Community Engagement Initiative
Inspiring Young Scientists
Application Guidance Notes
The deadline for the submission of applications to this
programme is
12.00pm (Noon) on Friday 17th October 2014
The Community Engagement Initiative is a partnership between the Northern Ireland
Museums Council and National Museums Northern Ireland, funded by the Heritage Lottery
Fund
Contents
Page
Background Information
3
The Inspiring Young Scientists Placement Details
4
Trainee Specification
6
The Application & Selection Process
8
General Information
10
What will be provided for and expected of the trainee?
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2
Background Information
With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund ‘Skills for the Future’ programme, a partnership
between the Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) and National Museums Northern
Ireland (NMNI) has created 34 traineeships since 2011. These traineeships are aimed at
training individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in the museum and heritage
sector with a range of skills and experience that will serve as a robust foundation upon which
to secure employment both within and beyond the sector.
To deliver the Community Engagement Initiative, the partnership is now recruiting for a
trainee who will be based at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra and complete the
‘Inspiring Young Scientists’ project.
The Community Engagement Initiative – Northern Ireland aims to develop within individuals
the skills and knowledge base for engaging local communities with museums and their
collections, in order that the sector may be better equipped and sustained to meet the
challenges of the future.
In particular, by the end of 2015 the Community Engagement Initiative will have;
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given ten people the opportunity to gain specialist skills and practical, work-based
experience in engaging communities with museum collections so enhancing their
pathways to working in the sector,
increased the range and quality of work-based training in community engagement
with museum collections,
supported museums in developing their engagement programmes by way of
increasing the opportunities for communities to learn about and participate in
heritage,
and, increased the mentoring and coaching skills of museum staff, thus
strengthening their capacity to communicate and share good practice.
This trainee who will deliver the Inspiring Young Scientist project will be offered formal
training through seminars and workshops, will be given one-to-one coaching, undergo workbased learning and will play a fundamental role in the delivery of community engagement
programmes at the Folk and Transport Museum.
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Inspiring Young Scientists – The Placement Details
Project Title:
Host Museum:
Placement Location:
Inspiring Young Scientists
National Museums Northern Ireland
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Holywood, BT18 0EU
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum offers opportunities to experience living
history and explore ways of life from 100 years ago through its rural and transport
museums.
The Project
This focus of this project is developing the potential of the Transport collections at the Ulster
Folk and Transport Museum, to inspire young people and families to engage with science.
This project sits within the Learning and Partnership Directorate which plays a key role in the
move to greater community engagement.
Whilst on placement the Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) trainee will:
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Attend all formal taught modules required by the programme
Participate fully in a broad range of active learning opportunities, as directed by the
Programme Coordinator
Develop and deliver the project above, which will involve engaging disadvantaged
communities with the collections of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Keep a Personal Development Plan, Learning Log and Portfolio
Participate fully in scheduled performance reviews and submit associated paperwork
as required
Attend meetings with Coach and Programme Coordinator as required
Comply with policies and procedures in operation at the host museum
Have the opportunity to submit the necessary evidence for assessment for the Level
3 Award in Understanding the Principles and Practices of Learning and Development
Whilst on placement the CEI trainee undertaking the ‘Inspiring Young Scientists’
project will:
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Support the delivery of science programmes to children and families within the Ulster
Folk and Transport Museum (UFTM)
Develop and deliver programmes and activities, particularly in the Transport
Museum, that engage children and families with Science in ways appropriate to their
needs
Develop relationships with schools and community groups in disadvantaged areas to
increase engagement with science activities in UFTM
Develop internal and external partnerships to support the STEM agenda
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Anticipated outcomes of the project:
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Children, particularly those who are disadvantaged, become enthusiastic about
engagement with science
Families enjoy science activities and gain confidence in supporting their children’s
learning
Duration:
Full-time, November 2014 to 30 September 2015
Hours of Work:
37 hour week: Core office hours of 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday
with 30 minutes for lunch; evening and weekend work may
occasionally be required to enable the effective delivery of the
project. Time off in lieu (TOIL) will operate for any additional
hours worked.
Bursary:
£14,000 per annum, tax free (pro rata)
This post is considered a Regulated post as defined by the Protection of Children &
Vulnerable Adults Order 2003 and therefore the information provided by you on your
Disclosure of Criminal Convictions will be verified through an Enhanced Disclosure from
Access NI.
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Who is eligible to apply for a bursary?
Applications will not be accepted from individuals who have previously participated on a HLF
funded Skills for the Future programme.
Trainee Specification
Applicants must clearly demonstrate evidence of meeting the criteria set out in the table
below when completing the application form.
Criteria
Evidenced by
Essential Shortlisting Criteria
Knowledge
Certificate
qualification
application form
A degree or equivalent level of qualification,
and
at least one A-level (or equivalent) (Grade B or above) in Science,
Technology, Engineering or Maths.
Experience
AND one year’s experience in developing and delivering community Application
form/interview
participation and learning programmes
OR (in the absence of the degree and one year’s experience)
three years’ experience of developing and delivering community Application
form/interview
participation and learning programmes
Skills
The ability to communicate your interest and enthusiasm in STEM Application
(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to a range of form/interview
audiences with different learning styles and abilities
The ability to design practical activities to engage children and families
with STEM
Application
form/interview
Strong organisational, planning and project management skills
Application
form/interview
Sound working knowledge of Microsoft office packages and Application form
programmes
Have access to transport that will enable you to fulfil the requirements Application form
of the post
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of
and
Desirable Shortlisting Criteria
A STEM-related degree
Certificate
Qualification
Application Form
Knowledge and understanding of the primary school science
curriculum in Northern Ireland
Application
form/interview
Experience
Experience in developing and delivering community participation and Application
learning programmes with disadvantaged groups
form/interview
A knowledge of, and demonstrable interest in, the collections of the Application
form/interview
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
An understanding of how museums can engage disadvantaged Application
form/interview
communities
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of
and
The Application & Selection Process
Completing the Application
In making an application to the programme you should:
1. Read the guidance carefully, so that you have a clear picture of the programme, fully
understand the application process and can address the selection criteria
2. Complete all sections of the designated application form
3. Complete an Equality Monitoring Form with each application form
4. Submit your application by the specified time on the stipulated closing date.
Completed applications must be submitted to
The Community Engagement Initiative
Northern Ireland Museums Council
6 Crescent Gardens
Belfast BT7 1NS
Northern Ireland
By 12.00pm (Noon) on Friday 17th October 2014
Applications will only be accepted in hard-copy and may be delivered by hand or by post.
Please note:
1. E-mailed applications will not be accepted.
2. If an application form is not accompanied by a completed monitoring form it
will not be considered
The Application Forms
Application forms may be completed using black ink or typescript
Section 1
Take care with this section to ensure that all personal details are accurate and legible. It is
likely that invitations to participate in the selection process will be issued via email so it is
vital the selection panel can decipher your information.
Section 2
The information provided in this part of the form will be a critical part of the shortlisting
process and it is important that you provide specific, relevant details of skills you may have
acquired and knowledge you have gained giving examples where appropriate. Please give
the specific duration of any employment and/or volunteering experience you have acquired.
Section 3
Note that your responses to the questions in this section will be scored as part of the
selection process.
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Selection Procedures
A selection panel will assess all applications received and will shortlist applicants for
interview on the basis of the criteria stipulated and the information you provide.
An additional selection activity may be completed during the interview.
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General Information
Beginning the Training Programme
It is intended that this placement will commence in November or by agreement as soon as
possible thereafter.
The Community Engagement Initiative
There are 3 key strands to the Community Engagement Initiative:
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Work Based Learning with the Education Team
at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum (Host Museum Experience)
Taught modules which work from theory to practice, and include a wide range of
visits and speakers
Active learning opportunities employing a range of techniques.
The Host Museum Experience:
The museum placement will engage new people with their local heritage, extending and
diversifying the host museums’ audiences and community networks. The trainee will be
supported by a coach from the Education Team at NMNI. The coach will be able to provide,
support in the key areas required by their trainee, assess the progress of the project and
assess the skills and competencies being developed by the trainee on a regular basis.
Active Learning Opportunities
A range of techniques will be employed throughout the programme including using an
individual training account, supporting other trainees at their host museums, participating in
1-1 sessions with the Programme Co-ordinator and participating in Action Learning sessions.
Level 3 Qualification
The trainee may complete an optional Level 3 qualification
National Museums Northern Ireland is an accredited Centre via Pearson EDI (Education
Development International) to deliver a range of internationally recognised qualifications and
has successfully delivered several cycles of Cultural Heritage and Management
qualifications up to Level 5.
On completion of a professional development portfolio and practical assignments, the trainee
will receive a Level 3 vocational qualification in The Principles and Practices of Learning and
Development. The Award assesses the knowledge and understanding that a Community
Engagement practitioner requires to underpin their practice.
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What will be provided for and expected of the trainee?
Payment
The trainee will receive a tax free stipend for the period of the training programme. The
annual amount is £14 000. The payment will be made in equal monthly instalments. In
addition trainees will be reimbursed for the costs of travel to and from the set training days,
at an agreed rate.
Agreements
At the host museum, the trainee will be subject to the terms and conditions of that museum
and its governing body. In addition, the trainee will enter into an agreement with NIMC which
will set out the conditions, roles and responsibilities of both parties.
Responsibilities
The trainee will receive a detailed list of what is required of him/her within their host museum
in order to complete their project. In addition, s/he will be expected to fulfil the following
requirements as part of the Community Engagement Initiative:
 Attend all formal training days and Action Learning Sessions required by the
programme
 Document personal development throughout the programme
 Make formal presentations at key stages of the programme
 Attend formal meetings with project coach and Programme Co-ordinator
 Submit programme evaluation forms when required
Travel
The trainee will be required to have access to transport in order that they may fulfil the duties
and requirements of the project. While it is not essential to be able to drive and have access
to a car, it should be noted that s/he must have access to transport which will enable them to
fully address the project’s requirements.
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