Module leader: Tania Lyden

Aims
The Challenges of Careers Work in Higher Education module enables participants to develop an overview of the wider context in which higher education careers work takes place. The module is designed to develop reflective practice in CEIGHE focusing on: the student experience; the evolution and current development of higher education; the management of CEIGHE work; roles, organisations and policies; professional ethics, theoretical perspectives and values.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, the student should be able to:

• Identify current and historical issues in higher education.
• Describe ethics and values associated with higher education careers work.
• Identify models of delivering career education, information and guidance services in higher education.
• Critically analyse and evaluate the knowledge and understanding listed above in relation to the challenges of higher education careers work, and focus on one of these challenges in depth.
• Integrate theory and practice in higher education careers work.
• Form responses to the issues identified.
• Develop actions on the basis of the evaluation and analysis undertaken.
• Apply knowledge and understanding broadly and to one issue in depth.
• Communicate in written form by integrating, analysing and applying key texts and professional practices.
• Solve problems in relation to higher education careers work by applying knowledge, understanding and evaluation.

Outline syllabus

• Articulation of participants’ prior experiences in higher education careers work.
• Relevant government policies in higher education and careers work, for example, the employability discourse, quality and performance indicators.
• The student experience, for example, diversity, internationalisation, postgraduate students, and career education.
• Professional ethics, theoretical perspectives and values associated with higher education careers work, for example, client-centredness, impartiality, client learning and respect for diversity.
• Changing roles and organisations relevant to CEIGHE work.
• Reflective practice: theories-in-action.
• Models of delivery, CEIGHE systems and resources.
• The nature and extent of change in labour markets.

Summary of teaching
30 hours of blended learning made up predominantly of an intensive workshop with further materials provided via a virtual learning environment supported by online reading and webinar support. The workshop is advertised in the AGCAS training calendar as Challenges of Careers Work in Higher Education.

Module timing and duration
Normally, this module runs twice a year, the first delivery in June and the second in July. Participants are allowed 5 months to complete.