At the University of Bristol, we strive to create meaningful opportunities that prepare students for the future while fostering a positive impact. The Berkeley Square Challenge, a collaborative initiative between the School of Education, Transform Society, and the Careers Service, is a positive example of this in action.
This challenge invited students to reimagine Berkeley Square as a National Education Nature Park, aligning with the national effort to make the world a cleaner, safer, and greener place. During the event, students were introduced to the Department for Education’s sustainability strategy and attended a talk by Nicholas Wray, curator at Bristol Botanical Gardens. Working in small teams, students developed innovative proposals and pitched their ideas to a panel.
The winning group, comprising of Alice Kuylenstierna (BSc Geography with Study Abroad), Harry Wyatt (MSc Education Policy and International Development), and Nieve Elliott (Geography with Study Abroad in a Modern Language), presented to the Vice-Chancellor with their ideas to transform Berkeley Square into a sustainable space for both the environment and community. The School of Education Climate Action Group will now be working on bringing alive this vision by starting a ‘Friends of Berkeley Square’ group in collaboration with other schools, students and the local community.
Michelle Graffagnino, Senior Lecturer in Education, successfully applied for funding from the Bristol Skills Profile project fund to support the event and this kick-started a more in-depth focus on skills growth throughout the challenge:
“An ambitious curriculum should stretch and challenge students to go beyond the core content. This is why the Bristol Skills Profile is imperative in transforming Higher Education and the experience Bristol students receive whilst studying at university. The Nature Park Hackathon was created to embed the Bristol Skills Profile whilst students engaged with national policy.”
Developing essential skills for the future
Beyond its environmental focus, the challenge was designed to develop key employability skills. Participants learned to communicate confidently, analyse and present data, think critically and innovatively, and collaborate effectively in a team setting. The event served as an intensive learning experience, allowing students to refine these crucial competencies in a practical, real-world context.
Nieve, highlighted how the challenge enhanced her ability to work under pressure:
“The challenge itself was somewhat high pressure because there was a lot to learn, plan and present in one day. I would say myself and my peers learned to work together as a team in an efficient manner as we contributed in various ways. We received presentation advice which boosted my confidence when presenting.”
Similarly, Alice reflected on how the challenge strengthened her problem-solving abilities and built her confidence in public speaking:
“I have always found presenting difficult, and this challenge allowed me to develop this skill in a supportive environment. The task encouraged us to think innovatively as a team, and this is a skill I felt I strengthened. We also undertook the activity under a time constraint, and therefore I developed my ability to complete work under pressure, which is an important skill to have in a professional setting.”
Gaining confidence and career clarity
For many students, the challenge was an opportunity to refine their career aspirations. By engaging in an interdisciplinary project, students discovered new areas of interest and gained valuable insights into potential career paths.
Harry, a former geography teacher looking to transition into policy and governance, found the event particularly useful for developing transferable skills:
“I have found the majority of job applications to be competency and skill-focused. This event provided the opportunity to develop and practice skills such as communication, analysing and presenting data, problem-solving, research, creativity, innovation, and critical thinking. In addition to working as part of a team.”
Meanwhile, Alice realised her passion for teamwork and problem-solving:
“I learnt that I enjoy working collaboratively on a team project where you can exchange ideas to develop better solutions. This reinforced the fact that I want to work in a workplace that values teamwork.”
Presenting to the Vice-Chancellor: a unique experience
A highlight for the participants was the opportunity for the winning team to present their ideas to Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol. This was a unique experience that allowed students to showcase their work at the highest level. The presentation was incredibly well-received by Evelyn who described it as “thoughtful, imaginative and practical”.
Reflecting on the experience, Nieve shared:
“Fortunately, our ideas were welcomed, and the judges saw a lot of potential in our proposal for Berkeley Square. Presenting to Evelyn didn’t feel too different to presenting to the panel of judges on the day of the challenge, although admittedly, I was quite nervous. As soon as we met her and began to present, the nerves went because she seemed really interested and supportive of the project.”
Harry echoed this sentiment:
“Presenting to the Vice-Chancellor was a nerve-wracking yet rewarding experience. Professor Evelyn Welch was very attentive to our presentation and actively engaged in discussions about transforming Berkeley Square. She provided helpful feedback on both the content of our presentation and the way in which it was presented. This was incredibly useful, and I will utilise this feedback when attending interviews and assessment centres in the future.”
The lasting impact of careers service events
One of the key takeaways from the Berkeley Square Challenge is the long-term impact careers-led events can have on students’ professional development. Students left the event feeling more confident and prepared for the job market.
Harry’s experience is a perfect example of how engagement with the Careers Service can open doors:
“From this event, I was able to connect with Lisa, an Employer Partnership Officer, who subsequently made me aware of an interesting graduate scheme. She put me in contact with James from Transform Society (who I had also met through the event), who kindly spared some time to support me with situational judgment tests. As a result, I am through to the interview stage of the graduate scheme! So put yourself out there, attend these events, and who knows what you’ll get out of it!”
Why you should get involved
The Berkeley Square Challenge has not only contributed to the sustainability agenda but has also provided students with invaluable skills and networking opportunities. Through teamwork, problem-solving, and public speaking, participants have gained experiences that will help them navigate their careers with confidence.
Alice perfectly summed up why these experiences are so valuable:
“I would recommend undertaking a Careers Service event as it allowed me to participate in an activity outside of my degree, develop transferable skills that will be valued by employers, build my confidence in presenting to an audience, and add an activity to my CV that is relevant to my degree and the career I wish to pursue.”
As for the transformation of Berkeley Square itself? The challenge has set the foundation for what could become an exciting environmental initiative for years to come.
So, if you’re looking for an opportunity to expand your skills, meet like-minded peers, and work on meaningful projects, keep an eye on upcoming Careers Service events—you never know where they might lead you!