Today:  What is Edge?  What do I Need to do?  FAQ’s

Factors to consider  Did you know that there are over 60 applications for every graduate job  Throughout the UK & Ireland there are over 80 other HEI’s that other their students some sort of employability award  Employers are recruiting graduates who not only have a degree but also key transferable skills

What is Edge?  A new Award for Undergraduate Students  Provides official recognition and evidence for activities outside your programme of study  Taken in addition to degree  You have up to 4 years to complete the award.  You will receive it with your degree  You need to complete 4 activities, one of which needs to be from a different category.

How do you achieve Award? Complete 4 activities (they can’t all be from the same category):  Category 1: Accredited co-curricular modules  Category 2: Work Experience, Study Abroad and Enterprise  Category 3: Internal & External Opportunities  Category 4: Formal University-wide Opportunities

Reflect on Me PPD131‘ Building your skills PPD105 Developing Skills for Work PPD104 Graduation- what next? PPD102 Career management Skills PPD103 Skills Development through Student Representation Peer Assisted Study Skills 1 PPD037 Peer Assisted Study Skills 2 PPD051 Year long Placement ‘Employability through Work Experience’ PPD100 Placement Preparation PPD120 Study USA Erasmus Scheme Washington Ireland Programme IAESTE ISEP Language Assistants Ulster Sports Outreach Educational Placement Programme Sports Union Club or Students Union Society Committee Member Student Union Campus Councillor Student Union Student led Project Volunteer Student Union Rag Volunteer Students Union Enterprise Competition Team Member Involving Students as Partners in Reviewing and Enhancing Education (INSPIRE) Volunteering with External Organisations Voluntary Sports Coaching in the Community Social Work Individual Practice Development Days Leaderhsip Development Programme Module 1 Leadership Development Programme Module 2 Mountain Leader (Summer) Training. Ulster Sports Outreach Education Induction Training Programme Ulster Sports Outreach Sport for LIFE programme Ulster Sports Outreach School Sport Legacy Programme Entrepreneurship Competitions Imagine Cup School of Nursing - Volunteering Initiative Tutoring in schools Science Shop Accredited co- curricular modules Work experience, Study Abroad and Enterprise Internal and External Opportunities** Formal University Wide Opportunities Category 1:Category 2:Category 3:Category 4:

FAQ’s  Do you have to complete a certain amount of activities in a year? No the amount each year is up to you, as long as you have four activities completed before you graduate.  Can activities I completed last year count? No, Only CPPD modules included in the approved activities list for the EDGE award that were completed last year can be counted as this will already be recorded onto the universities database.  How much time do I need to volunteer for it to be included as an activity? You must volunteer for at least 30 hours.

FAQ’s  What steps do I need to take if I volunteer for an organisation outside of the University? You need to check that the organisation you are volunteering has signed up with the SU (check SU website). You need to fill out a log book from the Students Union to record the hours and the activities you took part, has to be signed off by your volunteering supervisor and verified by the SU  What if the voluntary organisation is not registered with the SU? You need to encourage the organisation to register with the SU otherwise if you are doing 80 hours over a year with the organisation you can engage with ‘employability through work experience’ CPPD module

FAQ’s  Can activities I have completed during vacation periods throughout my degree be used? Yes, any activity that is completed during your degree can be counted towards the award provided that it has been approved by the EDGE award team.  Does it look better if I complete my activities over all 4 categories? Completing your activities over more than 2 categories does not make a difference as to how it is perceived by employers. (E.g. 4 activities completed over 2 categories holds the same merit as 4 activities completed over all 4 categories.)  Once an activity has been completed, how do I get it credited towards the award? It is your responsibility to ensure that all parts of the work needed for that activity are completed and handed in on time. It will then be the responsibility of the university staff member to assess your work and put it towards you EDGE award

FAQ’s  Can part time/short term employment count towards this award? No, unless you engage in the CPPD module ‘employability through work experience ‘allowing you to reflect on the skills which you have developed  I have completed all four activities… now what? Once all four activities have been completed you must then apply for the award. You will receive an prompting you to do this when the time comes.  What happens if I withdraw my application? If you decide you no longer wish to participate in the award, contact a member of the Ulster Edge team. If you have any more questions visit your campus ‘EDGE information point’ located in the Careers Development Centre, or the above address.