APD Undergraduate Tutor's lunch Briefing on our strategy for increasing employability of our graduates December 2, 2018

How do they match up to the competition?

Can they spot opportunities?

What about threats?

Agenda Introduction (AJM & NFB) CMS and links with employability Your role as personal tutor Links with iLEARN, CMS and PDP I can’t do this! I am not a careers’ adviser What to do when handing back … cvs action plans covering letters When to refer on to Careers Advisory Service Further steps to employability - Encouraging your tutees Individual learner profiles Skills development (SOAR) The Destinations website Work experience (GF) Baseline data survey EMPLOYMENT AGENDA Vocational expectations of students are much higher. CMS is one way we seek to improve their chances of graduate –level employment.

Aims and objectives Career learning inputs in all years of degree programme Drip feed CMS Years1-2 focus on gaining experience and skills Years 2-3 focus on getting graduate level job Ensure year 2 entrants get some CMS Ensure those on placements make the most of them for their careers Strengthen quality of feedback via PAR meetings Train tutors to give feedback to students on CVs 3 out of every 4 tutees known to leave with up-to-date CVs Constraints: Timetabling for several degrees Needs of students on 4 year sandwich degrees

CMS Year 1: gaining skills, experience (2.5 credit) Year 2: towards a graduate level job (2.5 credit) Year 3: ongoing input via tutors (0 credits) Strengthen quality of feedback via PAR meetings Constraints: Timetabling for several degrees Needs of students on 4 year sandwich degrees

Tutor meetings calendar

Work Experience Several options: - volunteering (MASIV) - work shadowing - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) - summer placements - 12 month industrial placements

12 months Numerous studies demonstrate the benefits - knowledge of their chosen industry - develop existing skills and learn new skills - develop transferable skills - make ‘contacts’ in chosen industry - mature - head-hunted by placement company - higher grade than predicted

Benefit to the School Our competitors offer placements! Increases contact with industry – latest technology - guest speakers - student visits - research collaboration - raises the profile of the University

Timescale Students go out after Part 2 CMS in summer sets them up Placements advertised from October onwards Need to be introduced to the idea early to ensure a good placement

Next Steps Any tutees, students, etc interested should come and see me to discuss their options and potential placement providers Have 8 students interested in going out next summer

Contacts Fiona Corby – f.j.corby@reading.ac.uk Careers Adviser for APD students Nick Beard n.f.beard@reading.ac.uk Joint CMS Module Convenor; Senior Tutor and PAR co-ordinator Alistair Murdoch a.j.murdoch@reading.ac.uk Joint CMS Module Convenor; CCMS Fellow Gillian Fraser g.a.fraser@reading.ac.uk Work experience officer for APD

Questions and Discussion

CMS - Baseline data collection Name _____________________ How many of your tutees graduated in 2008? If >0, then… of tutees graduating in 2008 … How many discussed plans for future employment with you between October 2007 and March 2008 ? How many showed you their CVs between October 2007 and March 2008 ? How many already have a job? Of those with jobs, would you say it is “graduate level”? (jobs for which a degree would normally be expected) How many do you think left with an up to date CV? Please circle 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 don’t know Many thanks for your help – Alistair Murdoch and Nick Beard, November 2008