Careers education case study (7): Using the SOAR model to develop employability in psychology undergraduates at a university in south-east England
Background
The 2007/8 academic year saw the University of Bedfordshire review its education strategy, which introduced a revised curriculum for implementation the following academic year. One of the core strands of this new curriculum was an employability theme that was expected to be embedded within programme design and delivery. Prior to this, the Division of Psychology had undertaken a small-scale research study looking at how students both acquire and develop skills and attributes to support undergraduates’ future employment. The outcomes of this indicated the need to embed employability and career development in the curriculum.
Having the support of the academic staff who carried out the small-scale research enabled careers staff to engage with the department to discuss how this might happen. The publication of Enhancing the employability of psychology graduates by the HE Academy's Psychology Network, and Arti Kumar’s SOARing for Success, added additional learning and teaching arguments.
Programme
For further details, see the programme overview available below.
Related developments
From the beginning of 2008/9 the psychology department has also piloted the use of Pebblepad for e-portfolio development with students recording study and co-curricular experience. This is expected to include reflection on career planning activities, and will be assessed.
Careers advisers working with the psychology department have become closely integrated with academic staff, attending departmental away days.
The enhanced careers focus in the curriculum has been well-received by students, but at this stage it’s too early to indicate the impact on student career development.
For further information on this case study please contact Eileen Scott, Head of the Centre for Personal and Career Development, University of Bedfordshire.
What are careers education case studies?
These case studies have been compiled by members of the AGCAS Careers Education Task Group, building on the good practice developed in the Careers Education Benchmark Statement. They aim to show the diversity of practice and how careers education is developing as a discipline within HE. We hope they will inspire other practitioners to share their experience by drafting case studies that we can publish during 2009. If you have any comments about this section, or would like to submit a short case study summarising your own experience, please contact Iwan Griffiths.
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Careers education case study (7) downloads
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