The AWARE framework - A progressive approach to employability

The University’s third strategic aim is “to enhance Ulster’s role as a sector leader for student employability as an integral part of the wider student experience.” The Computing Subject Area underwent a highly successful Revalidation in 2012/13. As part of our revalidation activity we were keen to develop an enhanced employability strand, underpinned by a greater awareness and understanding of professional issues within the curriculum. Based on reflections from the EDORT process, input from the Viewpoints project and through work conducted by a working group of the course committee, a progressive approach to employability was devised and introduced in September 2013 - the AWARE framework: Awareness (Year 1) Work preparation (Year 2) Acquire experience (Year 3) Reflect / refine / refocus (Year 4) Employed With a major emphasis of employability being the Year 3 placement year, each of the Years 1, 2 and 4 have an 'anchor' module for developing employability concepts and skills with employability skills taught, developed and assessed elsewhere as appropriate. The University Revalidation Panel, in their formal feedback, regarded AWARE and our enhanced employability strand as exemplary. As part of the Year 4 reflective activity each student prepares a Project Showcase – a reflective report which allows the student to explore their project work from an employability perspective. One student noted, “the Project Showcase made me think about my project as something I could use at interviews.” Another said, “the project showcase was something I could talk confidently about at my interview, I’ve just secured my dream job, it really helped.”