Preparing for the Future? Employability and the student experience Working collaboratively to support students’ career development learning and employability within the Society Joint Honours degree programme.  Anna Butcher, Paula Benton, Peter Dove

Society Joint Honours Students study 2 of a possible 5 part routes (Childhood Studies, Early Years, Guidance & Counselling, Disability Studies, Health in Contemporary Society) Undergraduate degree programme which explores how theory is applied to professional contexts Students gain a breadth of knowledge whilst gaining specialism in two distinct yet complementary subjects Students explore a wide range of career options Diverse student group with diverse academic and career interests.

Graduate Destinations Joint Honours full time students who left in summer 2011 went on to do the following: Employment = 74.4% Blue Further study = 15.1% Red Unemployed = 7% green Other = 3.5% (not available for work due to health, family reasons or travel) purple A lot go into public sector, i.e. health, local authority, voluntary sector. Majority work NE. Job examples: Craft Activity Leader, Short Breaks Children’s Worker, Adult Activities Facilitator, Youth Worker, Early Years Practitioner, Trainee Tutor, Clinical Audit Assistant, Support Worker, Residential Childcare Worker, HR Administrator, Project Worker, Victim Care Officer. Further study includes teaching, social work, health professions (nursing, physiotherapy, OT), psychology, youth work. 2010 - Employment = 78.6%, Further study = 16.7%, Unemployed = 2.4% Other = 2.4% (not available for work due to health, family reasons or travel) Job examples: Childcare Facilitator, Student Support Officer, Civil Servant, Deputy Manager (retail), Residential Child Care Officer, Student Services Officer, Support and Development Worker, Student Support Worker. Further study includes teaching, social work, health professions (nursing), Early Years studies (EYPS)

Employability throughout the curriculum Enhancement activities Fieldwork / observations / visits Internships Optional placement modules Student practitioner forum Core module (level 5/year 2, 20 credits)

Preparing for the Future Career planning process: Self Awareness (reflect upon own journey, skills, values, experience) Career Exploration (concept of employability, career planning resources, career options and entry routes) Self Efficacy (graduate stories, motivational stories) Career Management (presenting self through presentations, mock interviews, CVs, networking, career planning, risk taking) Assessment Learning activity log, Reflective Account, Career Action Plan

Collaboration Module team (academic staff and careers adviser) Guidance tutors Alumni Internal and external speakers Admissions tutors

Student and staff feedback Timely and efficient use of careers and employment service Builds strong relationships with guidance tutors Visiting speakers, alumni are popular Students like the experiential learning opportunities (visits, mock interviews, CVs)

Contact Details Paula Benton, Senior Lecturer, Society Joint Honours Tel: 2156479; email paula.benton@northumbria.ac.uk Anna Butcher, Careers Adviser, Careers and Employment Service Tel: 2156431; email anna.butcher@northumbria.ac.uk