HR0388 - Academic and Career Development

The one-hour weekly lectures will provide you with the theoretical foundation of the module content. This is supported by a two-hour weekly seminar, whereby you will have the opportunity to translate what you have learned theoretically into practice. By doing so, you will immensely benefit from developing a deeper level of learning and proficiency in the acquisition and usage of the core academic learning and employability skills. The interactive approach to sessions will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and your own experiences. The emphasis is on active levels of participation, both individually and within small groups or teams.

The reflective-practitioner approach to learning is built into all sessions to facilitate the development of proficiency based on reflection on knowledge, experience and practice. Through the activities undertaken you will have plenty of opportunities to develop yourself and others by; critically applying theory to ‘real-life’ situations, analyse, and receive and give feedback. These will enable your self-development and to make informed recommendations for the individual development of other students.

Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading, preparation for interactive activities and plenary discussions. Core online tests will be provided for the advanced academic and employability skills elements of this module.

Independent learning will focus on you identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to your chosen career path and by acquiring deeper and broader knowledge and understanding through a range of learning activities including extended reading, reflection and research.

The method of delivery will focus on learning by doing (experiential) to facilitate the consolidation and structuring of your theoretical and conceptual understanding, as well as, focusing on the explicit development of your competency level. A global focus on graduate opportunities, tailored academic and employability skills and career development will be key features of your learning.

You will be supported by a teaching and learning plan, which outlines the formal sessions, together with the tutor-directed study and independent reading for each session.
Additionally, you will be supported by:
? Library resources and search tools to identify relevant articles and subject books.
? The online digital reading list providing a wide range of core journal papers, subject book, digitalised book chapters on the topics of advanced academic skills, employability, career theory and development, selection, recruitment, online testing and professional resources on graduate employment.
? E-learning portal information, including teaching materials, pre-set learning and task completion.
? FAQ on the eLearning portal (i.e. questions will be answered on ELP).
? On-going support and assessment briefs from module and teaching Tutor.
? On-going formative feedback from tutor and peers.
? Further, academic study support is also provided by the module NX 0329 “English for Specific Academic Purposes” (ESAP) – which is relevant to both, international and national level 6 students by adding to the core syllabi delivered by this module
? Relevant academic support is also provided for English development communication skills, through the optional module NX4567 “Business Speaking Communication Skills” (BSCS) – most relevant to international students.
? Programme Leaders to ensure module development within the wider programme development.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Develop students’ critical thinking, reading and writing skills within the context of employability and career development through the use of academic and professional research (MLO1).

2. Support students to enhance their employability skills and make research- informed career choices by taking into account the graduate labour market and their knowledge, skills and abilities (MLO2).

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Equip students with a sound foundation of academic and employability skills to enhance their wider studies and career prospects (MLO3)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

1. Summative assessment and rationale for tasks
The module assessment is through a 3000-word portfolio of evidence (CW1) including a critical review of employability literature and graduate labour market (specific focus will relate to individual student’s choice of context and career path underpinned by career theory), a self- assessment against the requirements of a chosen potential employer (& job role) and a detailed 10-year career plan. A complete set of application tools including a CV, covering letter, application form and observers’ interview and group exercises feedback from AoL activities.

As students will be submitting their CV, covering letter and career plan where identifying information is provided, this module should be exempt from the anonymous marking policy. This is consistent with similar modules at levels 5 and 7 which focus on employability and self-presentation.

2. Formative assessment – details of process and rationale
Formative assessment will take place through group work, assignment discussion and reflection, discussion board activity on the e-learning platform, and theory/practice related discussions.

Criteria will be provided to enable participants to understand what is expected of them and how they will be assessed on their performance, this will be presented as a marking rubric.

Students are required to demonstrate reflection, critical self-assessment and reflective practice throughout the module. Throughout the experiential learning individually and in groups, the students are trained and expected to give and receive effective feedback. Tutor feedback will also be provided.

3. Indication of how students will get feedback and how this will support their learning
Feedback on summative performance in this module will be provided as follows: Assignments will be returned with annotated comments directly related to the assessment task. Students will also be provided with a written comment on actions to be taken to improve performance in assessment overall.

Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module, particularly in relation to in-class activities and directed study. The timing of feedback on draft assignments will be clearly labelled within the teaching and learning plan.

The combination of summative and formative feedback will assess ML01, ML02
and ML03

None.

None.

This module equips you with the necessary knowledge and transferable skills for your future employability, career development and academic studies.
Cognizant that most students on level 6 top up programmes have little or/no experience of higher education in the UK, this module begins by supporting students to understand, enhance and demonstrate research informed advanced academic skills - essential to succeed in the UK higher education and to stand out from the crowd at employment and career development opportunities. You will develop valuable knowledge and skills of the global graduate labour market drawing upon national and international exemplars, whilst exploring key aspects of your knowledge, skills, personality, values, abilities and interests to enable you to make well-informed career choices, develop an appropriate long-term career plan and achieve the job and/or development you aim for.
The module is taught by a combination of lectures/seminars to enable you with deep critical intellectual and experiential development. Detailed directed reading, diagnostics and interactive exercises are contextualised to the countries of intended employment, thus endowing both national and international students with essential transferable employability skills contributing to more successful future careers and/or further education.

Assessment is through a 3000-word portfolio of evidence including a critical review of employability literature, relevant graduate labour market (specific focus relates to individual student’s choice of context and career path underpinned by career theory), a self- assessment against the requirements of a potential employer (and job role) and a detailed career plan. It will also include your designed complete set of application tools i.e. a graduate level CV, covering letter and application form and online test results, interview and group exercises feedback from AoL activities.