Careers Centre ‘Making the world their oyster’ – an innovative work placement module for UoL Students Annabelle Cross and Rebecca Evans University of Leeds Careers Centre

Careers Centre Learning Outcomes 1 Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the benefits of a work placement module 2 Take advantage of sharing good practice with other institutions intending to deliver a similar module 3 Argue a coherent and convincing case for the introduction of a similar module to improve sustainable employability

Careers Centre Outline of Session  Benefits of Work Experience  The Range of Options  Barriers  CSER 8000 –An overview and summary  What’s next?  Discussion

Careers Centre When recruiting, employers look for evidence of the following skills:  Effective communication  Ability to follow instruction  Understanding customer needs  Ability to learn  Showing initiative  Team working skills  Experience of a commercial environment beyond the lecture theatre  Evidence of motivation and determination -Source: July 2009 Association of Graduate Recruiters Survey

Careers Centre Employers’ believe there are 3 main ways to improve skills (in order of effectiveness):  Completing an internship or industrial placement  Taking on a leadership position in a student society  Gaining very people-focussed work experience Source: 2008 Association of Graduate Recruiters Survey

Careers Centre A few facts -  The total number of graduate vacancies is set to increase in 2011  A third of this year’s entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for their organisations – either through industrial placements, vacation work or sponsorships (High Fliers Research report on “The Graduate Market in 2011)The Graduate Market in 2011

Careers Centre  Nearly two thirds of recruiters warn that graduates who have had no previous work experience at all are unlikely to be successful during the selection process and have Iittle or no chance of receiving a job offer for their organisations’ graduate programmes (High Fliers Research report on “The Graduate Market in 2011)The Graduate Market in 2011

Careers Centre Work Experience on a student’s CV/Application shows that:  They can transfer academic learning to the workplace  Provides supplementary evidence that they have the skills & qualities employers look for  Sets them apart from the crowd (approx 500k per year!)  Makes them a safer recruit

Careers Centre Summary of Benefits to students  INCREASE knowledge of the world of work  DEVELOP self-confidence  ENHANCE coursework  AID career planning  IMPROVE transferable skills  IMPRESSIVE addition to their CV  EMPLOYER contacts/NETWORKING  BETTER motivated  BOOST finances

Careers Centre Range of work experience options  Summer internships / Vacation work  Project based work (course/self generated)  Work shadowing  Work simulations / case studies  Voluntary work  Part time casual work (inc. course related)  Self employment  Placement Year

Careers Centre Barriers to Obtaining Work Experience  Lack of confidence  Lack of awareness  Lack of support  ‘Head in the Sand’ approach  Time  Removal from year/peer group (for 12 month placements)  Being in a Research Intensive University  Parent department does NOT support/offer 12 month placements

Careers Centre CSER 8000 – Work Placement Year Option  The module is aimed at Level 2 students, who would like to take their third year as a work placement year WHEN THEIR PARENT DEPARTMENT DOES NOT OFFER THIS OPTION.  This effectively extends a 3 year degree programme to a 4 year one, consequently, the title of their degree is altered so that their existing named degree becomes a BA / BSc xxx (Industry) or BA / BSc xxx (Industrial Placement).

Careers Centre The CSER 8000 Team  Module Leader (Senior Career Consultant)  Career Consultants (to act as Work Placement Tutors)  Work Placement Project Officers (H & S Specialists / Placement Tutors)  Module Administrator ………plus other support from Career Consultants in Faculty

Careers Centre Module Objective  To complete an undergraduate level work placement, building experience of, and confidence in, essential work place skills.  Their work placement year can consist of more than one placement if required, but should not be made up of more than 3 separate placements. It can be paid, voluntary or a combination of the two providing the total number of placement hours are met (1200 hours).  This is a pass/fail module.

Careers Centre Student Knowledge Outcomes / Learning Outcomes On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate:  An understanding of a work environment, how it functions and their contribution to it  An understanding of, and ability to, apply their work based learning to other areas of personal development, including academic performance  High level transferable skills including communication (written and oral), self motivation, initiative, organisation and time management, objective setting, negotiating and team working  An ability to decide, plan and compete in the job market

Careers Centre Documents to be completed by student but NOT assessed Learning Logs  These word documents give an opportunity to keep a record of evidence of the students activities, skills and attributes demonstrated/developed and their reflections. Monthly Summary Review  These word documents need to be completed at the end of each month whilst the student is on placement. They give an opportunity to summarise the key activities, skills & attributes demonstrated, and to raise any problems or difficulties. On completion, they are sent to their personal tutor who will add comments and return.

Careers Centre Work Placement Review  This word document should be completed at the end of the placement(s) and gives an opportunity for students to summarise key activities, skills and attributes demonstrated and start to link their placement to longer term career goals and plans. NB: if their placement year is made up of more than one placement (e.g. two different 6-month placements), they will need to complete one of these forms at the end of each placement Student Blog (an optional resource used to contact other students who are undertaking CSER 8000)  This is where students can share any experiences, hints or tips and is available for all CSER 8000 students and placement tutors to view.

Careers Centre Assessments: Assignment 1: Portfolio Summary (50%)  A 2,000 word written summary of the portfolio related to the stated outcomes of the module.  The completed portfolio will contain contextual information on the host organisation, a description of (and reflection on) the process undertaken to secure the placement, reflective analysis on how the placement developed the understanding of a work environment and their contribution to it, and reflection on the skills developed and demonstrated on the placement and how they relate to personal, career and academic development.

Careers Centre Assignment 2: Presentation and Interview (50%)  A formal 10 minute presentation focusing on their placement experience. Followed by a structured interview led by their Placement Tutor, where they will be asked questions allowing exploration of the skills and knowledge gained during the placement related to the stated outcomes of the module (approx 50 minutes).

Careers Centre (just completed their placement year): There have been 11 on placement during this year from various faculties:  5 Music  1 History (failed to complete due to inability to complete required H&S documentation)  1 Sociology  4 Joint honours (English & History x 2, Natural Sciences, Music & Psychology)

Careers Centre Dr Rafe Hallett (Academic Leader CSER 8000 in History)  ‘The School of History added CSER8000 Work Placement Year to its module range in , as part of an increasing commitment to providing our students with distinctive and vocational co-curricular opportunities.’  ‘As the module beds in, and grows in popularity, I’m confident it will become a catalyst for introducing Arts students to more explicitly vocational opportunities, and this can only be celebrated at a time when students (and parents) will be demanding innovation, training and opportunity within the degree programmes they choose.’

Careers Centre (about to start their placements): Currently have 16 students (a couple still have to confirm all their placements) from:  4 History  7 Joint Honours (Maths & Economics, Philosophy & Politics, Economics & History, Maths & Biology, English & Philosophy, Maths & Music)  1 Engineering  1 English (undertaking more than one placement)  1 Sociology  1 Psychology  1 LUBS (undertaking more than 1 placement and both less than 9 months)  Music now run the placement year themselves with guidance from Careers Centre as needed

Careers Centre The UoL Employability Strategy  Inspire our students to develop their full potential  Produce ‘exceptional graduates who become the leaders of tomorrow’  The Strategy is organised around the student journey in considering their career options:  ‘decide’ - what is it I want to do?  ‘plan’ - how can I secure the skills and attributes to secure the career path I’ve decided upon?  ’compete’ - how can I compete to make sure I get the career I’ve planned for?

Careers Centre How the employability strategy will help: Impacts four main areas:  Curriculum  Support for students  Data capture and its management  Placements and internships  The UoL also stress the importance of a ‘partnership’ approach to employability – with Faculties/Careers Centre, student and employers all having responsibility and ownership.

Careers Centre Promotion & Development  Semester 1: short promotion session, longer info session, follow up / drop in.  Semester 2: info session, follow up / drop in  CSER 8000 networking event scheduled for October 2011  Interested students being recorded on a database and followed up/monitored  New dept/faculty recruits include Education, Psychology, Philosophy, Communication Studies and Engineering

Careers Centre A chance to discuss and share……. Thinking about the work placement activity that is on offer in your institutions -  How much do you know?  How could you find out more?  Thinking about CSER8000 – discuss what Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats would you envisage in your University in creating such a module? (SWOT Analysis)

Careers Centre Final Thought……….. ‘Ability is what you’re capable of doing; Motivation determines what you do; Attitude determines how well you do it’ Lou Holtz

Careers Centre Further Information:  Annabelle Cross – Senior Career Consultant/ CSER8000 Module Leader/Placement Tutor    Rebecca Evans – Work Placement Project Officer/H&S Specialist/Placement Tutor  