The UK’s European university
Politics @ Kent 2015:Employability and Skills
Support
Claire Tanner, EIPAR [email protected] / 01227 823786
• Uncertain and unpredictable global economy and job market, need for future-proofing
• Knowledge, skills and network as the foundation of a future career
• Careers as journeys, no longer as destinations, needing life-long learning
• Politics as a non-vocational subject with almost unlimited future possibilities
• Preparedness as key to success
Thinking about the future already..
• Employability Blog and newsletter
• Employability Programme
• Support from EIPAR Officer
• Exclusive internship opportunities
• PO675 Internship Module
• Alumni networking events and mentoring
• Skills-based curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities
School Employability Support
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Employability Programme
• Summer internship and work experience workshops, including action planning
• Interactive networking training and alumni events to put skills immediately into practice
• Presentations by alumni in the Civil Service Fast Stream, including practice tests
• ‘Careers in Diplomacy’ talk by a former British Ambassador to Israel
• Masterclasses by visiting speakers including former EU Commissioners and Ambassadors
• Matched online mentoring with alumni
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PO675 Internship Module
• Support to find contributing internship, including CV and application sessions and one-to-one advice
• 60+ hours of internship over spring and summer
• Reflective workshops in the autumn term, assessed by portfolio, essay and presentation
• 2015 internships included: UN Women in New York, UK Civil Service, Liberal Democrats, French local government, NGOs in China and the US, and UK charities
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Other internships and work experience
• Support for all students in finding meaningful experiences of work
• Opportunities to undertake a work placement rather than study on some Year Abroad placements (within the EU mainly)
• In-house internships on EU funded projects and Student Union campaigns
• Competitive work experience opportunities with local MPs, MEPs and local councillors
• Active promotion of volunteering as a skills development opportunityPage 6
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Transferable Skills for Politics Students
In addition to course knowledge and content;
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Working and researching independently
• Balancing priorities and workloads
• Time management
• Teamwork
• Networking
• Sector familiarisation
• Confidence in applying skills and knowledgePage 7
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Careers paths for Politics and IR graduates: Politics-related
• Research-focused work: think-tanks, policy work, charities / NGO research, academia
• Campaigns-focused work: political parties, charities and NGOs, local, national and international issues, fundraising, public information, aid and development work
• Communications-focused work: public affairs, lobbying, political journalism, public relations, political marketing, speechwriting
• Governance-focused work:, civil service, public administration, administration of IOs e.g. EU / UN, security services / defence
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Alumni Examples
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Martti Antola, UN Resource Mobilisation Officer, Lebanon
Christoforos Fokaides, Cypriot Defence Minister
Thomas Byrne, Food Aid Co-ordinator (GOAL),
SyriaAbena Oppong-Asare, Local Councillor, London
Borough of Bexley
Jon Cornejo, Campaigns Co-
ordinator, Amnesty International
Ms Fu Ying, Deputy Foreign Minister, People’s
Republic of China
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Careers paths for Politics and IR graduates: Other fields
• Mainstream graduate recruitment positions in Top 300 (PwC, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Deloitte, Saga)
• Finance and Business
• Teaching and Education
• Marketing and Public Relations
• Management / Consultancy / Recruitment
• Journalism and the Media
• Police and Armed Forces
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Alumni Examples
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Leah Jeffcot, Recruitment Consultant,
Richmond Associates
Paul da Gama, Director of HR, West
Herts NHS Trust
Sir Hugh Orde, former President of ACPO
Daniel Breuckner, Head of Global Custody, HSBC
Kenya Brown, Journalist, CCTV China
Dina Patel, Markets Manager, OMFIF
• 92% of graduates in full-time employment or education (sector average 87%), 77.8% in professional jobs (sector average 64.7%)
• 11th for graduate prospects in 2015 Guardian University Guide
• 81% of students in 2013 graduated from SPIR with 1st or 2:1
• Diverse range of successful and engaged alumni around the globe
School of Politics and IR: Our employability track record
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Final Thoughts
• Degrees as life-long investments, as well as the beginning of a journey
• University is often a student’s first experience of independence, work and study, and balancing them all – support is required
• Subject-specific knowledge is unlikely to form a large part of a graduate’s first job role – transferable skills will
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• +44 (0)1227 823786
• Blog: http://blogs.kent.ac.uk/SPIRskills
Any Questions?
The UK’s European university
STUDENT SUPPORT
Sara Witchell
Student Support Manager
Student Support - 31/10/2015
INTRODUCTION• The modern student – a modern university/school
- Multi-cultural- Value- Quality
• Positive Student Experience= Learning & Living
• Role of the Student Support Manager
• Pastoral Academic Support System (PASS)” PASSport to Success”
Student Support - 31/10/2015
SCHOOL LEVEL SUPPORT
• Progress Monitoring:• Seminar Attendance• (Late) Submission of Coursework• Concessions
• Liaise with Academic Advisers/Module Convenors
• Deal with student queries
• Support & Wellbeing Co-ordinator
Student Support - 31/10/2015
I HAVE A QUERY…. WHO SHOULD I CONTACT
Module convenor
Student Support Manager
Academic Adviser
University Support Services
(eg. Student Support & Wellbeing Service, Student Learning Advisory
Service, etc.)
I have a query/problem with my programme…
I have a query regarding my future studies/career…
I have a personal/academic problem that is causing me to miss
classes/work..
I need advice on skills development/MyFolio..
I need advice on what modules to choose
I need a reference
I need some help with:
- Study skills
- A disability
- Understanding School policies
I am thinking of intermitting/withdrawing from my
degree…
I have a query about my module or programme registration
I have a problem with one of my modules…
Student Support - 31/10/2015
CHALLENGES/SOLUTIONS
Studying; language barriers
Living - Expectations
Finance/
Student Debt
Working
Social life
Graduate OpportunitIes
Kent Union Job Shop
Student Learning Advisory Service; Student Support & Wellbeing
Societies; Clubs; Sports;
Eating; Bars/club
Careers & Employability Service;
School Employability, Internships & Placements Officer
Campus facilities; pastoral support; security
Kent Union Advice Centre & Welfare Services
UNIVERSITY SUPPORT SERVICES
Student Support - 31/10/2015
CONTACT
• E-mail:
• Drop In sessions/Office hours
- Monday – Friday
• Appointments
- Monday – Friday
Student Support - 31/10/2015
SUMMARY
The Value of a degree
(content value)
vs.
The Social and Independent Living aspects
The UK’s European university
Student Experience/ School of Politics and IR
Marie KerinStudent Experience & Engagement Manager
Student Activities in the School Such as…
• Open Forum
• Public Speaker Programme
• Guest Lectures
• Current Affairs Society
• Reading Groups
• Film nights
• Student Representatives
• Annual Christmas Quiz
Peer Mentoring
• Peer-supported learning and study
• Establishment of study groups, led by one or more mentors, to go over course material
• A chance to bounce ideas around, share problems and queries, collaborate on problem-solving and build a support network
“My exam results last year averaged 72% and this is at least partly because of the
support from the academic peer mentoring scheme. Having another place to go to share ideas and think about my
modules more was really useful too!”
School Social Project
• Flash mob, freeze and dance! 2012/2013
• Responsible drinking2013/14
• 50th Anniversary: What it means to be a student 2014/15
Student Staff Liaison Committee
• Two way communication throughout the year
• Have to approve new, and changes to existing, programmes run by the school
• Meet monthly during term time
• Help to effect change in the school
Innovation in Provision
Innovation in Provision – Pilot Projects
THE UK’S EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY
www.kent.ac.uk