President’s Volunteer Award (PVA)

Welcome!

Our vision for the University of Limerick is to provide an outstanding student experience, to actively serve our communities and to contribute to the civil, social and cultural life of the Shannon Region and beyond.  The PVA is a unique higher education volunteer award.  The President of the University formally recognise students for their volunteering work and that is why all PVA's boost the UL student transcript.  Please take the time to explore this website and discover how volunteering can help to make a difference in your own life and in your community.

The President's Volunteer Award is also designed to help you put the V in your CV during your time in UL. The best thing about putting the V in your CV is, you are supporting and contributing to the development of clubs, societies and organisations as well as the people using and needing these services and supports.  You are also making great use of your spare time, learning new skills and gaining valuable practical experience and transferrable work-related skills. That's why our clever student’s volunteer!

About The PVA

The President's Volunteer Award (PVA) has been established to harness, acknowledge and support the contribution that students at the University of Limerick make to their communities.  The PVA draws on a strong tradition of student volunteering both on and off campus.

The primary goals of the PVA are:

• Sustain and foster a culture of volunteering, active citizenship and civic engagement amongst the student population.
• Develop collaborative projects as well as furthering existing initiatives between UL and our communities.
• Formally acknowledge and support the contribution that UL student volunteers make to our communities.
• Promote the development of civic and leadership skills amongst students.

How Does it Work?

The most important requirement for the PVA award is that you show a commitment to volunteering during your academic year. All volunteer hours are calculated towards a PVA. The Overseas PVA is based on students engaging with pre and post training provided by Comhlámh in addition to the completion of the PVA reflective portfolio which can be found here. 

To find a volunteer opportunity on campus or off campus in our many community organisations browse through volunteering opportunities. Please note: You are not limited to these opportunities. If for example, you volunteer in your home county (sports clubs, youth clubs, etc) or you volunteer abroad or you have created your own volunteer opportunity, once your have your hours signed off and you complete the reflective portfolio you can apply for the PVA.

HOT TIP: if you know of volunteering opportunities in your home county then go and organise volunteering hours with them. Contact pva@ul.ie for further guidance, information and support.

Please note:

The PVA is awarded to students who have completed a PVA application form reflective portfolio and have their volunteering hours approved on studentvolunteer.ie by their volunteer supervisor.

• You can volunteer as many hours as you want and we encourage student to log all their hours. 
• Full-time students have the opportunity to earn a Bronze, Silver, Gold and/or Overseas award every year.
• You do not have to get a Bronze or Silver award before applying for a Gold.
• During a 4 year degree program, you could potentially earn 4 PVA awards. (not doubt this haul of awards will impress any employer!).

Community/Students/Higher Education Institutions:

Studentvolunteer.ie is a network of Irish Higher Education institutions that have come together to create a unique database, management system and online resource that is directed towards the development of civic engagement through student volunteering. This new unique national system will connect students and community groups, charities, schools, hospitals, public bodies and NGOs across Ireland and beyond. It will also for the first time acknowledge, promote and support higher education student volunteering across the sector and provide evidenced based information on their contribution to Irish society and beyond. It will also connect communities across Ireland and beyond to this very valuable resource.

Studentvolunteer.ie is funded by each Higher Education member institution and Campus Engage.

Do employers recognise the Presidents Volunteer Award (PVA)?

The PVA boosts your student transcript and this transcript is a formal recognition of your achievements during your academic studies.   Graduate volunteers are sought after by employers simple because it shows not only your academic progress but your willingness to go above and beyond by engaging and contributing to the development of society. For these reasons we encourage the student volunteer to bring their volunteer experience to the attention of potential employers.