AGCAS Community - Careers Education

National Council for Careers - members appointed

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:20:29 GMT

An announcement has been made by Skills Minister, John Hayes, concerning the membership of England's new National Council for Careers.

Future of careers and guidance - AGCAS director's presentation

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:58:20 GMT

Tom Davie, Director of Professional Development on the AGCAS Board and Deputy Head of Careers at Durham University, delivered a paper at the recent Westminster Employment Forum, which focused on the future of careers advice and guidance in relation to schools, universities and adult provision.

AGCAS and the Careers Profession Alliance (CPA)

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:13:43 GMT

AGCAS considers it essential that individuals have access to high-quality careers and employability education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) when they need it: while at school, college or university; studying full time, part time or not at all; and whether in employment or not. We also believe that the wider national interest is furthered by careers professionals working closely together. Whenever possible, the profession should speak with one voice.

Career theory workshop wins Jan AGCAS award

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:40:16 GMT

Jan Perrett, Deputy Director at The University of Nottingham, has won the John Franks Award for her Biennial 2011 workshop examining careers theory.

The award, sponsored by Yorkshire and Humberside Heads of Service in memory of their colleague John Franks, who sadly died in service in Spring 2008, is awarded to the best workshop delivered at an AGCAS Biennial Conference.

Vacancy on the AGCAS Education Liaison Task Group

Wed, 02 May 2012 18:06:24 GMT

The AGCAS Education Liaison Task Group is currently looking for two new members with an interest in the national destinations of students and a desire to contribute to the publication What Do Graduates Do?.

Huddersfield tests students' careers confidence

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:46:37 GMT

From September 2012, the University of Huddersfield Careers and Employability Service is offering a Career Health Check to every prospective student. It is hoped that the initiative will give careers advisers a unique insight into the career thinking of students even before they begin their university journey.

Are careers services and students' unions working closely enough?

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:25:30 GMT

The National Union of Students (NUS) conference is taking place this week. With employability high on student agendas, it seems like a good time to reflect on how well careers services and students' unions are working together.

Vacancies on AGCAS Board of Directors

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:32:07 GMT

AGCAS is recruiting motivated and enthusiastic volunteers to join its Board of Directors from 1 August 2012. Do you want to get involved in the management of AGCAS and making key decisions about its future development? Have you got ideas about what AGCAS should be and what it should be able to provide for its staff, members and stakeholders? As a professional body, a company, a charity and an employer, AGCAS needs to be represented at the highest level by a diverse group of committed individuals.

National Careers Service for England

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:53:36 GMT

A new National Careers Service, which promises improved access to careers advice in England, is to be launched this week. The launch follows last week's publication of statutory guidance, which restated the importance of quality-assured careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) in schools. The government says the service will provide 'information, advice and guidance on careers, skills and the labour market, covering further education, apprenticeships and other types of training and higher education through a mix of face-to-face interviews, a telephone helpline and web-based services'.

Wilson Review - initial response from AGCAS

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:29:34 GMT

Sir Tim Wilson's review of university-business collaboration has been published, which proposes an agenda for change that will help make the UK the best place in the world for collaborative activity. Anne-Marie Martin responded on behalf of AGCAS.

Employers shortlisted for careers service engagement award

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:29:35 GMT

Six employers have been shortlisted for The AGCAS Award for Excellence in Careers Service Engagement. They were all nominated by higher education careers services. The award is one of the prestigious annual TARGETjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards.

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.

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?

Mixed picture on graduate jobs front - HE careers services

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:27:57 GMT

University careers services across the UK have reported a mixed picture during the third quarter of 2011, both in the messages they are getting from employers and in the number of jobs they are advertising. While vacancies in some sectors are said to be up, there is increased competition for most positions.

Revised matrix Standard launched

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:02:33 GMT

The revised matrix Standard was launched on 12 October 2011. The launch event was opened by Ian Greenaway, Chair of EMQC Ltd, and Dave Allan, Managing Director of EMQC Ltd, culminating with an address by John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning. AGCAS was represented by Lucy Madahar, Assistant Director of Student Services at Birmingham City University and AGCAS Director of Quality and Membership.

Careers section of Education Bill 2011 - suggested amendments

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:24:27 GMT

The Education Bill 2010-2011 is now at the report stage in the House of Lords, where it is being examined line by line. The next meeting will take place on 18 October 2011. Among the proposed amendments are some concerning Section 27 on Careers Guidance in Schools In England.

Progress towards a National Careers Service for England

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:38:42 GMT

The National Careers Service Advisory Group, which was formed to advise government on its proposals to develop and implement a National Careers Service for England, met on Friday 7 October 2011. AGCAS was represented, with Communications and Marketing Manager, Chris Jackson, standing in for President, Anne-Marie Martin.

AGCAS and the Careers Profession Alliance

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:30:37 GMT

AGCAS has decided not to continue to be part of the Careers Profession Alliance (CPA). The AGCAS Board of Directors took the decision after consulting member services and taking into consideration their views and priorities.

Concerns over reduced careers services for young people

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:41:41 GMT

A group of experts has warned that government plans to reorganise careers services will be damaging to young people. Planned cuts will reduce the availability of face-to-face guidance to young people, with services confined to telephone and web-based services. The National Careers Service Advisory Group, formerly the Advisory Group on the All-Age Careers Service, have issued a press release outlining their concerns about the 'widespread destruction' of careers services for young people.

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.

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.

Careers provision for young people in England

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:53:43 GMT

Profound changes are taking place to the financing of and legislation covering the delivery of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) to young people via schools, sixth forms, FE colleges and youth services in England. Things are moving very fast: the second reading in the Lords took place on 14 June, so there isn't much time to try to safeguard, let alone improve, the CEIAG on offer.

This article is intended to update members on what we're doing as an organisation, invite your feedback about what we should do next, and encourage you to take action yourself.

Careers Working with Children and Young People, Liverpool

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:12:42 GMT

This AGCAS North West regional training day will include representatives from organisations such a Children's Centres, Connexions, Kumon and Special Needs.

Technology in Careers - an update, Warwick

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:14:08 GMT

This one-day course is especially useful for those with responsibility for using technology within their service.

Challenges of Careers Work in HE, Warwick

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:11:48 GMT

This course is now full. Book for the July Challenges course

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

AGCAS Scotland 2012 Biennial Conference

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:13:06 GMT

The AGCAS Scotland 2012 Biennial Conference is being hosted by the University of St Andrews and will focus on Employer Engagement and Impact Measurement. The two-day programme inculdes speakers and workshops around these themes.

Group Work, Warwick

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:09:37 GMT

This four-day residential course is intended for careers staff working, or planning to work, with students and other clients in groups and who wish to develop new approaches to its planning and delivery.

Challenges of Careers Work in HE, Warwick

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:21:52 GMT

This three-day residential course is intended for all careers service staff, whether new or experienced, who would like to explore the context in which they are working. This course may be particularly suitable for those moving into careers work in HE from other sectors. The course is part of the AGCAS/Warwick qualification module, but open to all.

Training the Trainers, Warwick

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:40:15 GMT

A four-day residential course for any staff providing training for peer groups, whether as trainers for AGCAS, careers service colleagues, academics or other staff groups.