PS4 R1 My Career Essentials: Connecting curriculum and graduate employability through an interactive, online learning experience

Title

My Career Essentials: Connecting curriculum and graduate employability through an interactive, online learning experience

Author(s)

• Kristin Warr Pedersen, Student Leadership, Career Development and Employment*
• Sybylla Anderson, Student Leadership, Career Development and Employment
• Vicki Dodson, Student Leadership, Career Development and Employment
• Kate Lucas, Student Leadership, Career Development and Employment

Subtheme

Community connections

Presentation Type

Showcase Presentation

Room

Room 1

Time

11.35-11.50

Abstract

My Career Essentials is a suite of interactive online modules designed to guide career learning and enhance graduate employability. The modules were developed by the UTAS Careers team in collaboration with Tasmanian industries, and are designed to develop students’ self-awareness, career goals, job application skills and capacity to research industries relevant to their discipline. My Career Essentials features industry perspectives, videos and learning activities that build a student’s confidence and ability to identify and gain employment.

The Careers team worked throughout 2020 to embed My Career Essentials across the student learning journey in unique ways which are bespoke to the disciplines we collaborated with. This included embedding content directly into MyLO units in Exercise Science; using modules to prepare students for an industry expo with employers in the AMC; using a blended learning model to prepare students for professional placements in Pharmacy and Engineering; and designing an extension program for a return to campus for the College of Business and Economics. The team is now working with colleagues in Fine Arts to embed My Career Essentials as a learning enrichment tool throughout a degree.

My Career Essentials is embedded in Career Connect; a UTAS-specific jobs portal that digitally connects our students with industry and provides 24/7 jobs support through a resume builder, mock interviews, and personalised job application feedback. This presentation will outline how teaching academics can use My Career Essentials to enhance their students’ future employability by embedding a careers perspective throughout the UTAS student learning experience.