NNC Employability Statement 2010-11

North Notts College has a well qualified and experienced team within Student Services who offer support for everyone on Higher Education (HE) level courses; this includes employability and transition. There is a HE specialist Careers Adviser who works with any students wishing to consider and apply for HE level courses including internal progression. The College offers a range of support to all students and tutors, this includes tutorials, workshops, 1:1s, guest speakers and visits.

Preparation for Employment

Students will see individuals to work with them on their future plans and goals e.g. further courses, employment, research and job hunting strategies. The team can be accessed by appointment or on a drop in basis if an adviser is available.

Students can, if they wish, have a ‘mock’ interview to prepare them for the ‘real’ thing; this could be for employment or for higher level courses. Some students want to move onto degrees after completing an HNC/HND, some are looking for part time work to fit around their studies and others are looking for help with finding a full time job. The team are responsive to each students career needs and will work with them accordingly.

The guidance team will also go into groups to do workshops on a variety of topics such as CVs, job search techniques, applications to further study and career development. They work closely with the tutors to make sure that they deliver sessions that are the most appropriate for the group and the subject.

There is a good resource centre that all students can use for their career planning/management: this includes access to both paper and online information. This is an area within the Learning Resource Centre and can be used by students during the normal opening times, without prior booking.

Employability within courses

The HNC/HND Business programmes are designed to support students through the transition from Further Education (FE) courses to University, via an alternative to the First and Second Year of a BA Hons degree.

The format, expectations and delivery of the Higher Nationals (HN) are based around those provided in a HE rather than FE setting thereby developing the students’ academic and personal skills in preparation for full time or part time degree programmes or employment.

The units delivered are designed to reflect the identified needs of employers and include many key functional areas allowing students to progress to a specialist degree or professional qualification if they so wish. For example, Employability Skills is a newly offered unit to enhance students’ understanding of the skills required by employers and how best they can market themselves in today’s competitive employment environment. Project Design, Implementation & Evaluation is another unit newly provided to improve the practical application of Business concepts and is linked with the Young Enterprise Scheme, allowing a contribution to the local community along with hands-on experience of project management, problem solving, communication and so on. This event involves local employers and local government who offer support and guidance to the students whilst completing the scheme.

Some students choose to study a professional management qualification with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) alongside their HN studies to further enhance their knowledge and understanding and to improve their chances of a University place or employment.

It is desirable that students have current or recent employment experience as this gives students greater scope to apply their learning in a realistic environment. However, where this is not possible, the assignments set are also contextualised to involve actual or generic business scenarios, often related to current events in the business world.

As part of the programme, core and study skills are delivered via group tutorial sessions to support students in both their current and future study and also future employment. These sessions examine topics such as communication, time management, problem solving, planning and organisation etc.

In preparation for the transition to a University setting, group visits to local HE institutions are arranged as well as guest visits from past students to give a ‘first-hand’ view of HE.

The HNC/HND Advanced Practice in Working with Children and Families programmes are designed to support students from FE courses to University, via an alternative to a Foundation Degree or to the First and Second Year of a BA Hons degree.

The format, expectations and delivery of the HN are based around developing the students’ academic and personal skills in preparation for progression on to full time or part time degree programmes or employment. The units delivered reflect the identified needs of employers and include many key functional areas, allowing students to progress to a specialist degree or professional qualification if they so wish.

To enhance the students’ employability or progression the course offers opportunity to study Effective Leadership, Preparation for Managing the Inspection and Working with Families. Also studied over the two years of the HNC is a Continuing Development unit and Professional Practice, which supports students as practitioners to consider their short and long term goals for future employability. It is desirable that students have current employment or voluntary placement this is necessary so that they can apply their learning and management skills in a real work environment.

As part of the programme, core and study skills are delivered via group tutorial sessions to supports students in both their current and future study and also future employment. These sessions examine topics such as communication, time management, problem solving, planning and organisation.

In preparation for the transition to a University setting, guest speakers are invited to talk to the students to discuss suitable degree courses and finance, etc.