What is the Undergraduate Research Support Scheme (URSS)?

The Undergraduate Research Support SchemeLink opens in a new window enables Warwick undergraduate students to carry out a non-assessed, self-directed research project. The project should be between 6-10 weeks, and students receive supervision from a Warwick academic. URSS projects are usually carried out over the summer between July and September.

What is the Warwick in Africa programme?

Warwick in Africa is a philanthropically funded programme run by the University. The primary aim of the programme is to support the teaching and learning of Mathematics and English. Our principal beneficiaries, the secondary learners in our partner schools, benefit from the additional support provided by our volunteers in the classroom who work closely alongside local teachers. Volunteers also play an active role in school life during their 6-week placement: preparing and delivering after school activity clubs and activities and providing the school with additional support to realise improvements. In addition to this core volunteering scheme, teaching staff benefit from a range of activities offered through the programme in support of their continuous professional development.

How could you take part in URSS for the benefit of WIA in summer 2025?

If you feel that your project idea aligns broadly with the aims of the Warwick in Africa programme, we would be delighted to discuss this further with you.

Some possible project themes might be:

• Improving Numeracy Through Contextualized Learning: Investigate how incorporating real-life examples into mathematics lessons impacts student engagement and understanding.
• Barriers to English Language Fluency: Explore challenges students face in developing spoken English skills and identify effective classroom strategies to address them.
• Exploring AI Tools in Low-Resource Classrooms: Explore the potential of AI-driven educational tools to enhance teaching and learning, and evaluate their adaptability in resource-constrained settings.
• The Role of After-School Clubs in STEM Engagement: Explore how coding and robotics clubs influence students' interest in STEM subjects and potential career aspirations.
• Teacher Retention and Morale in Low-Resource Settings: Examine the factors that contribute to teacher job satisfaction and their correlation with retention rates in partner schools.
• Student Perceptions of Volunteer Support: Gather insights into how secondary school students perceive the role and impact of international volunteers in their learning journey.

How should you apply? What might be the benefits of contacting us before you submit your URSS application?

You should apply for URSS in the usual way by following all of the steps outlined on their webpagesLink opens in a new window.

However, if you feel that your project idea relates to the WIA programme and its aims, you should contact warwickinafrica@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window to talk to us first. By doing so, you may benefit from some additional support in terms of connecting with relevant schools or organisations in Africa via links we have forged in Africa from almost 20 years of operating in South Africa and Ghana. We may also be able to assist with planning for any time spent in-country to undertake fieldwork, or with accessing flights donated to the programme by the Emirates Airline Foundation.