution to the communities, organisations and professions you engage with. 

Award Criteria

Eligible for ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ students only.

Bronze – Exploring Experience and Development 

• Take part in activities and gain valuable experience: Identify an experience, activity or role that has helped you develop skills, broaden your perspectives and contribute positively to an organisation, profession, project, community or wider society. Use the Skills Tracker to help identify your experience and the skills demonstrated.

Silver – Developing Skills Through Experience

Reflective submission focus:

• Demonstrating how your experience contributed positively to others whilst supporting your personal and professional development.

Supporting evidence (choose one or more):

• Portfolio of work (e.g. reports, presentations, project outputs, learning logs or materials). 
• Feedback or testimonials from supervisors, mentors, colleagues, peers, employers, or academic staff.
• Outcome metrics (e.g., attendance, engagement, feedback scores). 

Gold -  Leadership and Sustained Impact

Reflective submission focus - Demonstrating Leadership, Legacy and Sustained Contribution

• Written reflection (minimum 750 words) using the STARR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection), reflect on:
  • Your role and responsibilities
  • The skills and capabilities you developed 
  • Challenges encountered and how you addressed them 
  • Your contribution and impact 
  • What you learned from the experience 
  • How the experience has influenced your future development and aspirations 
• Or, a 4–5 minute video/audio reflection capturing:
  • Your journey and development 
  • Key learning experiences 
  • Challenges and achievements 
  • The impact of your contribution 
  • How your experiences have helped shape your future goals 

Supporting Evidence (choose two or more):

• Portfolio of work (e.g. reports, presentations, project outputs, learning logs or materials). 
• Testimonials, endorsements or feedback from supervisors, employers, mentors, academic staff, or project partners 
• Outcome metrics (e.g., attendance, engagement, feedback scores). 
• Impact statement outlining your contribution and development 

Find out more

Current students can find out more about the Denis Law ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½plus Award:

You can also contact the team: