Engaging employers to enhance teaching and learning

Engaging Employers to Enhance Teaching and Learning
Example Career Management Skills (CMS) – School of Humanities
This module in the School of Humanities aims to provide students
from Philosophy, Classics, History, and History of Art with the
opportunity to develop self-awareness in the context of career decision-making,
knowledge of the career opportunities that are available
to them, and the skills to make effective applications.
The first part of the module component focuses upon individual and
organisational values. Personality questionnaires are used to encourage
students to reflect on what they might like from a career and,
from their responses, identify recurrent themes. These themes can
provide important criteria for reviewing their career options in the
second part of the CMS module.
The second part of CMS offers students a menu of workshops that are
tailored towards their needs. Sessions often include recent alumni
talking about their experiences or speakers addressing development
opportunities within Reading, for example the Student Ambassador
Scheme and enterprise modules. For CMS students choosing two
workshops, typical options include:
• Careers using your History Degree.
• Careers using your Philosophy Degree.
• Careers using your History of Art Degree.
• Careers using your Classics degree.
• Mature Students – What next?
• Finding work experience.
• Working in the media.
• Working in charities and the government.
The third part of CMS concentrates upon CVs, and applying for work.
The Careers Advisory Service uses a ‘before-and-after’ self-evaluation
tool so that students can identify the amount of learning they have
achieved as a result of CMS.
28