BCU’s Graduate+ programme has been mapped to the Advance HE Framework for Embedding Employability in Higher Education. The endorsement demonstrates BCU’s commitment to ensuring that it’s students receive the best preparation for life beyond the University and to a focus that aligns with Advance HE’s strategic framework.
Graduate+ is a student focussed employability award programme which promotes and records a range of recognised extra-curricular activities and events that students can engage with in addition to their degree. The framework enables students to work towards Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum level, and they are able to tailor their student experience to match their career ambitions and personal aspirations. Graduate+ puts the power of participation in the hands of the students as they shape their own personal development.
The programme complements BCU’s existing course-specific employability activities and encourages studying abroad, volunteering and work experience. It aims to provide evidence of student’s ability to develop skills, values and behaviours outside of formal classroom learning, as well as recognising course-specific activities that align with employability.
Stuart Norton, Advance HE Senior Adviser (Learning & Teaching) said,
“BCU’s Graduate + programme exemplifies the benefits of a truly embedded approach to engaging students with employability. This is an important piece of work and I am delighted that BCU have achieved the endorsed status. Their engagement with the Framework and focus on enhancing student outcomes and embedding employability is simply exceptional and I am delighted that the endorsed status recognises their hard work and achievements.”
Luke Millard, Director of the Education Development Service at BCU commented,
“Engaging with Advance HE’s embedding employability framework proved a really useful sense check as it enabled us to scrutinise the development of the Graduate+ programme through a different lens. The challenge and support from Advance HE proved timely as Graduate+ continues to evolve through the engagement and new ideas of students and staff across the university”.
To discuss endorsed status from Advance HE for your resource/initiative email solutions@advance-he.ac.uk