Uea Award Student Pamphlet

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U F GO H D R T I W A AWA UE

UEA AWARD This pamphlet explains what the UEA Award is, why take part in it and details of Award levels and hours. Register on our website www.uea.ac.uk/award. An online version of the pamphlet is available from: http://tiny.cc/Award-Student-Pamphlet

WHAT IS THE AWARD? The UEA Award recognises a range of activities, both academic and extra-curricular, undertaken during your time at UEA that help you develop the skills and attributes for both life and employment when you finish your course. The Award has been developed in conjunction with employers and culminates in a certificate from the University.

The Award has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold, to cater for differing levels of commitment, with a minimum number of hours required for each category of activity. A very wide range of activities count towards the Award and these are divided into four categories: ‘Academic’, ‘Work-related’, ‘Campus and Personal’ and ‘Career Management’.

The Award had over 1000 registered students in the academic year 2016-17 and 2017-18, from all Schools and year groups.

WHY TAKE PART? Most students are already doing extra-curricular activities alongside their degree of study. However, by being a part of the Award, you will: • • • • • •

Have a record and recognition of your achievements Build a great CV that does justice to your time here Be in the know and get involved with activities on campus Gain unique feedback and perspective from employers Have great examples to use in interviews, covering letters and application forms Reflect on your achievements, your strengths and next steps.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED Visit our website www.uea.ac.uk/award to get involved and find out more.

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AWARD CATEGORIES AND EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES Activities fall within four categories: ‘Academic,’ ‘Work-related,’ ‘Career management,’ and ‘Campus and Personal.’ Example activities are listed below.

You will complete a short statement every time you do an activity, including selecting attributes you have developed. A full list of activities is available from: http://tiny.cc/awardactivities

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

• Team project • Presentation • Producing an academic poster • Peer mentoring/ assessment • Creating a podcast, video editing, or other multimedia work

WORK-RELATED

CAREER MANAGEMENT

CAMPUS & PERSONAL

• Vacation work experience

• Attending a careers fair

• Student Union society activity

• Part-time job (does not have to be related to your degree)

• Employer event

• Elected Student Union role

• Work placements, e.g. nursing, pharmacy, schools • Year in industry

• Lab work

• Starting a new business

• Applied research

• Internships

• Fieldwork

• Work shadowing

• Alumni events • School-based careers events • Careers guidance • Business and industry conferences • Discussing career plans with an academic adviser

• Student media • School responsibilities, e.g. committees • UEA Student Support Service activities, e.g.

Global Voices scheme • Organising competitive sports • Writing your own blog/building your own website

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AWARD ATTRIBUTES The UEA Award attributes have been developed based on the needs of graduate recruiters across all sectors. Each time you submit an activity as part of the Award, you identify which attributes you feel you have developed.

COMMUNICATION

• Effective speaking and presentations, appropriate for specific audiences and contexts • Writing coherently and persuasively, appropriate for specific audiences and contexts • Assertiveness and negotiation • Tactfulness and diplomacy • Using social media to effectively build a network of contacts

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TEAMWORK & LEADERSHIP

• Co-operating and collaborating with others • Working to shared aims • Empathising with other people’s position • Giving constructive feedback to a team • Taking the lead when required • Showing initiative • Delegating and assigning responsibility

SELF MANAGEMENT & PROFESSIONALISM

• Flexibility and adaptability • Showing resilience • Setting priorities and juggling competing demands • Setting goals and meeting deadlines • Improvement of performance through reflective learning • Understanding work cultures and practices, including being ‘professional’

PROBLEM SOLVING

• Identifying problems and their causes • Analysing facts and circumstances • Breaking down an issue into component parts • Considering new angles • Overcoming setbacks • Creativity in generating solutions

DIGITAL LITERACY AND IT

• Using a range of digital technologies, software and web platforms for academic and career development purposes • Using office software and systems • Using spreadsheets and other databases • Developing websites, platforms and systems • Managing your digital footprint e.g. social media and online identities

APPLIED NUMERACY & TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY

• Performing routine calculations, e.g. making estimates, calculating percentages, applying formulae • Using skilled techniques for academic, professional or career development purposes • Using statistical modelling software • Analysing and interpreting data

CAREER MANAGEMENT

• Reflecting on and articulating qualities, strengths and skills • Researching and evaluating career options • Researching sectors, employers and opportunities for job and career paths • Creating strong CVs, applications and online profiles for the purposes of securing employment • Performing well in selection tests and at interview

COMMERCIAL AWARENESS

• Appreciation of business bottom lines • Knowledge of the link between academic subjects and their commerical applications • Understanding and prioritising customer needs • Applying learning from commercial and customer situations to improve outcomes • Effective marketing to customers using a range of channels and social media

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AWARD ATTRIBUTES

WHAT EMPLOYERS SAY

INNOVATION & ENTERPRISE

• Taking an idea through to its practical application • Introducing or establishing something new • Looking for innovative solutions to problems • Applying an enterprising mindset to situations • Taking risks with a new idea or direction

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CITIZEN & STEWARDSHIP

• Awareness of one’s own cultural beliefs, norms and attitudes, and those of others • Awareness of the need to manage finite resources • An ability to improve the lives of others and lobby for positive change • Mixing with peers from different cultures • Understanding equality and diversity

‘Graduates who are unable to demonstrate life skills in today’s workplace environment are at a distinct disadvantage securing the best jobs and even their chosen career. This is a fabulous scheme and one worthy of recognition equipping graduates with the ability to demonstrate a broader view of life and of the need for additional skills would make them not only more employable but also more rounded individuals.’

- UEA Award Employer Consultation ‘I particularly wanted to get behind the UEA Award because it gives Enterprise the chance to help support students from a wide range of different backgrounds.

We’ve worked with other universities on similar initiatives in the past and seen the benefits first-hand – both in terms of helping students realise their full potential and in preparing them for applications and interviews with graduate recruiters like ourselves.’

- Enterprise Rent-a-Car

YOUR PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES MAP As part of the Award, you receive receipts by email which tell you the attributes you have selected for any activity you submit. We have created an attribute visualisation tool which enables you to build your personal attribute development map. By charting your attributes, you can see your strengths in deciding which jobs to apply for and your next steps.

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AWARD LEVELS AND HOURS The Award has three levels BRONZE Bronze, Silver and Gold.

A minimum number of hours are required for each award level. These are set out in the table below.

You can do more hours SILVER than these if you wish. Once you have the Bronze level you can build on this to achieve BRONZE AND the Silver or Gold level by SILVER TOTAL completing additional activities.

GOLD

TOTALS

ACTIVITIES

HOURS

+

ACTIVITIES

HOURS ACTIVITIES HOURS

1

50

10

5

1

60

10

11

2

110

20

+T

+

HOURS

8

6

W AC

+ TO A

ACTIVITIES

BRONZE, SILVER AND GOLD TOTAL

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

5

1

70

10

TO COM ACTIVITIES HOURS

16

3

180

30

WORK-RELATED CTIVITIES

2

CAREER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

2 EVENTS OR

1

EVENT AND 1 CAREERS INTERACTION

30

-

CAMPUS AND PERSONAL ACTIVITIES

WILD CARD (FROM ANY CATEGORY)

1

-

10

-

FINAL ACTIVITIES

SUBMIT YOUR CV

-

ACHIEVE SILVER AWARD

-

2 EVENTS +

1

APPOINTMENT OR CAREERS INTERACTION

1

-

20

-

10

20

2

5

2

-

50

-

20

20

SUBMIT YOUR CV AND A SHORT VIDEO CV

-

TO ACHIEVE GOLD AWARD

1 25

1 EVENT +

1

CAREERS APPOINTMENT

-

1 10

25

PRESENT TO A FACE-TO-FACE PANEL OF EMPLOYERS, ACADEMICS AND CAREERS STAFF

-

MPLETE WHOLE AWARD 3

7

3

-

75

-

30

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UEA AWARD JOURNEY The UEA Award journey is shown below. You can undertake award activities in any order you wish, and the Award culminates in: at Bronze level - you receiving feedback on your CV; at Silver and Gold levels – you receiving feedback from employers on your Award experience.

INITIAL APPLICATION

TRAINING SESSION OR HELP SHEET

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

CAMPUS AND PERSONAL ACTIVITIES

CAREER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

WORK-RELATED ACTIVITIES

REFLECT ON DEVELOPMENT OF GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES

UNDERTAKE ACTIVITIES FROM EACH CATEGORY SUBMIT CV FOR FEEDBACK AND (DEPENDING ON AWARD LEVEL) RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM EMPLOYERS

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RECEIVE AWARD CERTIFICATE SILVER LEVEL: ONLINE GOLD LEVEL: FACE TO FACE

BRONZE

SILVER

GOLD

6 ACTIVITIES

11 ACTIVITIES

16 ACTIVITIES

50 HOURS

110 HOURS

180 HOURS

TESTIMONIALS STUDENT ‘The UEA Award has given me a new perspective on my career path. It has made me think more critically about decisions regarding my career and has also allowed me to reflect on what I have accomplished. It is great to be able to visually see what you have achieved, this is seen with the badges you attain and the attribute chart that you make as you progress through the award.’

- Jacob Hewes, 3rd Year, School of Biology ‘I have been able to go and gain experience and skills in different areas from completing the Digital Voyager course to volunteering at a history festival. Through the guidelines set out in the UEA Award my CV is now more well rounded in the experience I have gained.’

- Rose Elphick, 3rd Year, School of History

EMPLOYER ‘I was interested in getting involved with the award as it is something that I would have been very interested in during my studies, and gives students the skills necessary to make a lasting first impression, which can make the difference in finding the next career step. The UEA Award is a great way for individuals to gain further experience as they look towards their future careers, and EY is a hugely exciting place to work and continue to develop.’

- EY ‘I am passionate about nurturing talent so it’s extremely rewarding to give students constructive employer feedback at such an important point in their lives. The council is committed to supporting the community, and helping graduates into work is a great opportunity to do this.’

- Norwich City Council ‘We are pleased to support the UEA Award as we recognise that it is the whole student that enters the community post-graduation, not just the qualification, and the UEA Award supports and recognises a holistic approach to personal development.’

- Build Charity - Social, leisure and learning for people with disabilities For more information on employers supporting the Award visit http://tiny.cc/ employersupporters 11

HOW TO TAKE PART If you have any questions please contact us on award@uea.ac.uk or 01603 591032.

If you want to take part in the UEA Award, please register on our website www. uea.ac.uk/award. The Award is open to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS HOW DO I SUBMIT MY ACTIVITIES? You will complete a short statement every time you do an activity and submit it via a form on MyCareerCentral. This involves listing your main tasks or responsibilities, considering which attributes you have developed and writing a short statement that can be used later on your CV. Please see http://tiny.cc/Awardsystem for more details.

CAN I SUBMIT ACTIVITIES I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST? Yes. If you are a second, third or fourth year then you can submit ‘Work-related,’ ‘Campus and Personal’ or ‘Career Management’ activities from up to two years ago.

If you are a first year or Masters student new to the University then you can submit things in these categories up to one year ago. For Academic Activities, you can submit these from the entire time you are at UEA. IS THERE A TIME LIMIT TO COMPLETING THE AWARD? The Award can be undertaken over the full three years of an undergraduate course or during the one or two years of a postgraduate degree. You are expected to complete and submit at least one form submission in six months in order to remain on the Award.

CAN WORK-RELATED ACTIVITIES BE ANYTHING OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE RELATED TO YOUR DEGREE? ‘Work-related’ activities do not have to be related to your degree, because the graduate attributes you are acquiring can be gained in a wide range of work situations.

WHAT ABOUT IF YOU HAVE A REALLY INTENSIVE COURSE? A number of activities from an intensive course are likely to count towards the Award, so it is still possible to achieve at least Bronze or Silver over three years.

I HAVE PLACEMENTS IN MY COURSE, SO WHERE WOULD THAT SIT WITHIN THE AWARD? Placements that happen on your course count as ‘Work-related’ activity.

DOES MY YEAR ABROAD IN MY DEGREE COUNT? Yes. The category it counts in depends on what you are doing e.g. in the workrelated or academic section.

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