Emily Davies received ‘Best Employability Support’ at Exeter’s Teaching Awards.

Student Startup Manager receives prestigious teaching award

Emily Davies, Student Startup Manager for Think:Try:Do, the Student Startup Programme at the University has received an award for Best Employability Support at Exeter’s Teaching Awards.

The accolade was presented at the annual Students' Guild and FXU Teaching Awards 2018, held at the University’s Great Hall. Students nominate University staff for awards including ‘Best Lecturer’ and ‘Most Innovative Teaching.’ More than 1300 nominations were received across fourteen categories this year.

The winner of the ‘Best Employability Award’ is: “The member of staff that goes out of their way to support students by giving exceptional employability advice and support, through modules designed around employability or in a pastoral role.”

Speaking of the award Emily said: “I feel incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing people - colleagues, students and graduates; to build a successful programme and to nurture and develop entrepreneurial ideas and sparks of brilliance across our University community.”

Details of some of the nominations Emily received from her students included:

“Think, Try, Do, is an amazing opportunity and her support to students who are thinking of moving their idea forward is unparalleled.”

“She is really supportive and even after a really long day she is still willing to listen to our problems and give helpful suggestions.”

“Innovative, always positive and has given me such amazing opportunities to inspire my business."

“She has really revolutionised the free entrepreneurial workshops provided to students, with consistent weekly sessions with many guest lectures attending to lend their advice.”

Speaking of her role Emily said: “Though I am still in the early days of my role as Student Startup Manager, this journey really started 7 years ago when I took my first step into Higher Education, joining CAPA International Education, managing an internship placement programme for American undergraduate students studying abroad in London. After 5 years in London, I moved to Exeter to provide maternity cover for the role of Global Employability Consultant at the University and then worked as a freelance coach for Exeter based startup Corkscrew, before securing the role of Student Startup Manager. Through these years, I have been frequently reminded of what a privilege it is to work with young people at this critical point in their lives when they are discovering more about who they are, what they want to do and where they want to be. Through it all, my drive has been to help people realise their potential, to give them the tools to succeed, the confidence to pursue their dreams and ambitions and to find their sense of purpose and place in the world.”

Emily concluded: “It is a particularly exciting time to be this role, as resources for entrepreneurial education and support at the University are increasing, our team is growing and we have many exciting new projects on the horizon. Thank you to all involved in coordinating such a brilliant event, for recognizing the work of academic and professional services here and to everybody that makes this such an exciting and special place to work.”

To discover more about Think:Try:Do visit the website.
For more on Emily visit her LinkedIn page.
To read the full list on winners from the Students’ Guild and FXU Teaching Awards 2018 visit the website.

Date: 18 May 2018