Every poster on a noticeboard, every campaign slogan, every late-night meeting that turned into “actually… this could change things” — none of it appears out of nowhere.
Behind today’s HWUnion is decades of student voices, bold decisions, quiet graft, big wins, and moments that shaped campus life in ways we still feel now. The problem? A lot of that story is scattered across dusty folders, forgotten minutes, half-labelled photos, and memories that haven’t been written down yet.
That’s where you come in.
Become our Student Union History Researcher
We’re looking for a curious, detail-loving storyteller to take on a one-off, fixed-term project as Student Union History Researcher for Heriot‑Watt University Student Union.
This isn’t about writing a dry academic report that no one reads. It’s about uncovering real stories - the campaigns that mattered, the moments that changed direction, the students who spoke up - and turning them into something living, usable, and future-proof.
Think detective. Archivist. Storyteller. All rolled into one.
What you’ll actually be doing (in real-world terms)
You’ll go digging (in the best way)
You’ll explore:
- old student newspapers
- Union records and meeting notes
- photos, posters, and campaign materials
- university and local archive collections
You’ll be asking questions like:
- When did this campaign start - and why?
- What changed because of it?
- Who was involved that we’ve forgotten to credit?
You’ll build a proper timeline
There’s already some early research - your job is to pull it together, sense-check it, and shape it into a clear, structured history that actually makes sense to someone reading it for the first time.
This timeline won’t just sit in a folder. It’ll feed into:
- future web content
- exhibitions and displays
- anniversaries and storytelling
- how we explain who we are to future students
You’ll make history usable
Where possible, you’ll digitise materials, organise them clearly, and keep good records so future students and staff don’t have to start from scratch again.
You’ll also flag gaps in the story - the “we really should know more about this” moments - and suggest what could be explored next.
This role is perfect for you if…
You’re the kind of person who:
- enjoys working through lots of information and spotting patterns
- likes primary sources and original material (not just Google)
- can turn messy notes into something clear and engaging
- works well independently but knows when to ask questions
- cares about accuracy, fairness, and representing people properly
You don’t need to be a history student.
You don’t need to have worked in a Student Union before.
You do need curiosity, organisation skills, and the ability to tell a good story without over-complicating it.
Why this is more exciting than it sounds
This project isn’t about nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake.
It’s about:
- preserving student voices that might otherwise disappear
- understanding how change actually happened
- giving future students a clearer sense of “people like me were here before”
- making sure the Union’s history is accessible, inclusive, and buildable, not locked away
You’ll leave behind something tangible - a piece of work that future students, officers, and staff will genuinely use.
In short
If you like:
- archives more than algorithms
- stories more than spreadsheets
- meaningful projects over generic part-time jobs
…this could be one of the most interesting roles you take on while you’re at university.
You won’t just be researching history.
You’ll be shaping how it’s remembered.
Interested? Check out the full role details and apply here - we’d love to see what you uncover.