Module embedded careers and
employment provision for final year
earth science students: a Plymouth
University example
Dr Martin Stokes
School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Plymouth University Earth Science degrees
•
•
•
•
•
•
BSc Applied Geology
• ~70-100 students in final
year...but increasing .....
BSc Geology
BSc Geology with Ocean Sciences
BSc Marine Geosciences
BSc Physical Geography & Geology
MGeol
EOE3001: Embedded Careers & Employability
EOE3001
40 credits
Research Project
Professional Skills
30 credits (75%)
10 credits (25%)
Geological Map
Project
Management
Field Project
Workplace skills
Desk Project
Careers
Lab Project
Assessment
•Primary Data
•Project Report
• Portfolio
EOE3001: Delivery
• Weekly 2 hour seminar sessions in Term 1, reduced in T2
• Staff: Martin Stokes & Glenn Crust (Careers advisor), Jim Griffiths
(HoS), past students
Term 1
October
Project
Management
• Gantt Charts:
MS Project
Manager
November
Term 2
December
Work Place
Skills
•Teamwork
•Communication
•Negotiation
•Health & safety
January
February
March
Careers
•CVs
•Cover letters
•Application forms
•Online Applications
•Social media
•Interviews
•Career resources
• Past student
talks
• Careers
Preparation
• Careers
Fair
Focus is on
Earth Science
careers
•
Project Logbook
•
– Regular entries
– Task auditing / actions
– Data manipulation
– Literature notes
– Model / idea development
•
Professional Skills ‘Journal’
– 500+ word reflective
commentary on session
content
• Demonstrate self
awareness
Portfolio
– Gantt chart – several
versions
– CV – several versions
– Evidence for session
follow-up
– Reflective end module
review: 1500 words
• Display personal
development
Countersigning
by project advisor
EOE3001 Professional Skills Assessment
CVs
Term 1
October
Term 2
November
Find a pre-Uni CV
Or prepare a CV
Project
advisor
feedback
Pre-University CV
University CV v. 1
University CV v. 2
University CV final
December
CV seminar:
STAR technique,
resources etc.
Little mention of
university skills /
experience
Lacks sufficient
evidence and still too
much non uni info
January
February
March
Careers fair
employer
feedback
Past Student Talks
• Recent graduates (2-3 yrs)
–
–
–
–
–
PhD / MSc
Engineering geology
Hydrocarbon exploration
Mining
Non geology
• 30 Minute talks
– What they do.
– How they got their:.
• Application
• Interview process
• Work place skills
• Projects
• Workplace health and
safety
• Reinforces importance of the
professional skills sessions
• Shows that Plymouth students
can succeed
http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/
view.asp?page=39024
‘Geo’ Careers Fair
• Held in March each year
• Annual event since 2007
• Dedicated to Earth Sciences
careers
• Pre-fair preparation seminar
• Company stalls manned by
ex Plymouth graduates
http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/careers/Pages/Events%
20and%20opportunities/GeoCareers-2012.aspx
Some final points .....
Negatives
• Some students perceive
• Engagement = success
content to be:
– at interview and career
– Patronising
professional development
– Common sense
• Project management
– Inappropriate for final year
• Health and safety
– Irrelevant to studying
awareness
geology
• Personal testimony from past • Some (geology) academic
staff perceptions / attitudes
students
Students only
understand
employability after
they have left Uni.
Room for provision
improvement or just
natural selection?
•Mature students
•Academically ‘weak’ students
•Students who have part time ‘jobs’
Positives