UEA Award Employer Pamphlet

GRADUATES
WHO GO
FURTHER
THE UEA AWARD DEVELOPS STUDENTS WITH THE
POTENTIAL TO REACH THE TOP.
COULD THEY TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO NEW
HEIGHTS?
uea.ac.uk/award
1

‘Participating in the UEA Award is a fantastic opportunity for
students to gain and reflect on the skills and attributes they
need for today’s workplace. It acknowledges the commitment
of those who have made the most of their UEA experience
and it helps them to stand out to prospective employers.
Our collaboration with employers is of great importance to
us, as we develop the Award and expand opportunities for
our students to gain work experience and work awareness to
ensure they are well equipped for life after study.’
- Professor Neil Ward, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic
2

UEA AWARD HELPS STUDENTS AND
GRADUATES MAXIMISE THEIR POTENTIAL.
READ FURTHER TO SEE HOW YOU CAN GET
INVOLVED
UEA Award recognises when a student has
developed qualities and attributes valued in the
workplace and gathered evidence to list on a
CV. By being part of the Award, students gain a
greater awareness of the attributes most sought
after by business and society, with recognition in
the form of a University certificate.
The Award has three levels: bronze, silver and gold. These are underpinned by
requirements of set hours and activities within four categories; ‘Academic’; ‘Workrelated’;
‘Career management’; and ‘Campus and Personal’. The UEA Award had 700
registered students in the academic year 2015-16, from all Schools and year groups,
and the University’s ambition is to grow the Award year on year.
UEA AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
We are looking for organisations who can provide various kinds of opportunities
and work-related activities which build skills and attributes in our students. They can
include:
• Events or workshops (especially those which build skills)
• Volunteering opportunities
• Work shadowing
• Short work placements
• Part-time and summer jobs
• Internships
• Office visits
With your support, we would like to brand these as ‘UEA Award approved’
opportunities, by working with you to identify the attributes and skills students can
develop in these roles and activities.
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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO MY ORGANISATION?
• Reach students who have shown their commitment to achieve the Award, who
can quickly make an impact within your organisation
• Enable you to be involved in building skills and attributes which employers have
identified as being necessary to ensure a graduate is ready for work
• Have a framework to attract and develop good students, which helps them get
the most from the opportunity they undertake with you.
NEXT STEPS
To propose opportunities for inclusion into the Award, please contact accessaward@
uea.ac.uk. For more information visit uea.ac.uk/award.
WHY EMPLOYERS SUPPORT THE AWARD
‘Both from a personal and professional point of view supporting the UEA Award
is something I feel passionate about. I am committed to helping graduates
demonstrate their skills and experience to help them enter the world of work and
where possible provide advice from an insider’s perspective on what attributes we
are looking for.
In the UK we consider graduates are a vital part of developing our talent pipeline in
Bayer and help bring fresh new perspectives and skills into our business. Finding and
nurturing emerging talen t is an important part of my role in Bayer and I hope that by
supporting the award I can play a small part in helping graduates take their first steps
into industry.’
Bayer
‘Teach First support student development and are working with the university to
provide real time feedback to students. Within a competitive environment, feedback
is essential and we believe that this will help students feel more confident in any
place of work.’
Teach First
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‘I particularly wanted to get behind the UEA Award because it gives Enterprise
the chance to help support students from a wide range of different backgrounds.
We’ve worked with other universities on similar initiatives in the past and seen the
benefits first-hand – both in terms of helping students realise their full potential
and in preparing them for applications and interviews with graduate recruiters
like ourselves. We’re also hoping that supporting this award will raise awareness of
our fantastic internships and graduate programmes. We’re proud to be an active
recruiter in the local region and hope to increase applications from talented UEA
students.‘
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
‘I jumped at the chance to become involved in the award as being a UEA graduate
myself I felt this was a great opportunity to support the students on a journey which
will help set them up for a successful future. This involvement has also provided
me with a valuable and rewarding CPD opportunity which not only benefits me but
also my organisation. As a charity, in addition to achieving our charitable aims, we
feel that it is important to forge strong links with our local community and offer
support and expertise wherever possible. Whether it be through involvement in
the UEA Award, our volunteer programme or our other community projects, we are
passionate about helping people fulfil their potential.’
Zoological Society of East Anglia (Banham Zoo and Africa Alive)
‘We owe a lot to UEA. The skills, mindset and tenacity of graduates we have
employed is exactly what has driven our business forward. These graduates are now
professionals, leading teams, driving innovations and powering international success.
When we heard about the UEA Award we jumped at the opportunity to be involved.
The UEA award is an exclusive and reliable symbol of going above and beyond. A
badge of honour which equips students for graduate employment and life after
university.
At Epos Now the attributes and essence of the UEA Award resonates with what we
do.’
Epos Now
For more information on employers supporting the Award visit http://tiny.cc/
employersupporters
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UEA AWARD EMPLOYER PANEL
We are also looking for organisations to join the UEA Award panel.
The UEA Award employer panel is primarily virtual, and consists of a wide range
of employers; from small to medium sized enterprises, to large and multinational
employers from all sectors, including public, private and the voluntary sector. The
aim of the panel is to enable employer engagement with the development of the
UEA Award to ensure the skills and attributes developed by participating students
continue to meet the needs of employers and to facilitate openings for employers to
provide feedback and opportunities to students registered with the Award.
The employer panel has a broad remit, including:
• Providing student feedback for the Silver Award - reviewing CVs and student
videos
• Providing student feedback for the Gold Award - asking questions and providing
comments on face-to-face student presentations and CVs
• Proposing new employer members of the Award steering group
• Acting as a consultative panel for discussions on the development of the Award
• Attending, if available, annual UEA Award ceremonies
• Providing as appropriate various opportunities and work-related activities for
participating students to engage with.
To register your interest in joining the UEA Award Employer Panel visit: : http://tiny.
cc/employerpanel
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AWARD CATEGORIES AND EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES
Activities fall within four categories: ‘Academic,’ ‘Work-related,’ ‘Career
management,’ and ‘Campus and Personal.’ Example activities are listed below.
Students complete a short statement every time they do an activity, including
selecting attributes they’ve developed. A full list of activities is available from:
http://tiny.cc/awardactivities
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
WORK-RELATED
CAREER MANAGEMENT
CAMPUS & PERSONAL
• Team project
• Presentation
• Producing an
academic poster
• Peer mentoring/
assessment
• Creating a
podcast, video
editing, or other
multimedia work
• Lab work
• Applied research
• Fieldwork
• Vacation work
experience
• Part-time job
(does not have to
be related to your
degree)
• Work placements,
e.g. nursing,
pharmacy, schools
• Year in industry
• Starting a new
business
• Internships
• Work shadowing
• Attending a
careers fair
• Employer event
• Alumni events
• School-based
careers events
• Careers guidance
• Business
and industry
conferences
• Discussing career
plans with an
academic adviser
• Student Union
society activity
• Elected Student
Union role
• Student media
• School
responsibilities,
e.g. committees
• Dean of Students’
activities, e.g.
Global Voices
scheme
• Organising
competitive sports
• Writing your own
blog/building your
own website
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AWARD ATTRIBUTES
The UEA Award attributes have been developed based on the needs of graduate
recruiters across all sectors. Each time students submit an activity as part of the
Award, they identify which attributes they feel they’ve developed.
COMMUNICATION
TEAMWORK & LEADERSHIP
SELF MANAGEMENT &
PROFESSIONALISM
PROBLEM SOLVING
• Effective speaking
and presentations,
appropriate for
specific audiences
and contexts
• Writing coherently
and persuasively,
appropriate for
specific audiences
and contexts
• Assertiveness and
negotiation
• Tactfulness and
diplomacy
• Using social media
to effectively
build a network of
contacts
• Co-operating and
collaborating with
others
• Working to shared
aims
• Empathising with
other people’s
position
• Giving
constructive
feedback to a
team
• Taking the lead
when required
• Showing initiative
• Delegating
and assigning
responsibility
• Flexibility and
adaptability
• Showing resilience
• Setting priorities
and juggling
competing
demands
• Setting goals and
meeting deadlines
• Improvement
of performance
through reflective
learning
• Understanding
work cultures
and practices,
including being
‘professional’
• Identifying
problems and their
causes
• Analysing facts
and circumstances
• Breaking down
an issue into
component parts
• Considering new
angles
• Overcoming setbacks
• Creativity in
generating
solutions
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DIGITAL LITERACY AND IT
APPLIED NUMERACY &
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY
CAREER MANAGEMENT
COMMERCIAL
AWARENESS
• Using a range
of digital
technologies,
software and
web platforms
for academic
and career
development
purposes
• Using office
software and
systems
• Using
spreadsheets and
other databases
• Developing
websites,
platforms and
systems
• Managing your
digital footprint
e.g. social media
and online
identities
• Performing
routine
calculations, e.g.
making estimates,
calculating
percentages,
applying formulae
• Using skilled
techniques
for academic,
professional
or career
development
purposes
• Using statistical
modelling
software
• Analysing and
interpreting data
• Reflecting on
and articulating
qualities, strengths
and skills
• Researching and
evaluating career
options
• Researching
sectors, employers
and opportunities
for job and career
paths
• Creating strong
CVs, applications
and online profiles
for the purposes
of securing
employment
• Performing well in
selection tests and
at interview
• Appreciation of
business bottom
lines
• Knowledge of
the link between
academic
subjects and
their commerical
applications
• Understanding
and prioritising
customer needs
• Applying learning
from commercial
and customer
situations
to improve
outcomes
• Effective
marketing to
customers
using a range
of channels and
social media
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AWARD ATTRIBUTES
WHAT EMPLOYERS SAY
INNOVATION & ENTERPRISE
• Taking an idea
through to
its practical
application
• Introducing or
establishing
something new
• Looking for
innovative
solutions to
problems
• Applying an
enterprising
mindset to
situations
• Taking risks with
a new idea or
direction
CITIZEN & STEWARDSHIP
• Awareness of
one’s own cultural
beliefs, norms
and attitudes, and
those of others
• Awareness of the
need to manage
finite resources
• An ability to
improve the lives
of others and
lobby for positive
change
• Mixing with peers
from different
cultures
• Understanding
equality and
diversity
‘Graduates who are unable to
demonstrate life skills in today’s
workplace environment are at a
distinct disadvantage securing the
best jobs and even their chosen
career. This is a fabulous scheme
and one worthy of recognition
equipping graduates with the
ability to demonstrate a broader
view of life and of the need for
additional skills would make them
not only more employable but also
more rounded individuals.’
- UEA Award Employer
Questionnaire
10

UEA AWARD JOURNEY
The UEA Award journey is shown below. Students can undertake award activities in
any order they wish, and the Award culminates in: at bronze level, receiving feedback
on a CV; at silver and gold levels - students receiving feedback from employers on
their Award experience.
INITIAL APPLICATION
TRAINING SESSION OR
HELP SHEET
ACADEMIC
ACTIVITIES
WORK-RELATED
ACTIVITIES
CAREER
MANAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES
CAMPUS AND
PERSONAL
ACTIVITIES
UNDERTAKE ACTIVITIES
FROM EACH CATEGORY
REFLECT ON DEVELOPMENT
OF GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES
SUBMIT CV FOR FEEDBACK
AND (DEPENDING ON AWARD
LEVEL)
RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM
EMPLOYERS
RECEIVE AWARD
CERTIFICATE
SILVER LEVEL CV AND VIDEO
GOLD LEVEL FACE TO FACE
PANEL
BRONZE
SILVER
GOLD
6 ACTIVITIES
11 ACTIVITIES
16 ACTIVITIES
50 HOURS
110 HOURS
180 HOURS
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+ TO A
AWARD LEVELS AND HOURS
Here is an overview of
the hours and activities
required for certain
Award levels. This
framework of hours
and activities across a
range of categories is
designed for students’
holistic development
and is intended to
make them wellrounded
in terms of
skills and attributes.
BRONZE
ACTIVITIES
HOURS
TOTALS
6
SILVER
+ACTIVITIES
5
ACADEMIC
ACTIVITIES
50 10
WORK
ACTIV
1 2
1
+ TO ACH
HOURS
60 10
BRONZE AND
SILVER TOTAL
ACTIVITIES 11 2
HOURS 110 20
GOLD
5
+ACTIVITIES
1
BRONZE,
SILVER
AND
GOLD TOTAL
TO COMPL
HOURS 70 10
ACTIVITIES 16 3
HOURS 180 30
12

WORK-RELATED
ACTIVITIES
CAREER
MANAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES
2 2 EVENTS
OR
1
EVENT AND
1 CAREERS
INTERACTION
CAMPUS AND
PERSONAL
ACTIVITES
WILD CARD
(FROM ANY
CATEGORY)
1 -
30 - 10 -
+ TO ACHIEVE SILVER AWARD
-
2 EVENTS
+
1 APPOINTMENT
OR CAREERS
INTERACTION
1 -
20 - 10 20
2 5 2 -
50 - 20 20
+ TO ACHIEVE GOLD AWARD
1
1 EVENT
+
1 CAREERS
APPOINTMENT
1
-
25 - 10 25
COMPLETE WHOLE AWARD
3 7 3 -
75 - 30 45
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STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
‘The most beneficial part for me so far has been
getting feedback on the silver task - it was great to get
feedback from an actual employer and will allow me
to further improve my CV and tailor it to the graduate
recruitment market.’
Louise Fitzgerald, School of Environmental Sciences,
4th Year
‘I really appreciated that the employer panelists really
thought about their answers and worked with me to
create better answers during the Gold Award panel. It
was really fun- thanks for creating it!’
Emilly Kitching, School of Environmental Sciences, 3rd
Year
‘As I have a tendency to get involved in plenty of
activities, the award has provided a great opportunity
to stop for a moment and reflect on the skills gained
during my time at UEA.’
Esther Veas Perez De Tudela Rodriguez
School of Art, Media and American Studies, 3rd Year
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‘I had very good constructive feedback from the panel
that has consequently helped me to improve my CV
and confidence in myself. All were very helpful and
they made me feel at ease after my presentation.
[...] Thank you for the opportunity of allowing me to
present myself and gain very useful feedback to help
me improve my employability as a graduate from UEA!’
Eleanor Bedwell, School of Environmental Sciences,
3rd Year
‘I’ve had the opportunity to analyse myself from a
potential employer’s point of view. I get to determine
which aspects of myself to focus on building and
make sure I am a balanced individual so I do not lack
where I shouldn’t. It also provides me with a kind of
acknowledgement of my work and achievements.’
Louisa Ng, School of Law, 2nd Year
‘The UEA award is a great way to collect all the
different aspects of my university experience into
one award. It creates an interesting talking point in
interviews in which you can show lots of evidence of
skills in a short space of time. It shows on my CV a wide
range of involvement in the university and helps me
stand out to employers.’
Elizabeth Murray, School of Mathematics, 1st Year
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accessaward@uea.ac.uk
uea.ac.uk/award