Seamus McEvoy, Head of Career Services, UCC

Enabling World Ready & Work Ready Graduates

• Why employability• Update on employability activities in UCC?

– Current situation– UCC Works– BA work placement module

• 2012 graduate destinations

Agenda

The Hunt Report emphasises the need for higher education to put more emphasis on generic skill development

‘The undergraduate curriculum needs to place more emphasis on generic skills, especially those required for

the workplace and for active citizenship’. National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 (Hunt Report) - Jan 2011

‘The simple acquisition of knowledge is not enough to count as a complete education in today’s

world’

The challenge to Higher Educational in Ireland - Employability

What are Generic/Employability skills?

Hunt refers to an OECD project on higher education learning outcomes as an indicator of international thinking on the key generic skills required by students today:– Analytical reasoning– Critical thinking– The ability to generate fresh ideas– The practical application of theory– Written communication– Leadership ability– Ability to work in a group

A set of skills, knowledge and personal attributes which ensure that graduates are capable of being effective in the workplace and the community to the benefit of themselves, their employers and society in general.

AHECS (Association of Higher Education Career Services)

Taken from ‘time well spent – embedding employability in work experience’ C.B.I. (Confederation of British industry 2008)

Definition of employability (cont)

‘We will provide opportunities within each programme for student placement either through volunteering activities,

international placement or work placement so that all UCC students have the opportunity to develop the generic and transferable skills needed for effective engagement in the

workplace and society’.

Over 80% of UCC undergraduate programmes now offer placement opportunities

(work placement/clinical placement /year abroad)

UCC Strategic Plan 2013 - 2017

UCC Strategic Initiative 2013/17Provide opportunities for all students to develop employability skills

Work Experience Pathway

UCC Campus internshipUCC Works

External work placement/internship

Clinical Placement

Community Involvement

Pathway

Volunteering

Service Learning

Community Based Research

UCC Community Engagement

Pathway

Societies participation

Sports club participation

Culture and Artsparticipation

Internationalisation Pathway

Develop Language Competencies

Work or Study Abroad

Development Work Abroad

Proposal approved by Academic Council July 2012

• Student works full time for a period of time as an accredited part of their academic programme.

• Approx. 900 students per annum take formal paid block work placements, some abroad, usually of 6 months duration

Block placement

• Students spend periods of their academic programme in the workplace under the direct supervision of a tutor e.g. medicine, nursing, dentistry etc.

• All students undertake clinical placements as part of their academic programme in the College of Medicine and Health

Clinical placement

• Students spend timetabled periods during term in a supervised work setting e.g. education, social work, etc.

• Approx 200 students p.a.

Practice placement

Accredited Work based learning in UCC

College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences(CACSSS): ENHANCING STUDENTS’

EMPLOYABILITY

NEW WORK PLACEMENT MODULEFrom 2013, the College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences is

offering its BA students an opportunity to take a 5 credit work placement module, which will include a work placement and which

will be listed on the student’s transcripts

BA Work Placement Module - key points

• Pilot 5 credit elective module in 2013/14 in 5 disciplines• Plan to make option available to all 2nd year BA students in UCC as part

of their degree programme in 2014/15. • Administered by the Career Services on behalf of the College• Academic staff work with students to agree learning outcomes and

assessment of module. • The programme involves

– preparatory training, – Work-placement organized by the University (min 150 hours) – post-placement assessment of learning outcomes designed to help students to

articulate what they have learned from the placement.

• Work-placements can be completed in one of two periods– During Term – Weekly hours Placement– During the Summer - Block Placement within months June to Sept

2013/14 version - Introducing three Pathways

Two steps to success

The Reflective Report1. Demonstrate how you developed …..

(competency) by participating in your chosen pathway. (select 4 of the 6 skills listed)

2. Demonstrate how having an understanding of the workplace and employer’s requirements will help you with your career goals.

3. In what way has participating on the UCC Works Internship Award influenced your future career goals?

Students encouraged to use the STAR techniqueQuestions based on employer application formsStudents required to update their CV

No more than 200 words/answer

Teamwork

Problem-

SolvingInterpersonal skills

Planning

Skills

Main features • 4,626 students graduated from full time programmes

in UCC.• In spring/early summer 2013, the Career Services

surveyed these graduates to identify their current employment status

• 3,777 graduates (82%) responded to the survey.

Class of 2012 – Graduate Destinations Survey

57% (2,135 graduates) were in employment with 86% (1,844) of these working in Ireland

30% (1,143 graduates) continued onto further study primarily in Irish H.E. Institutions

9% (333 graduates) were actively seeking employment and 4% (166 graduates) were not available for employment

More detailed survey information will shortly be available on www.ucc.ie/careers

UCC Graduate Destinations 2012Survey summary – all graduates

In employment 51%

Further study 38%

Seeking em-

ploy-ment 8%

Not available for employment 4%

UCC Graduate Destinations 2012Survey summary – Primary degree recipients

In employment 68%

Further study 15%

Seeking employ-

ment 11%

Not available for employment 6%

UCC Graduate Destinations 2012Survey summary – Higher degree recipients

THANK YOU!