We are already looking forward to welcoming all the new students who will be joining us this September, and if you are a one of them and fancy a taste of what support UniSkills can offer you during your time at the University check out our Getting Started With UniSkills offer.

Getting Started With UniSkill is a series of webinars and toolkits to specifically support new students who will be enrolling at Edge Hill University this coming autumn, and there is a choice of three topics you can choose from:

• Prepare Your Academic Resilience – will help equip new students with practical tools to nurture your academic resilience, help them recognise the qualities of a ‘growth’ as opposed to ‘fixed’ mindset, and help prepare them to feel confident in dealing constructively with feedback.
  
• Introduction to Academic Writing at University – introduces new students to what academic writing is, and what it involves at university level. We will look at what to expect as a new student at Edge Hill University, how to get the most out of your learning and how to maintain your study motivation.
  
• Research Skills at University – discover more about developing your research skills in preparation for studying at Edge Hill University. We will introduce new students to the concept of academic information, the importance of using dedicated search tools to find information and discuss good note-taking techniques for carrying out your research.

New students are welcome to join our live webinars throughout August and September and can access the accompanying interactive toolkits at a date/time that suits you. Please note the toolkits will be live from mid-August, as they are being specially developed in conjunction with the live sessions.

For more information, and to book your place on a Getting Started With UniSkills webinar please visit our Getting Started With UniSkills web pages. And don’t forget to visit the university’s Getting Started web pages for further advice and support for all new students at Edge Hill University.

So, enjoy the rest of your summer and we will see you (hopefully in a webinar) soon!

We know being away from campus over the last few months has been difficult for many people and you may feel out of touch with the university. If you want to reconnect, avoid that ‘summer slide’ and get a head start for the new term in September, then our Summer UniSkills offer may be just what you need.

Here in the Student Engagement team we provide a wide range of support designed to help you develop your academic skills and confidence at University and beyond. Since the University closed in the middle of March we have continued to support students virtually and there are a number of ways you can access our services.

UniSkills Webinars

We have a series of online workshops on offer over the summer which are an opportunity to dive deeper into a specific skill that will support you on your academic journey. Sessions include:

• Finding Academic Information
• Develop Your Academic Writing
• Being Critical
• Harvard Referencing
• Grow Your Academic Resilience (new addition for the summer)

You can book your place today via ehu.ac.uk/workshops

1-2-1 Appointments

As well as our UniSkills webinars you can also book a 1-2-1 appointment throughout the summer months with an Academic Skills Advisor. If you have a specific assignment, or piece of research you would like support with, they can help you develop your academic writing & referencing skills and show you how to find resources.

UniSkills Webpages

If you’d prefer to study in your own time and at your own pace then feel free to browse the UniSkills web pages, available 24/7! Here you’ll find our interactive online toolkits which contain loads of handy tips and tricks to help you to brush up on assignment planning, critical thinking, punctuation, proofreading and much more. There’s also some really handy guides and videos too!

LinkedIn Learning

If you are interested in expanding your skills in other areas, such as IT or your personal and professional development, then LinkedIn Learning is the place for you! It’s free for EHU students to use and has over 10,000 online courses for you to choose from, covering everything from Arithmetic to Zoom. We have even created some LinkedIn Learning playlists to get you started on topics such as public speaking and employability skills. Click here to find out more and for details on how to access LinkedIn Learning

Further Help & Support

For any general enquiries about resources for your study, IT related enquiries or academic skills support you can contact the Catalyst Helpdesk Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm and Saturday and Sunday between 10am – 6pm.

As we navigate the new challenges Covid-19 has presented, it has been remarkable to see our students (many of who are key workers, parents, and carers) stepping up and continuing to build their academic skills. Inspired by your unwavering motivation in our 1:1s and webinars, we began to think how UniSkills could expand on our usual writing, presenting and information skills offering, to support you too with overcoming any setbacks you might encounter during your studies. 

From receiving a mark lower than you had hoped, to receiving overwhelming feedback, the new ‘Grow your academic resilience’ toolkit delves into the fascinating theory behind adopting a ‘growth’ or ‘gritty’ mindset, and how this can help you thrive at university. Discover how to set meaningful goals, create an action plan, and even reflect on your progress so far. There’s also the chance to take an interactive quiz to find out your current mindset – although be warned, the result might surprise you!

So if you’re feeling like you could do with an extra boost of confidence over the summer, or are simply determined to shift your mindset from “I can’t” to “I can” or “I can’t yet”, then mark 30 minutes in your diary to dedicate to a new, resilient you. 

Alternatively, book your place and join us for a live ‘Grow your academic resilience’ webinar on June 30^th at 3pm, where Academic Skills Advisors Claire, Helen and Maisie can guide you through the activities and answer any questions you have in real-time. Don’t forget to let us know how you get on by sharing your thoughts or activity results with @EHULearnService, using the hashtag #GrowYourResilience. 

One of our main services to you, as the University Library, is providing access to high-quality academic resources and we do this in abundance – although at present you cannot access the physical book stock, you do have access to nearly 250,000 online resources!

Accessing Online Resources

The best place to start accessing your online resources is your Online Reading List, as your tutors will have compiled a list of great materials to begin your research journey. But really great research doesn’t limit itself to just one place, so be sure to make the most of all your resources via the Library Catalogue, Discover More and your online specialist subject databases.

Lots of eBooks remain multi-user, where available, with many extended to unlimited access until 30th June. We are also continuing to prioritise eBook purchases, looking into further electronic provisions and have a handy eBooks Guide to help you read online, or download, at your leisure.

You Want It, We Get It

If you come across any materials, such as books or journal articles, that are not currently accessible online then don’t despair – this isn’t the end of the line! Simply place a request via our You Want It, We Get It service, select the electronic option and we will do our best* to source a copy for you.

Additional Resources

Many publishers around the world are still making additional content temporarily available to support teaching and learning where access to physical books and resources may be limited. Keep up to date with all of these extra resources, and how to access them, on the additional access to eResources webpage.

UniSkills

So, all these resources, and lots of ways to access them, may feel a little overwhelming but don’t worry because that’s another great service we provide – helping you find, navigate and make the most of all your online resources!

A great place to start is our Digital Library Induction and UniSkills Finding Academic Information webpages. On here we have created a package of online tutorials to guide you through how to access, and make the most of, your key learning resources. And don’t forget you can also book a UniSkills virtual 1-2-1 appointment for support with library search skills, finding resources and improving your search strategy, including:

• Finding resources for your assignment
• Searching the Library Catalogue for books and eBooks
• Using Discover More to find online journal articles and other online resources
• Discuss and develop search strategies

Further Help & Support

If you need any further help or support with your online resources, or any other library related queries, get in touch with us via email or live chat.