UniSkills Campaigns

#FindYourFeet with UniSkills is returning Monday 27 to Friday 31 January 2025, check out the full schedule below for all your opportunities to take part.
NB: Once events are live for booking we will add links to the workshop details below.

#FindYourFeet is our bi-annual (October and January) welcome and induction support for all new students at Edge Hill aimed at supporting new and transitioning students at key times of the year. This campaign, along with #NextSteps, are co-designed and co-delivered by your team of Student Advisors.

Although each campaign may vary slightly, the overall aim of #FindYourFeet is to help you settle in to studying at Edge Hill and take your first steps to developing key academic skills.

We aim to achieve this by providing opportunity for you to meet and talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Student Advisors as they guide you through:

• Useful links on the Student Homepage, including your student portals
• Getting the most out of your virtual learning environment Learning Edge
• Exploring the Institution Homepage and tips for navigating Blackboard
• How to find and access your print and digital library resources via Discover More | Reading Lists Online | Subject Resources) including:
  • how to find and loan physical books
  • how to find and access eBooks
• Discover how UniSkills can help you develop your academic skills
• Learn more about other Catalyst specialist support teams
• Opportunity to ask us any questions!

#FindYourFeet sessions are great for all new students or any returning to study who would like a refresher ahead of the new term – book your place today!

#NextSteps to Academic Success is returning Monday 24 to Friday 28 February 2025, check out the full schedule below for all your opportunities to take part.
NB: Once events are live for booking we will add links to the workshop details below.

#NextSteps to Academic Success is the follow on campaign to #FindYourFeet and usually runs in the month following #FindYourFeet. As these campaigns are aimed at supporting new and transitioning students they run at key induction times of the year in October / November and in February / March. Both of these campaigns are co-designed and co-delivered by your team of Student Advisors.

Although each campaign may vary slightly, the overall aim of #NextSteps is to help you settle in to studying at Edge Hill and take your next steps to developing key academic skills.

We aim to achieve this by providing opportunity for you to meet and talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Student Advisors as they guide you through:

• Getting the most out of your library resources via Discover More | Reading Lists Online | Subject Resources
• Introduction to your referencing resources – toolkits, guides and top tips
• Develop your proofreading proficiency with strategies for checking your assignments ahead of submission
• Explore ways to achieve and maintain a happy and healthy study-life balance
• Reminder of how UniSkills can help you develop your academic skills
• Learn more about other Catalyst specialist support teams
• Opportunity to ask us any questions!

#NextSteps sessions are great for all new students or any returning who would like a refresher ahead of the new term – book your place today!

As the days get shorter and your to-do list feels like it’s getting longer and longer, we’re here to help you navigate university life with ease! Join us all week (in person and online) for a week full of support, strategies and celebrations to keep you feeling balanced, focused and – most importantly – happy. Whether you’re tackling your first assignment or just need help rediscovering your rhythm, we’ve got something for everyone. Read on to find out how you can get involved with Study Happy Week.

Study Happy Week | 4-8 November

Don’t worry if you can’t physically make it to the festival on Wednesday 6 November as there’s plenty happening throughout the week that you can dip in and out of as you need.

Stay tuned to our socials
For regular updates and signposting to all your specialist support be sure to follow us @EHULibrary Instagram. We’ll be signposting to some useful blogs, introducing to you even more of your Student Advisors and sharing useful information and digital support. There will also be an opportunity to enter the Study Happy Competition landing on our grid 9am on Monday 4 November. All you need to do to take part is comment with your best Study Happy tips and you could be in with a chance to win a £25 voucher of your choice (terms and conditions apply).

UniSkills Toolkits and #NextSteps to Academic Success
Explore your UniSkills Toolkits online and develop your academic skills in a time and pace that suits you. From academic reading, writing and being critical to referencing and resilience, we’ll be sharing these accessible resources throughout the week, along with opportunity to take your #NextSteps to Academic Success drop-ins and online workshops.

Exam Modifications and Assistive Technologies
Need extra support with your studies? Make sure to check out the Assistive Technologies page to explore technologies that can support your proofreading, note-taking and planning skills. And if you require any additional support with your assessments, such as exam modifications, make sure you’ve let the Inclusion Team know by Friday 29 November 2024. Even if you’ve received modifications prior to joining Edge Hill you will still need to complete exam modifications with us to continue receiving similar adjustments at university. If you’re not sure if you are eligible for exam modifications, you can speak to the Inclusion team to discuss what you might need.

Therapy Dogs | 5 November
Remember, remember Join your Student Life Team and their furry friends from Therapy Dogs Nationwide on 5 November (11am-1pm) and enjoy some puppy cuddles. We know life at university can be busy and sometimes a little stressful, so let that all disappear for a while with the therapy dogs. The dogs can’t wait to meet you – book your place today!

Stress Awareness Day | 6 November
Wednesday 6 November is Stress Awareness Day so we’ll be sharing stress-busting tips and promoting workshops to help you stay calm and focused. If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Mental Health and Wellbeing team for support. And don’t forget you have free access to a 24/7 online community and professional support from trained counsellors through Togetherall.

Getting the most out of Learning Edge (Blackboard) and Ally
Learn more about using Learning Edge (Blackboard) with handy guides and video tutorials. Whether it’s getting the most out of your Blackboard Notifications or using Ally accessibility tools, we’ll help you navigate your essential learning platforms like a pro.

Reading for Pleasure with Libby
Need a break from your studies? Dive into something fun with Reading for Pleasure. We’ll show you how to access a world of eBooks via Libby, so you can escape with a good read anytime you need it. Or perhaps films are more your bag, if so have you explored your free access to Box of Broadcasts and Kanopy?

Careers Support
Looking ahead to your future or perhaps some part-time work? We’ll be signposting you to our Careers team, where you can get help with everything from CV writing to finding part-time jobs. Drop-in to Careers Corner all week (daily, 11am-3pm) to speak with a Careers Adviser.

Talk to Student Support
Your dedicated Student Support team are here for Care Leavers or Estranged, Young Adult Carers, Trans, pregnant or new parents. They also support all students if things aren’t going to plan, you are struggling or thinking of leaving and not sure where to go for support.

Why Get Involved?

Whether you’re a first-year or a seasoned pro, Study Happy Week has something for everyone. This is your chance to connect with support and resources designed to make your studies and life a little easier, less stressful and allow you to enjoy the balance that comes with a happier approach to university life.

Although each year’s campaigns will vary slightly, the overall aim of Study Happy Week is to help you find a healthy and happy study-life balance that works for you!

We aim to achieve this by supporting, sharing and signposting to:

• Tools and techniques that can help you study happier
• Meet your Student Advisors and learn more about their experience as an Edge Hill student and how they developed their own study happy
• Support available from Catalyst specialist support teams, including UniSkills, disability support from SpLD and Inclusion, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Money Advice and more!

How to #SleighYourStudies this winter

As the nights grow longer and those pesky deadlines sneak a little closer, Catalyst specialist support teams are here to help you #SleighYourStudies this December. Whether you’re tackling assignments, prepping for January exams, or just need a little extra support to stay motivated, we’ve got you covered!

Workshops and Specialist Support

Book your place on an upcoming UniSkills Workshops and explore online resources designed to sharpen your academic skills. From finding the best specialist study strategies to perfecting your exam prep, there’s something for everyone.

Reel-y Helpful Video Guides

Make sure you’re following @EHULibrary over on Instagram for all the best tips, guidance and fun study inspiration this winter. We’ll be showcasing how to make the most of your Online Reading Lists and Discover More to find and loan books. As well as taking you on the journey of a book from loan to home and back again!

Research Catalyst Advent Calendar

You will also be able to open the Research Catalyst Advent Calendar every day on our Instagram Stories for a sneak peek behind the University Archives rolling stacks. From 1 to 24 December there’ll be a new image released with a sprinkling of winter magic to spread some cheer!

Toolkits Tuesdays

Discover all your essential toolkits to help you power through deadlines, including accessibility resources, finding academic information, referencing, writing and much more! We’ll be showcasing a couple of key topics every Tuesday throughout December on @EHULibrary Instagram.

• Tuesday 3 December: Finding Academic Information Toolkit – Discover more about what academic information is, where to find it and developing a search strategy.
• Tuesday 10 December: ADHD / ADD Toolkit – Discover more about ADHD / ADD, strategies you can use and the pathway to accessing support from your dedicated SpLD team.
• Tuesday 17 December: Grow Your Academic Resilience – Discover how to deal confidently with your academic studies and complete your own academic resilience plan. 

Winter Wellbeing

This time of year can feel particularly challenging when its darker and colder outside, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious or low in mood know your Mental Health and Wellbeing team are here to support you with all of your health and wellbeing needs throughout your time at Edge Hill. They offer emotional and practical support and can also help you access other services that may be relevant to you, such as counselling, Student Life and even external services. There are lots of great self-help resources such as Togetherall available in addition to appointments available at Ormskirk and Manchester St James’.

Mental Health at Manchester St James’

A Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners is available for bookable appointments, for initial assessments, and pre-agreed counselling sessions at Manchester St James’ on Thursday’s at Manchester St James’.

Spotlight on Your Study Spaces

Think you know Catalyst inside out? Test your powers of observation in our Spot the Study Space Difference Competition! On the first four Mondays of December, we’ll be posting weekly photo challenges that could help you win a £25 EHU food voucher – perfect for a cosy winter treat. And if you’re planning to visit Catalyst over the winter break, make sure you’re up to date with the festive opening times and plan your study session before you set out.

How to Enter:

Throughout December, your Student Advisors will be sharing two almost identical images of a festive study space in Catalyst on Instagram. In each cosy carousel post there will be five differences between each study space image, and all you need to do is slide in our DMs and tell us:

• The five differences – has anything shifted, appeared or disappeared?
• Your student number – to be eligible to enter the prize draw!

The great part is every correct entry you submit across the four posts will be pooled into a grand prize draw, giving you multiple chances to win!

Ask Us @Catalyst

If you need any further information, support or signposting then Catalyst Helpdesk are always here for you. You can contact them direct via the physical Helpdesk, on the ground floor of Catalyst, or virtually via email, phone and via the online knowledge base and live chat in AskUs.

However you join us this December we look forward to supporting you to make this winter the season you conquer your studies with confidence.

Although each year’s campaigns will vary slightly, the overall aim of #SleighYourStudies is to support you through those dark, winter days when deadlines are looming and assessments are on the horizon.

We aim to achieve this by sharing and signposting to:

• UniSkills Workshops and online resources to help you successfully navigate your studies
• Experiences and strategies from your Student Advisors on how they survive and thrive this time of year
• Support available from Catalyst specialist teams, including UniSkills, SpLD, Wellbeing and many more!

January will be here before you know it, so take the time now to plan ahead and decide how you’d like to kick off your new year so you can unwind and enjoy your winter break, confident you’re set up for a successful 2025!

Save the Date: Special Edition Workshops

Save the date and reserve your spot now for one (or both!) of our exclusive New Year, New UniSkills workshops. These workshops are designed to help you identify your unique strengths as a student and create a personalised set of effective study strategies.

Academic study resolutions

Set your new year study intentions and find inspiration from your Student Advisors as they welcome you back on 2 January by sharing their personal academic study resolution in a new Instagram Reel. Be sure to follow us on @EHULibrary Instagram as we will also be inviting you to join the conversation and share your own goals and study resolutions by using #NewYearNewUniSkills.

UniSkills Toolkits

Unlock your potential with UniSkills Toolkits, your go to online resources for building your academic skills at your own pace, anytime, anywhere.

UniSkills Toolkits are interactive, expertly crafted learning resources, each focusing on a specific academic skill or topic. Developed by your knowledgeable Academic Skills Advisors in collaboration with academics, professional colleagues and Edge Hill students, your toolkits are designed to be accurate, accessible and engaging. Whether you’re wanting to sharpen your academic reading, writing and critical thinking, master referencing, or build resilience, there’s a toolkit tailored just for you!

Get organised with LinkedIn Learning

Discover endless opportunities with LinkedIn Learning! As an Edge Hill University student, you can enjoy free, unlimited access to a vast library of training courses on creative, business and personal development topics. Start with our Getting Organised learning path, carefully curated by your Student Advisors, featuring practical courses like Getting Things Done and One-Minute Habits for Success to enhance your organisational skills for the year ahead.

And if you’re eager to grow your tech skills, check out our TechSkills pages to access a range of quick guides to Microsoft Office and Adobe applications, create engaging posters, discover free software and many more resources to help you succeed.

Meet your academic skills support teams: UniSkills and SpLD

We’re the friendly faces you’ll encounter, both in person and online, through a range of support channels dedicated to helping you thrive and achieve your full potential during your time at university. If you’ve already connected with us, you might know a bit about who we are and how we can help. But if not, now’s the perfect time to dive in, learn more about what we do, and meet the exciting new members of our UniSkills and SpLD teams!

Reading for pleasure

Take care of your wellbeing this winter by exploring your Reading for Pleasure Collection. Alongside a variety of fiction and non-fiction titles, we’ll be sharing our specially curated reading lists to help you study happier, smarter and support your mental health. Visit the ground floor of Catalyst to browse the collection in person, or dive into our eBooks and audiobooks anytime using the Libby app.

We hope you’ll join us in January and enjoy taking part in everything we have planned. Together, let’s prepare for an exciting new year filled with growth, achievements and of course – impeccable referencing!

Although each year’s campaigns will vary slightly, the overall aim of New Year, New UniSkills is to welcome you back after the winter break and give you the tools and motivation to plan for success!

We aim to achieve this by sharing and signposting to:

• Specially designed UniSkills Workshops to help you set effective goals and develop positive study habits
• Your Student Advisors will share their study resolutions and goals for the coming year
• Support available from Catalyst specialist teams, including UniSkills, TechSkills, Careers and many more!

Welcome to Ace Your Assessments

Assessment season is fast approaching, and the irony of April being Stress Awareness Month is not lost on us. So, what better time to access your dedicated Catalyst specialist support than joining us Monday 31 March to Friday 11 April 2025. Read on to discover all the ways you can engage with and access assessment support to Ace Your Assessments this year!

Academic skills support from UniSkills

Want to develop your academic writing, master Harvard referencing, become a paraphrasing pro or prepare for an upcoming exam? We’ve got a workshop for that!

And all UniSkills sessions give you the tools you need to succeed. Explore the full UniSkills Workshop programme by logging into the UniSkills portal or pick from the targeted menu below to book your place today!

If you are taking any exams this assessment season then be sure to visit the UniSkills Exam Preparation page for lots more information and support from effective revision planning to on the day strategies to keep you calm, collected and in control.

Online Assessments and Your Digital Skills

Assessments come in a variety of different forms and you may find you are required to submit assessments online. We have developed some useful guidance to support you when accessing technology for online learning and assessment.

Prior to submitting online assessments, you can use your pre-submission checklist which lists a number of considerations to help you avoid common issues.

Depending on the nature of the work you are submitting, you might be required to use specific submission tools including Turnitin, Panopto and Blackboard. We have produced specific guidance for each of these tools to minimise any stress. You can also contact the Catalyst Helpdesk if you need further help or support.

We’re also excited to announce we’ll be piloting a number of digital skills workshops for students, including a session on Recording in Panopto. This session will demonstrate how to record, edit, add captions and a contents list to videos, including opportunity for you to practise recording in Panopto. Explore the full range of digital skills workshops in the table below:

Catch up with your Student Advisors and Campus Connectors

Join your UniSkills Student Advisors and Student Life Campus Connectors at the Student Life Arch every Monday and Friday throughout the campaign.

Access ultimate Ace Your Assessments hacks straight from your fellow students! They’ve been in your situation, tackled similar (if not the same!) challenges and can advise on what’s worked well for them. From top tips to game changing tricks, they’ve got the insider knowledge and strategies to help you succeed.

You’ll also have opportunity to submit a question to be read out and answered on Instagram throughout the week by your Academic Skills Advisors. This could be a question you need answering yourself (although please don’t wait to ask – contact us now if you need support!) or something you’ve learned that could help others to know more about.

Study motivation live on your socials

Make sure to be following @EHULibrary over on Instagram, to keep up to date with all the latest news, events and support throughout the year, and during Ace Your Assessment you’ll be able to access exciting and informative content such as:

• Lived experience and helpful advice of what it’s like to undergo assessments at Edge Hill from your Student Advisors
• Take part in a question and answer feature with your knowledgeable Academic Skills Advisors
• Discover useful assistive technologies and revision strategies (with a side of ASMR) live on Thursday 12 April, 12-1pm
• Lots more advice, study inspiration and academic skills support!

Toolkit Tuesdays are back!

Discover all your essential toolkits to help you power through your assessments, including accessibility resources, finding academic information, referencing, writing and much more! We’ll be showcasing a couple of key topics each Tuesday throughout Ace Your Assessments on @EHULibrary Instagram.

• Tuesday 1 April: Academic Writing Toolkit – One of the most essential academic skills you will develop at university is writing academically and this toolkit can help you with the basics of writing through to developing your structure and organisation, building an argument, and even specific writing styles (reflective, report and scientific), so you can refine your writing skills for a strong submission.
• Tuesday 8 April: UniSkills Toolkits – Discover all your academic skills support toolkits in one place on our newly created UniSkills Toolkits page – whether you need guidance on how to find the best academic information or develop your search strategy; want to be more critical in your writing; have a specific task in mind such as a literature review, dissertation or research project; or you want to make better use of your feedback – there’s a toolkit for you!

Study-Life-Balance

As important as it is to study and prepare for your upcoming assessments, it is as equally important to make sure you are living your best balanced life too. Taking regular breaks and engaging in activities that bring you joy can make all the different to your studies. Thankfully there is never a dull moment at Edge Hill and your Student Life team have a huge line up of events across the whole year.

During Ace Your Assessment weeks we highly recommend the events below, but be sure to log into the Student Life portal to browse and book on the full offer.

And, if improving your studies wasn’t incentive enough to take a break, for all Student Life events you attend you can Scan In To Win!

Following the success of this initiative earlier in the year, there is another £100 worth of vouchers and prizes up for grabs. To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is join a Student Life event and make sure to scan the QR code on arrival.

All Edge Hill Residents attending can also collect ResLife points with additional prizes available for you, your flatmates and your halls community.

The more Student Life events you attend between Saturday 1 March 1 and Friday 11 April the more chances you have to win.

Wellbeing support to help you stress less

The best way to look after your mental wellbeing is first and foremost make sure you are well prepared for any upcoming assessments. But if you are struggling, please make sure you are accessing the support you need in whichever way works best for you.

Exam Modifications
If you require any additional support, such as exam modifications, make sure you’ve let the Inclusion Team know by Friday 28 March 2025. Even if you’ve received modifications prior to joining Edge Hill you will still need to complete exam modifications with us to continue receiving similar adjustments at university. If you’re not sure if you are eligible for exam modifications, you can contact the Inclusion team to discuss what you might need.

Financial Wellbeing
The Easter break falls a little later this year and we know this can mean having to stretch your maintenance loans that little bit further. If you have any money worries or would benefit from advice on student funding, personal finances or applying for additional financial support the Money Advice team are here to help!

Mental Health and Wellbeing
Your Mental Health and Wellbeing team are here to offer advice and support to all students through a range of appointments, counselling and self-help resources. Edge Hill are also partnered with Health Assured to offer you confidential access to Edge Well 24/7.

You can access Edge Well 24/7, 365 days of the year, by freephone and live chat, for immediate support from qualified professionals. The easiest way to explore Edge Well 24/7 support is to the install the free Wisdom app on your device. Visit the Edge Well 24/7 page for more information and to download the Wisdom app.

Social Prescribing
If you’re not quite sure how you’re feeling, and would like to discuss support options you can also self-refer yourself to the Social Prescribing team who can can assist you in identifying your personal goals and linking you to relevant activities both on campus and within the community that can enhance your mood and overall well-being.

Go forth and Ace Your Assessments!

Hopefully you’ve discovered some useful information on this page and are ready to take your assessment skills to the next level. From everyone across your Catalyst specialist support teams we wish you the best of luck and we’re excited to support you to achieve your goals this assessment season.

Supporting summer assessments!

Ace Your Assessments will return Monday 21 July to Friday 8 August 2025 to ensure you are prepped and ready for any summer assessments. More information will be announced on this page in the coming months.

Your teams of knowledgeable Academic Skills Advisors and Student Advisors write lots of really useful blogs to help you explore and develop your academic skills and to learn more about a range of different topics. We’ve collated a couple of useful blogs for you below to read more about tried and tested revision techniques and study strategies:

Although each campaign will vary slightly, the overall aim of Ace Your Assessments (previously known as Ready, Set, Revise) is to support you in preparation for your upcoming assessment periods.

We aim to achieve this by sharing and signposting to:

• Tools and techniques that can help you develop your revision strategies, exam techniques and improve your study skills
• Meet your Student Advisors and learn more about their experience with assessments as an Edge Hill student
• Support available from Catalyst specialist support teams, including UniSkills, disability support from SpLD and Inclusion, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Money Advice and more!

UniSkills have created a suite of interactive online toolkits to help you develop your skills and understanding of topics such as referencing, being critical and academic integrity. As part of our ongoing evaluation of our digital learning resources we will be introducing a feedback survey to our newer toolkits. As a thank you for providing your feedback there will be an option to enter your details into our bi-annual prize draw and these are the terms and conditions for this particular initiative:

1. Only current Edge Hill University students are eligible to enter the prize draw and claim any prizes.
2. Entry is open all year round, prize draws are made twice a year and you will be automatically entered into the next available prize draw.
3. Entries for each draw will close at 11:59pm on 30 November and 11:59pm on 31 May and will re-open on 1 December and 1 June each year for the next 6-month period.
4. Only one entry per student in each 6-month period will be entered into the prize draw.
5. The winner will be picked at random from all eligible entries and contacted within 14 days of each draw.
6. The winner will be contacted via their Edge Hill student email address and will receive an email from an official @edgehill.ac.uk email address.
7. The prize is a £10 voucher of your choice.
8. The winner can request any voucher they like but we must be able to purchase the voucher via one of the following options:
   • Online as an eVoucher (e.g. Morrisons)
   • On or within walking distance from the Ormskirk Campus (e.g. Bloom and Brew)
   • Prizes can also be donated to a charity of your choice (e.g. The Trussell Trust)
9. Prize winners are encouraged to opt for an ethical, sustainable and/or local company – join us as we try our best to help save the planet!
10. All prizes are non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives.
11. Prizes must be claimed within 28 days of being contacted via email from an official @edgehill.ac.uk email address.
12. If winners cannot be contacted, or prizes are not claimed by deadline indicated above, entries will become null and void and a re-draw may take place.

We are currently seeking student feedback on your experience engaging with the Learning and Support Services Induction Toolkit. As a thank you for completing a very short survey (2-3 minutes) we are offering you the chance to win one of five great prizes. The following lists the terms and conditions for this particular initiative:

1. Only current Edge Hill University students are eligible to enter the prize draw and claim any prizes. 
2. The competition opens at 9am on Monday 17 February 2025 and closes at 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 March 2025.
3. Students need to complete a very short survey (2-3 minutes), providing their student number when prompted within the survey, to be eligible to be entered into the prize draw.
4. Entries will only be accepted via completion of the survey and provision of an active student number.
5. All entries will be entered in to the same prize draw and five winners will be picked at random contacted by Friday 4 April 2025.
6. The winner will be contacted via their Edge Hill student email address and will receive an email from an official @edgehill.ac.uk email address. 
7. The prizes available include a £15 EHU Food and Drink Voucher, a £10 EHU Food and Drink Voucher and 3x 53.3 Degrees Café hot drink vouchers all of which can be redeemed on the Ormskirk campus.
8. All prizes are non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives.
9. Prizes must be claimed by 5pm on Thursday 17 April 2025. 
10. If the winner cannot be contacted, or the prize is not claimed by the deadline above, the winning entry will become null and void and a re-draw may take place.