Aims

This project aimed to build upon the success of the placements programme at the University of Bath through increasing employability skills in first year undergraduate students, and promoting personal development planning throughout the entire degree programme.

Objectives

Increasing employer participation

i. The development programme would consist of eight sessions. This would equate to four skills sessions for each Semester. Each of these sessions will have core objectives against which students can measure their development, enabling reflection on their personal learning and performance. This will help students to identify their personal areas of strength, whilst also identifying the skills that they need to build upon. Each session will provide guidance on how to find suitable opportunities that will allow students to continue building and developing their key skills.

ii. The project would also facilitate a voluntary mentoring scheme to increase employer participation in the programme using the established industrial contacts made through the placements programme. The project would also reach out to final year students who have undertaken placements, and graduates from the associated Departments for mentoring.

iii. The project would aim to support students in finding summer placements after their first year of study. This would allow students to apply the skills and knowledge gained through the development programme directly within the workplace, whilst building a skills profile that can be used for placement applications and interviews.