Yan Melody Shen

Yan (Melody) Shen

What made you sign up for the Warwick Award? What was the appeal?

As an international student, I am very eager to actively participate in the various extracurricular activities offered by the university during my studies. I hope to challenge myself in a new country, try things I have never experienced before, and develop my skills and overall competencies. When I learned about the Warwick Award, I was immediately drawn to it, as it not only provides a structured way to record and recognize the skills I gain outside the academic studies, but also gives me a strong sense of achievement.

Have you found the Award platform easy to use and manage your progress?

Yes, although I felt a bit confused when I first saw the platform, once I got familiar with it, I found that the Awards platform is actually very easy to use and allows me to track my progress, and it’s good to check it regularly.

How have you managed to balance developing your skills through the Award with your studies?

I often use a variety of skills in my course. For example, group projects require teamwork, while course preparation and class participation involve critical thinking and problem-solving skills. At the same time, actively taking part in university-organized activities has also helped me develop other skills further and enriched my overall campus experience.

What are some activities you’ve completed that have contributed towards your Award progress? What sort of skills did they help you develop?

The Language Programme and the Presentation and Communication Programme have both greatly supported my progress toward achieving the Awards. These are very useful courses and activities, I have learned Spanish and Japanese, and become more confident in delivering presentations. These skills will also be highly valuable in my future career.

Which of the 12 core skills at the heart of the Award do you think are the most important ones for students to develop?

I would say that teamwork and intercultural awareness are the most important skills. This is because everyone will need to collaborate with classmates on group projects during their studies, and understanding and respecting cultural differences is essential, not only in the UK, but also within the university environment and in the workplace.

How did it feel when you achieved the Warwick Award?

Receiving the Warwick Award gave me a strong sense of achievement. It not only recognized the skills I had developed, but also served as a valuable record of my active participation in campus life. I was so delighted that I shared the news on LinkedIn as soon as I received the award