AGCAS Community - Employability

Bath Spa's 'Little Blue Book'

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:46:37 GMT

Bath Spa University Careers has published a new guide to help convey the many opportunities open to students and the benefits of participating in them. The Little Blue Book: An essential guide to planning your future supports students at different stages of their career planning and has become a much sought-after giveaway to drive footfall to the careers centre.

Coventry University develops Add+vantage employability programme

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:44:48 GMT

Coventry has one of the biggest university employability initiatives in the country, with more than 11,000 students taking one 10-credit employability module in each year of study. The Add+vantage Scheme is centrally coordinated by the Careers and Employability Service and involves all schools, faculties and other departments and employers.

Temps service makes recruitment easy at Canterbury Christ Church

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:26:55 GMT

Canterbury Christ Church University's TempShop provides an easy-access service to staff by removing the administrative burden of temp recruitment.

AGR invites careers service award nominations

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:43:51 GMT

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) is inviting higher education careers and employability services, which are members of AGR, to nominate themsleves for a new award. The award, which is called Preparation for Work by Higher Education, recognises the contribution of university careers services in preparing students to succeed in the world of work. It is given to higher education institutions for outstanding commitment to improving the employability and long-term career success of their graduates.

The National Placement & Internship Awards 2012

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:53:31 GMT

This year's National Placement & Internship Awards took place at City University, London on 18 January 2012. The awards were created by RateMyPlacement.co.uk to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of all stakeholders involved in undergraduate work placements and internships. Now in its third year, the event was supported for the first time by AGCAS.

Employability at the heart of University of Derby development

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:51:27 GMT

The careers team at the University of Derby is committed to providing a holistic service to their student body, which, like other Million+ institutions, includes students from a broad spectrum of backgrounds undertaking full time, part time and distance learning courses. They are also committed to reaching out to those students, often from widening participation backgrounds, who can most benefit from the services provided.

Mentoring boosts employability at Birmingham City University

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:51:54 GMT

Birmingham City University (BCU) Careers Service has developed two high-quality mentoring programmes to give students a real-life insight into the world of work and enhance their employability. The programmes were shortlisted for both the 2011 Times Higher Education Awards and the AGCAS Awards for Excellence.

Coaching complements University of Sunderland provision

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:57:07 GMT

The University of Sunderland's Careers and Employability Service identified a need to improve students' confidence and better prepare them for graduate selection processes. Feedback for the new coaching service is very positive and demand is expected to grow.

New University of Bolton initiative improves commercial awareness

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:22:46 GMT

The careers service at the University of Bolton is working with Gradcore to deliver an innovative four-day programme aimed at final year students and graduates. The programme aims to improve the employability of students and grow links with employers and local businesses.

Developing employable Gloucestershire graduates

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:01:50 GMT

The University of Gloucestershire's Careers and Employability team and the Department of Teaching and Learning Innovation have jointly developed an award, which gives formal recognition to students' achievement outside of their academic programme.

'Great careers start' at the University of Cumbria

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:04:31 GMT

The University of Cumbria's strapline 'Great careers start here...' reflects its commitment in supporting students to realise their career ambitions in a challenging economic context.

AGCAS represented at diversity careers events

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:50:34 GMT

Percy Ngcobo, a member of the AGCAS Diversity Task Group, attended various LGBT careers events in the autumn of 2011, including the CASS LGBT Society Careers Panel Networking event, the Careers Diversity Show, and the Inside and Out Investment Banking event.

100 companies open up work experience places

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:36:04 GMT

One hundred companies have signed up to Nick Clegg's social mobility strategy, pledging their firms will open up opportunities for work experience to try to bring an end to career advancement by 'who you know'.

Hull targets SMEs for internships

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:30:36 GMT

The University of Hull Careers Service has been encouraging the region's smaller businesses to employ graduates on an internship basis. As a result, Hull's allocation of internships to small businesses exceeded their target by over 600%, with internships allocated over a range of industry sectors.

Work while studying: blessing or curse?

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:56:45 GMT

Research into undergraduates' experiences of working has been conducted by AGCAS member Angela Vesey, Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and winner of the 2011 AGCAS John Roberts Memorial Prize. Angela's study, as part of her MA in Career Education, Information and Guidance in HE (CEIGHE), explored the nature and extent of undergraduates working at NTU, their motivations for working and its perceived impact.

First career destinations of disabled graduates - research published

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:08:56 GMT

The AGCAS Disability Task Group has produced its annual report on the first destinations of disabled graduates nationally, What Happens Next? This year's report indicates a certain level of stability returning to the graduate labour market following last year’s downturn.

Case studies highlight award-winning work

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:52:28 GMT

A series of case studies has been produced to showcase the winning projects and initiatives recently commended as part of the AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2011.

The case studies have been compiled using the original submissions received from each AGCAS member service. They are intended to encourage and share good practice amongst HE careers professionals to help promote excellence in careers and employability work.

Northumbria's innovative animation

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:05:16 GMT

Northumbria University's dynamic animated clip, which outlines the service Careers and Employment at the institution provides, is an excellent example of collaboration across a university working in the interests of students. When a need was identified for a low-cost, succinct, high-quality advertisement for careers and employability services, the department employed a collaborative approach both within the service and externally.

Aberystwyth's 'Pitch for Pudsey' earns Radio 2 coverage

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:18:04 GMT

Staff at Aberystwyth University Careers Service have been helping students to explore possible career paths, and the employability skills needed to develop a career, by asking them to choose a future job for Pudsey bear in addition to the voluntary work he already undertakes as part of the Children In Need campaign.

Asidua's a winner for Ulster students

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:13:47 GMT

The relationship between the University of Ulster and Asidua Ltd, a software consultancy and services company based in Belfast, is a clear example of how effective collaboration between an employer, academic staff and a careers service can operate in the best interests of students.

Edge Hill University and Enterprise Rent-A-Car's winning partnership

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:13:19 GMT

The partnership between Edge Hill University and Enterprise Rent-A-Car (ERAC) has developed over ten years and is grounded in the excellent relationships that exist between the employer and the institution's Careers Centre. Beginning with one-off visits by the employer to careers events, this has now progressed to the integration of ERAC into the curriculum across diverse academic disciplines including sport, geography and business.

Positive Futures for Northumbria graduates

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:11:13 GMT

Positive Futures – Developing Career Confidence in Challenging Times is a programme comprising a masterclass, workshops and coaching, developed by the Careers Service at Northumbria University to inspire recent graduates to approach their job seeking with confidence in their employability. It was developed in collaboration with the university's Enterprise Unit and Alumni Association.

UCLAN and Shanghai's winning partnership

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:12:55 GMT

This is designed to help interaction between Chinese and British students, to enhance British students' international experience and employability and entrepreneurship competence. It is a joint programme between UCLan Business School, Futures (UCLan's Careers and Employability Service) and Shanghai International Foreign Trade (SIFT).

Portsmouth opens Purple Door online

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:09:49 GMT

The Purple Door Careers and Recruitment website is central to the delivery of careers employability services offered at the University of Portsmouth, where there is increasing demand for 24/7 access to information and advice on career and employability issues from students and graduates.

Huddersfield's GEMS - winner of top AGCAS award

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:14:52 GMT

The Graduate Employment-Market Statistics (GEMS) software package is an innovative and widely-used method of disseminating information from the annual Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (DLHE) to universities' key stakeholders including senior management, academic staff, careers researchers, graduates and current and prospective students. It was developed by the Careers Service at the University of Huddersfield in collaboration with academics and senior managers and with careers services nationally.

Sir Alex Ferguson's employability audit

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:48:46 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson this week celebrates 25 years as Manchester United manager. To be continually employed for a quarter of a century is quite an achievement, especially in a field where job security is rare. From a careers professional's point of view though, it's interesting to consider what would happen if, perhaps through no fault of his own, Sir Alex had to look for work. Would he readily find another position in the same or another field? Is he still employable?

Is there a shortage of scientists?

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:19:11 GMT

An article looking at some of the official concerns about the supply of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates has been published. Is there a shortage of scientists? A re-analysis of supply for the UK, published in the British Journal of Educational Studies, provides a summary of a series of recent research projects looking at the educational trajectories of prospective STEM professionals in the UK.

Latest labour market statistics - AGCAS view

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:10:26 GMT

The latest unemployment statistics show how challenging the current UK labour market is for jobseekers. The worst ever figures for young people between the age of 16 and 24 are particularly concerning.

Canterbury launches media awards

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:23:44 GMT

Employability and Careers Services at Canterbury Christ Church University recently launched its first Media Campaign Awards, jointly organised with the Department of Media. The competition was the culmination of the efforts of second year media and cultural studies students working on volunteer projects with Kent-based charities.

Showcasing skills through Sussex Plus

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:25:51 GMT

The Sussex Plus project at the University of Sussex began as a small pilot in 2009. Using Sussex Plus, users can create their own personalised 'webfolio', similar to an online CV, to demonstrate skills and achievements in an innovative way, which can help to give them a competitive edge when applying for jobs or postgraduate courses.

AGCAS celebrates Awards for Excellence winners

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:36:24 GMT

The results of the 2011 AGCAS Awards for Excellence have been announced. Winners were presented with their awards at an official ceremony and dinner, held at the East Midlands Conference Centre as part of the AGCAS Biennial Conference at The University of Nottingham, earlier this month.

The number of nominations received for each category is evidence of the high-quality, innovative and collaborative work taking place at AGCAS member services across the country.

Skills awards survey report published

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:18:26 GMT

The AGCAS Skills Awards Task Group would like to thank all colleagues who contributed to our online survey. We have now produced the initial data summary and we will be producing some further evaluation of free text comments later in the year.

AGCAS Awards for Excellence shortlists announced

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:15:54 GMT

The shortlisted nominations for the AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2011 have been announced. Nominations were received in 15 different categories for a wide range of projects from AGCAS member services in all parts of the UK.

Cautious welcome for graduate employment figures

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:10:36 GMT

The latest figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show a slight improvement in graduate employment outcomes over last year. They show that, within six months of graduating, 86% of 2009/10 UK leavers of higher education were either working or in further study, and 9% (down from 10% in 2008/9) were unemployed. Average salaries were unchanged at £19,000 (median) and £20,000 (mean).

HE white paper - AGCAS response

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:17:40 GMT

AGCAS welcomes the emphasis on employability and high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) in the government's higher education white paper, published today. AGCAS believes that access to high-quality CEIAG should start at school and continue through and beyond college and university.

Employability Awards Case Study Series

Tue, 31 May 2011 09:37:55 GMT

The Skills and Employability Awards Task Group recently sent out a request across AGCAS for case studies, articles and resources, and following a hugely positive response from colleagues, we are pleased to launch our new Employability Awards Case Study Series.

Nottingham helps students dress for career success

Tue, 17 May 2011 08:36:14 GMT

The Centre for Career Development at the University of Nottingham recently hosted a fashion show to illustrate how students should present themselves in a variety of professional environments.

John Moores WoWs with skills certificate in Malaysia

Mon, 16 May 2011 15:11:00 GMT

The Graduate Development Centre at Liverpool John Moores University is working with Malaysia's largest public university, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), to deliver a one-year pilot programme, funded by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, to offer the World of Work (WoW®) Skills Certificate to 100 students.

Developing transferable skills in language students

Thu, 12 May 2011 09:37:16 GMT

Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin and Waterford Institute of Technology recently ran a project, Transferable Skills in Third-Level Modern Language Curricula, to raise undergraduate language students' awareness of their transferable skills and their competence in these skills.

Employability through languages

Thu, 12 May 2011 10:30:19 GMT

Peter Fox, Careers Adviser at Durham University Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre, has been working with language departments to help spread the message about the importance of employability. As the modern languages link adviser, he recently delivered a session to staff on enhancing the employability of graduates from the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, exploring how crucial skills can be developed through course-related academic activities.

Would Prince William be better off with a law degree?

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:24:02 GMT

As the government prepares to make salary data within six months of graduation available to prospective students, new research suggests that it is a poor predictor of lifetime earnings. The imminent royal wedding offers an opportunity to consider the factors that might make a difference to an individual's earnings and career success.

Internships and the minimum wage - AGCAS consulted

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:37:17 GMT

The government is currently updating its guidance on work experience, internships and the national minimum wage. AGCAS has been invited to comment on the drafts of guidance aimed at employers and workers/interns, and on the appropriateness of case studies.

AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2011 - nominations open

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 08:37:21 GMT

AGCAS is proud to launch the 2011 AGCAS Awards for Excellence for the UK and Ireland. Bids and nominations are welcomed from AGCAS services, groups and individual members or employers, as appropriate for the different awards. These prestigious national awards encourage, reward and share good practice amongst HE careers professionals and graduate recruiters working with HE careers services.

Skills and employability awards survey

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:38:51 GMT

The AGCAS Awards Task Group is conducting research into skills and employability awards across UK universities and invites AGCAS members to participate in a survey. The survey aims to identify key information, which will be of use to colleagues who are either at the initial stages of developing awards or who are responsible for managing or developing existing awards.

Senior Adviser Careers & Employability (0.75 FTE)

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:14:01 GMT

Overview of Graduate Recruitment, Warwick

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:09:10 GMT

With the employability of students high up on everyone's agenda, there has never been a better time to develop an understanding of what the world of a graduate recruiter involves - and the challenges they face on a daily basis.

Overview of Graduate Recruitment, London

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:35:50 GMT

Management, Warwick

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:16:41 GMT

This three-day NASES residential focuses on strategies for effective management within the context of career, placement and employability services.

Overview of Graduate Recruitment, Warwick

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:58:41 GMT

Overview of Graduate Recruitment, London

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:33:31 GMT

Employability and Enterprise: Regional Solutions, Bristol

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:51:37 GMT

An opportunity to discover, share and explore diverse approaches to employability and enterprise in this South West AGCAS regional training day.

Challenges of Careers Work in HE, Warwick

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:11:48 GMT

This three-day residential course is a core module of the AGCAS/Warwick Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MA in CEIGHE.

Overview of Graduate Recruitment, Scotland

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:12:13 GMT

Overview of Graduate Recruitment, London

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:23:30 GMT