The Student Leadership Programme also celebrated the achievements of its #150Leaders. In front of an audience of students, Council of Deans of Health members, mentors from the programme and stakeholders from the sector, awards were presented in eight categories. Speaking after the event, Professor Nigel Harrison, the Council’s Executive Member – Education Impact and Chair of the Student Leadership Programme Advisory Group, said:
“I feel very fortunate to have been involved with the programme from the start and to have seen the students develop and demonstrate outstanding leadership skills so early in their careers. This programme is a testament to what can be achieved by working collaboratively with students as co-creators of their own learning. Today has been about recognising not just the achievements of the winners but of the whole cohort of 150 leaders. I am immensely proud of all the students and look forward to seeing them flourish in their careers. I would also like to recognise the contribution made by the Programme’s Advisory Group and the mentors who generously gave their time to support the students”.
The winners of the awards are as follows:
Best Contribution to Social Media
Hannah Smith, newly qualified nurse, University of Salford and Leanne Patrick, student mental health nurse, University of Stirling
Top #150Leaders Mentoring Partnership
Felicity Allman, student mental health nurse, University of Plymouth and mentor Brendan McCormack, Head of Nursing Division, Queen Margaret University
Outstanding Commitment to Student Affairs
Nichole Yam, student occupational therapist, Leeds Beckett University
Top #150Leaders Social or Digital Innovation
Raluca Vagner, student adult nurse, Oxford Brookes University
Outstanding Contribution to Shared Learning
Pippa Chillman, student mental health nurse, University of Derby
Top #150Leaders Allied Health Professional
Rob Molloy, newly qualified occupational therapist, Brunel University
Top #150Leaders Nurse
Samuel Richards, student mental health nurse, Swansea University
Top #150Leaders Midwife
Mhairi McLellan, student midwife, Robert Gordon University
At the awards ceremony, the Council of Deans of Health launched its new report on student leadership in higher education. Drawing on reflections, recommendations and examples of good practice from the Student Leadership Programme, the publication #150Leaders: Fostering Student Leadership, highlights the importance of teaching leadership as experience as opposed to theory and how students can be motivated to be leaders from the start of their higher education experience. The publication also emphasises the importance of students being co-creators of their learning and educational experience, which was one of the key elements in the creation and delivery of the Programme.