Student Research Assistant: Assuring Quality in Industry-Integrated Learning QAA Collaborative Enhancement Project in London

About the Opportunity

Position Overview

• Discipline: Interdisciplinary
• Faculty: CoMENS & Social Sciences
• Location: London (St Katherines Dock)
• Term: Part-time; Fixed term – working 6 hours per week for 13 weeks.
• Salary Range: £16.64/hour
• Direct Reports: None
• Reports to: Yu-Chun Pan & Sara Abdaless

Benefits

The university supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance, offers flexible working and parental leave opportunities, an Employee Assistance Programme which provides free, confidential advice on both home and work concerns as well as optional private medical insurance, season ticket loans and being part of the cycle to work scheme.

Start: 14 Sep 2026

The Role

Northeastern University London wishes to appoint two Student Research Assistants to work as active collaborators on this project alongside the research team. This is a paid, part-time role running from September 2026 to January 2027.

The project focuses on industry-integrated learning, i.e., any aspect of your degree that connects academic study with professional practice or real-world experience. This includes placements, co-operative education, degree apprenticeships, professional practicums, live briefs, industry projects, and other forms of work-based or employer-engaged learning. We are investigating how universities and their employer partners assure the quality of that learning, and what frameworks and tools would help them do it better.

Student Research Assistants contribute to the design of research instruments, the facilitation of focus groups, and the development of the quality assurance framework. Your perspective as a student with direct experience of this kind of learning is central to the project's aims.

About the project

This project is funded by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and led by Northeastern University London in partnership with King's College London and London South Bank University. It investigates how higher education institutions and their industry partners assure the quality of work-integrated learning, i.e., programmes where significant student learning takes place in workplace settings such as impact challenges, live briefs, internships, placements, co-operative education, and degree apprenticeships.

The project runs from May 2026 to June 2027 and will produce a cross-institutional quality assurance framework, a self-assessment toolkit for institutions, and a range of sector-facing outputs.

Responsibilities

The student research assistants will be supporting two key elements of the project:

• Evidence Gathering (September - November 2026): co-design interview and focus group materials with the research team; promote and recruit participants for focus groups and interviews; co-facilitate student focus groups; contribute to transcription of interview and focus group recordings.
• Framework Development (November 2026 - January 2027): participate in iterative workshops to co-design draft QA frameworks and employability assessment tools; provide feedback on drafts from a student perspective.

Person Specification Criteria

To undertake this role, the following skills or traits are desirable – should you not have the experience below, please highlight where transferable skills would assist with you undertaking the role.

• Essential: Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at Northeastern University London; Direct experience of an industry-integrated learning component; Ability to work independently and manage time across a longer-term project; Strong written and verbal communication skills; Commitment to research ethics and confidentiality.
• Desirable: Prior involvement in qualitative research, student representation, or quality assurance processes; Interest in higher education policy or graduate employability; Experience of working across teams or in a professional setting.

Additional Information

Enquiries

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Yu-Chun Pan at y.pan@nulondon.ac.uk. However, all applications must be made in accordance with the application process specified.

Application Process

Applicants should submit their CV and a short statement (no more than 300 words) explaining their interest in the project and their experience of industry-integrated learning. Please note this role may require a basic or enhanced DBS check. Our organisation acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of our students and staff, and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and Ofsted requirements. You must adhere to the above if you are offered a role with NU London.

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

Position Type: Student

Salary Range: £16.64 per hour

About the University

Northeastern University London (NU London) is a prestigious higher education institution based in the heart of London and is part of Northeastern University’s global campus network. Overlooking the River Thames near Tower Bridge, NU London offers academically challenging educational programmes designed to inspire innovative thinking, encourage interdisciplinary study, and provide global experiences. The bright and modern campus offers award-winning, contemporary facilities for students and staff including state-of-the-art audio-visual technology in its teaching and meeting spaces.

Inspired by excellence, infused with an energy of ideas and ability in motion, at NU London, being a part of our staff is to be a part of a collective of entrepreneurs and educators, builders and thinkers. NU London is growing quickly, offering opportunity and growth for our staff. Currently hosting 1,500 students, our aim is to have 4,000 students by 2028/29.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, the University supports staff maintaining a good work/life balance, your health and wellness are of utmost importance to us, and our offerings encompass: 25 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays and winter break holidays (normally 2 days between Christmas and New Year); Access to personalised Continuous Professional Development (CPD) plans and opportunities; Support with private medical insurance; Eye test reimbursement; Cycle Scheme vouchers; 24/7 employee assistance/support via our Employee Assistance Programme; Access to deals and discounts for food & shopping in the local area.

Enquiries

Informal enquiries may be made to jobs@nulondon.ac.uk. However, all applications must be made in accordance with the application process specified.

Application process: Applications should be made via by 00:00 on 2026-08-25. Participation in the equal opportunities section is encouraged, but voluntary. Applications must include a covering letter of no more than one page that addresses the criteria for the role and a full curriculum vitae. The panel will be shortlisting for this position on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this post before the closing date if we receive a large number of applications. Please note all employees of Northeastern University London are required to undergo at least a basic DBS check. Our organisation acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of our students and staff, and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and Ofsted requirements. You must adhere to the above if you are offered a role with NU London.

For staff’s own wellbeing, for part-time roles, the expectation is if you have multiple roles, they should not exceed full-time (37.5 hours per week), and for full-time roles, the expectation is that this will be your only role (apart from intermittent roles).

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups, including the Global Majority. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.