Newcastle University

Career Development module

There are currently a limited number of places still available on the Career Development module for 2011/12. As self registration is now closed, please contact your school office to register on the module.

Do you want to graduate with the skills that employers are looking for?

The Career Development module gives you the opportunity to use your work experience, volunteering activities or part-time job to count towards your degree.

We can even find your placement for you!

• How does it work?
• How is it assessed?
• What is Advanced Career Development?
• What do I need to do once I've registered?

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How does it work?

"It's crucial to ensure that our degree comprises more than just acquisition of academic knowledge if our graduates are to succeed in today's highly competitive job market. Involvement with the Career Development module has enabled many of our students to get invaluable practical work experience."
Dr Val Tuck, School of Psychology

Career Development is a 20 credit module which you complete over the course of the academic year. This enables you to manage placement visits around your academic and personal commitments, and gives you time to plan and prepare for the main module assessment which takes place during the semester two examination period.

There are no weekly lectures for the module, but you will need to attend training sessions, seminars and tutorials throughout the year to support you in setting goals to work towards through your placement and in developing your knowledge and skills. You will spend a minimum of 70 hours at your placement which can be either a half or full day each week, spread over all or part of the academic year.

There are currently three different routes available:

• Student tutoring - helping learners in schools and colleges, or through community placements.
• Student volunteering - volunteering through the Union Society / SCAN.
• Learning from work - for those who wish to develop their knowledge and skills using existing part-time work (paid or voluntary), including running your own business.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible to take the Career Development module as part of your degree programme, please check with your academic school.

Student tutoring in schools, colleges or community placements

You will act as an assistant in a local primary school, secondary school, FE college, or community setting, helping to raise the achievements and aspirations of learners.

Community placement opportunities (PDF: 321 KB) are available in a wide-range of settings such as hospital schools, working with at-risk groups, after-school IT clubs, libraries and museum education.

With all tutoring options you will gain valuable practical experience through supporting teaching staff across a wide range of activities. You will develop your:

• graduate skills;
• occupational awareness;
• ability to set and work towards goals in the workplace;
• ability to talk about these things in interview situations.

We will usually arrange your placement for you, however, if you have a prior connection with a local* school or college, as an ex-pupil or through completing a previous placement, it may be possible for you to arrange your own. If you think you would like to do this, you must contact Jim Wood for further guidance before taking action yourself.

*Local is considered to be Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside or Northumberland.

NB: For student tutoring, you must apply for a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) enhanced disclosure via the Careers Service by 5 October 2011.

Student Volunteering

If you already volunteer through the Union Society or SCAN this route will help you to recognise and analyse the graduate skills that you use. The module will help you demonstrate to employers that you have acquired experience and knowledge outside of the lecture theatre. It should also make you more aware of how you are contributing to your placement and increase your confidence.

NB: To participate you must be volunteering in a placement approved by the Union Society/SCAN before you commence the module, and you must confirm your choice of placement with your personal tutor or degree program director.

Learning from Work

This route allows you to draw upon experience gained through existing work (paid or unpaid) for academic credit. We will help you use your work, including running your own business, to build a bank of skills that you can use to impress employers when you graduate. At the same time you will become more aware of how you’re contributing to your existing workplace and how you can illustrate your value to employers.

Students have undertaken work in a wide variety of sectors and roles - take a look at our examples of placements (PDF: 77KB) for ideas and inspiration.

NB: You must have existing part-time work before you commence the module, and you must confirm your choice of placement with your personal tutor or degree program director.

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How is it assessed?

Assessment for the Career Development module varies depending on which stage you are in (second year, final year or Master's level). Assessment methods are designed to help you demonstrate your learning from the module while encouraging you to further develop your own skills.  Your assessment will include a sample of your goal setting and action planning work, an evaluation by your placement supervisor, and some of the following components:

• formal presentation;
• assessed interview;
• poster presentation.

You will have the opportunity to attend seminars and tutorials throughout the year to help you to prepare for assessment.

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What is Advanced Career Development?

If you have completed a Career Development module in your second year and are interested in enhancing your skills at a higher level, you can progress to an Advanced Career Development module in your final year of study. This will involve undertaking a self-initiated project and/or assuming responsibility for others as appropriate for your particular work placement.

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What do I need to do once I've registered?

ALL registered students should check their University e-mail account regularly for further information and instructions.

If you have successfully registered for a Career Development module through the Student Self Service Portal (S3P) you must then:

Student Tutoring route ONLY

• Complete a Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) enhanced disclosure through the Careers Service by 5 October 2011 (check your e-mail for details of how to do this)
• Update your registration details online via Blackboard at the start of 2011/12 academic year.
• Attend a compulsory induction lecture at the start of semester one.

Student Volunteering and Learning from Work routes ONLY

• Have an existing work or volunteering placement and confirm your choice of placement with your personal tutor or degree programme director.
• Update your registration details online via Blackboard at the start of 2011/12 academic year.
• Attend a compulsory induction lecture at the start of semester one.

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This is an ncl+ opportunity