Change: Connectivity and Collaboration Eluned Jones AGCAS President Director of Student Employability, University of Birmingham

Welcome to Warwick and the 1st AGCAS Annual Conference No fire drills expected, if alarm sounds please meet up in car park A huge thank you to all of you for your support for this new venture A very special thanks to the AGCAS team for making this happen!

Programme Information See front page in delegate pack Workshops and Alternative Sessions are free choice – 1st come, 1st served Alternative sessions can span a number of timeslots Keynote sessions – listen in 2 rooms – here, also streamed live to Meeting Room 10 – 1st come, 1st served Very limited time after keynotes so questions may not be possible – please approach speaker after session with questions AGCAS staff and members of the Employer Action Task group are on hand throughout

Thank you to our sponsors

“ Begin, be bold, venture to be wise” Horace

Hugely stimulating debate “ Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation” Oscar Wilde “ Discontent is the first step in the progress of an Association” Eluned Jones …January 2014 …Glasgow …Heads Conference …Plenary Session Hugely stimulating debate Challenging for the Board members – much more fun in the peanut gallery! Arose from a general sense that AGCAS (we) need to be doing more and more things differently Honoured to be President at such an inspiring time for Agcas

Drivers for change “When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters - one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity” John F Kennedy AGCAS services are uniquely positioned at a time of unprecedented change and challenge across the HE sector (Shotgun) marriage between employability and recruitment Postgraduate markets post 2015 Internationalisation / Global Citizenship Employer Engagement (HEIF 6) Alternative Modes of Delivery

AGCAS’s position in this is pivotal: A respected voice across the HE sector Represents over 150 member services Direct access to over 2,000,000 students Access to hundreds of thousands of alumni Engagement with thousands of employers Unrivalled expertise in graduate employability

Several major decisions came out of that debate and AGCAS’s need for: “ Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps” David Lloyd George Several major decisions came out of that debate and AGCAS’s need for: Increased activity Higher profile Greater strategic use of our unique position and resources Already seen several actions emerge: First Regional AGCAS Conference Revising our quality standards Recruitment of an AGCAS Research Officer This 1st AGCAS Annual Conference Honoured to be President at such an inspiring time for Agcas

“ Begin, be bold, venture to be wise” We’ve begun We’re being bold We’re taking appropriate risks

“Coming together is the beginning Keeping together is progress Working together is success” Henry Ford “Do one thing every day that scares you” Eleanor Roosevelt

I hope you enjoy this 1st AGCAS Annual Conference Thank you I hope you enjoy this 1st AGCAS Annual Conference Now – off you all go to Workshop Session A Workshop descriptions and rooms are in delegate pack Staff and task group members on hand to help! Go on then!