Careers Service wins presitigious award

Congratulations to our Careers Service who have been awarded the AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) Award for Excellence for Employer Engagement 2015.

Engaging employers 

This Industry award is given to the University which best demonstrates an effective partnership with one or more named employers and/or for engaging employers of a particular type/sector with the work of careers and employability services, with the ultimate aim of improving the employability of students or graduates, or a specific group of students or graduates.

The award specifically recognised the success of the department’s Creative and Cultural Careers Festival (CCCF), held in March 2015. This groundbreaking week-long programme of workshops, guest lectures and networking events invited students and recent graduates of all disciplines to find out more about working in the Creative Industries, Media or Cultural institutions.

Creative and Cultural Careers Festival

The week-long programme of workshops, guest lectures and networking events invited students and recent graduates of all disciplines to find out more about working in the Creative Industries, Media or Cultural institutions.

I was particularly impressed by the way in which this initiative appeared to transform the image of the careers service with students and key stakeholders in a strategically significant sector as well as delivering many tangible benefits directly to employers and students

Featuring over 95 speakers from organisations such as the BBC, Creative Edinburgh, National Galleries, Codebase, POP-Up! Scotland and The Skinny, the ground-breaking festival attracted over 1000 student attendees.

Key to the success of the event was the support and enthusiasm of industry partners from across the sector, who helped inspire and motivate students as well as improve awareness and understanding of creative and cultural careers, thereby increasing their chances of having a successful future in this sector.