Employability
The University’s Learning & Teaching Strategy 2011-16 establishes the principle of an institutional Employability Strategy ‘to be adapted by each Faculty to suit disciplinary contexts’, and the need to to assist students ‘to identify and address skills development needs through actions within their programmes and in other activities.’
This includes broadening students’ understanding of how their attributes can be applied to the career opportunities available, and how and when to make effective applications in a competitive jobs market.
University Employability Strategy
There are a number of experiences in Higher Education that can contribute to students' employability. In addition to the formal elements to their course, they can develop relevant skills through:
- Work experience and volunteering.
- Involvement in various leisure activities.
- Activities within the University.
- General life experience.
- Engaging with careers events and the career planning process.
It is valuable for students to reflect upon both formal and informal learning, for example through personal development planning via the Sheffield Graduate Development Programme (SGDP) or the Sheffield Graduate Award. In particular, it is important that students are encouraged from early in their course to consider their future, to engage with activities offered through the Careers Service ‘What's On’ events, and to take opportunities throughout their time at university to enhance their employability through the types of experience described above.
Faculty employability strategies
The Careers Service can assist faculties and academic departments to develop strategies to address students’ employability. Contact your department’s link Careers Adviser in the first instance. A list is available in the downloads section on the right hand side.
The Higher Education Academy
The topic of employability is explored more fully on this website where there are links to employability resources and access to their employability network.