The Lancaster Award: overcoming obstacles by adaption and engagement Jo Hobbs Diane Richardson

In the beginning……….. LA introduced in 2009 Feedback from employers suggested that students were failing to articulate the skills they had gained through extra-curricular activities Intention was for first year students to start working towards the Award and complete in their final year. 98 final year student submitted in December 2009

Award Requirements 2 x Campus and Community 1 x Work experience 1 x Insight Course and 1 other workshop 1 x additional skills

Submission Procedure Activities Checklist Skills Bank Application form Employer interview

Problems….. Students still completing in final year Interviews were resource intensive Applications not being marked until spring Activities had a strong campus focus Application procedure was complicated.

Review and Change Moved the deadline to penultimate year Removed application form and interview Compulsory voluntary activity Online enrolment Moodle module More rigorous marking of the Skills Bank Example image

Award Submissions Figures not improving Thematic review – could make more of the Award Pressure to increase numbers

Award Revamp Points-based Three tiered Workshops no longer compulsory New assessment elements More flexibility Wider appeal Example image

Redevelopment of the Award Points-based with three tiers: Not compulsory to do an activity per category Workshops optional (to gain additional points) Different levels of Award (Bronze, Silver, Gold) – not all students will want to a complete video interview (Bronze) Increased flexibility More relevance Wider appeal

Redevelopment of the Award New assessment elements: Feedback indicated that students wanted Lancaster Award to include an interview component. Not feasible for the team to complete several hundred face-to-face interviews. Link to growth of video interviewing. In keeping with current recruitment trends

Promotion and engagement Online: Website Social media Visual: Posters Leaflets Newsletters Promotional goods Events: Open Days Freshers’ Fair Careers Fairs Coffee mornings Branded goods Posters Website Social Media Ceremony Careers Fairs Freshers’ Fair Colleges

Value Need to engage university staff Departments Professional Services Students’ Union Ensure that we are preparing students for the recruitment process Demonstrate the value of the Award to all students Students must understand that the value of the Award is not the certificate. Staff engagement – improve DLHE Employers – 21st century recruitment Students – practice for wow

Management and Delivery Management of Award: Currently 1,117 students registered for Lancaster Award Lancaster Award team itself is comparatively small – it is managed by Diane along with 4 Careers Advisers LA Questions – managed inbox for LA queries Improving delivery efficiency: Online enrolment for students Online workshops – introductory session used to run twice weekly More online guidance sheets Number of students registered by staff 1117 Delivered with limited resources Electronically Move presentations online

Submissions and Deadlines Moved deadline to end of penultimate year. Deadlines are set a year in advance Reminders are sent out throughout the year October deadline for placement / year abroad students Extensions permitted in exceptional circumstances Deadline is an important element of the Award process. Deadlines are set a year in advance Made aware – Moodle and intro Reminders – throughout the year Do make allowance for year out students Extensions permitted in exceptional circumstances

Application Standards Improving submission standards: Run skills workshops and STAR sessions Example competency answers from previous students Offer practice video interviews/run webinars on LinkedIn Information guides on Moodle Can discuss queries at drop-in sessions One skill check Students who do not pass on first attempt can resubmit once

Lancaster Excellence Students who achieve an ‘excellent’ grade at first attempt are eligible to apply for ‘Lancaster Excellence’.

Assessment Marking: Transparent marking guidelines for written and verbal responses are shown on the Moodle page Graded either: Poor, Further work required, Competent or Excellent CV/LinkedIn marked as either Pass or Fail and individual feedback is provided How strict should marking be? Detailed feedback Transparency in marking. Guidance on Moodle. We don’t want to pass rubbish. Maintain value Deadline works for us.

Assessment Applications mainly submitted in June so we have time to provide in-depth feedback for all applicants – this is the real value of the Award Maintain value of Award by not simply passing everyone who submits We will fail students on 2nd submission if feedback has been ignored Majority of students who do not achieve Award are those who failed to resubmit following extensive feedback

Future Plans Introduction of department specific elements Moving more on-line Possible move to strength based interview questions to complement the current focus on competency questions Engagement with students on industrial placement degrees Strengths based interview Department specific elements Moving elements online Changing the pathway for placement students

Lancaster Award Ceremony