Annual report to use! - Prospects

E-Guidance Services: Lucy Madahar, E-Guidance Manager
review of the year
The year witnessed the successful completion of the
Services for Graduates project, which aimed to develop
web-based career development services throughout the
UK and RoI for graduates. The project developed a range
of innovative guidance and information services,
including careers advice via e-mail, online CV checking,
a graduate message board and employer chatrooms.
These interactive careers resources provided information
and guidance to over 25,000 clients. The service also
received Matrix accreditation, the first web-based career
development service in the UK to do so.
The end of the project culminated in the Services for
Graduates conference. Targeted at guidance practitioners
not only from HE, but also adult guidance in general, it
showcased the range of interactive careers resources
developed for graduates on prospects.ac.uk, and several
of the local graduate projects developed by HE careers
services and funded by the Services for Graduates
project.
and Diageo. Our most high profile chatroom was hosted
by MI5, which attracted over 250 students and graduates.
The E-Guidance Services also successfully ran its first
virtual postgraduate fair using the chatroom technology,
in conjunction with the University of Plymouth.
2003 also witnessed the E-guidance Action Research
project, which evaluated how e-guidance interventions
could be managed within HE careers services, and
whether ‘guidance’ could actually be provided via the
Internet and email. Five HE careers services piloted e-
guidance software developed by Graduate Prospects.
The research outcomes were evaluated externally by
NICEC Fellow Marcus Offer and by Graduates Prospects’
E-Guidance Manager. The results are expected to identify
strategies for managing e-guidance interventions, not just
within HE careers services but also with other IAG
providers in the UK.
Its achievements continued during 2003 through the
creation of E-Guidance Services, whose role is two-fold:
1. to address the career development needs of recent
graduates and provide them with the necessary
support and guidance structures post-graduation;
2. to become the leading provider of web-based e-
guidance technology, providing examples of best
practice to other vocational guidance providers.
The key development for E-Guidance Services was the
increasing popularity of the graduate employer
chatrooms. Running every Wednesday afternoon, the
chatrooms have been hosted by several well-known
companies and individuals including Dr Denis MacShane
MP (Minister for Europe), PricewaterhouseCoopers, BT
HECSU Research: Jane Artess, Research Manager
Since September 2003, the key task has been
to develop a research strategy document spanning 2003-
2006. This has enabled the research ambitions of HECSU
to be articulated in relation to the charitable object, and
has also publicised the work of HECSU in disseminating
knowledge that is of interest to the sector as a whole.
I have also taken over the management of HECSUsponsored
research projects, notably the work being
undertaken by University of Leeds into the Employability
and Progression of full-time UK Masters students, and the
Seven Years On project being continued by the
Universities of Warwick and the West of England. Two
conferences are planned for 2004 to disseminate findings
from these projects.
Arising partly from earlier HECSU-funded work
concerned with student diversity, I began developing a
new project aimed to enhance careers
services' work with international students.
Finally, a PR and marketing budget has been allocated
to HECSU to promote its research ambitions.
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annual report - review of the year