Enhancing student careers prospects

The mounting cost of funding a degree - even without tuition fees - has inevitably led to growing student debts, which means that the pressure is on for students to find jobs that not only offer a rewarding career but also financial security when they leave university.

To help University of Dundee students succeed in the jobs market, Graham Nicholson has recently been appointed as Head of the Careers Service - and he has plans to introduce a wide range of new initiatives.

Graham has come to Dundee from the University of Stirling, where he was Head of the Careers Service for 12 years. He says, "Stirling offers students the opportunity to take taught academic courses in career planning, which are also linked to summer internship programmes. These courses were unique in Stirling, but I am keen to explore the possibility of piloting something similar here at Dundee. The courses were very successful, encouraged students to think proactively about their future and resulted in high employability statistics for the University."

Career planning is a subject that all universities will have to become more fully involved in over the next few years as the government is introducing Personal Development Plans (PDPs) for all students by 2005. Graham explains, "I am keen to build up links with all academic departments with a view to building on good practice such as embedding careers education within the curriculum.

Part of my remit will be to contribute to the University's PDP provision and I will also be involved with ensuring that the University complies with the Quality Assessment Agency (QAA) precepts in Careers Education Information and Guidance (CEIG)."

Gaining work experience as an undergraduate is a key factor when it comes to graduate employability and Graham will be launching a number of new initiatives to help students find part-time work and work placements. He says, "Links with the local business community are very important, especially for setting up voluntary work placements to help students to get that all-important experience on their CV." A new job shop will also be launched, which will advertise part-time jobs and other opportunities.

And according to Graham, enhancing the employability of students will not only help them, but will also have a positive impact upon the whole University. "I feel the Careers Service has a lot to contribute in terms of the overall success of the University. Helping our students to become more employable can only build on and enhance the reputation that the University already has."