Gavin ConnellHead of Careers

Cooperative Education & Careers Division

UL Rankings 2011

Cooperative Education & Careers Division

• CECD Mission– To facilitate the development of employability skills of UL students

as an integral part of their academic programme and to be the preferred source for employers recruiting students or graduates

• CECD is the first point of contact for:• Students or graduates interested in work placements and

career opportunities;• Employers interested in student placement or graduate

recruitment;• Academics interested in the career development of

graduates.

Cooperative Education & Careers Division

• Key Activities– Manage placement programmes

• Cooperative Education• Teaching Practice

– Provide Careers Service– Be primary contact point between UL and employers

• Location– Coop & TP - E0 005: Careers Service - E0 019

• Web Sites– www.ul.ie/coop; www.ul.ie/careers

Cooperative Education & Careers Division

CareersInformation

C. Advisor (half)- Disabilities

C. Advisor- Matures

Head of Careers Secretary

Admin II

Placement Officer

Man, Bus & Info/Elect

Admin II

Placement Officer

Man, Eng & Science

Admin II

Placement Officer

Man, Int Placement

Admin II

Placement Officer

Admin II

TP Coordinator

Man, Humanities

Director

LEONARDOAdmin (Half)

C. Advisor- Postgrads

IT Coordinator

Cooperative Education @ ULThe Cooperative Education programme (or undergraduate placement) at the University of Limerick is a core element of all undergraduate degrees. As part of the programme, all students, regardless of discipline, undertake relevant work experience normally of eight months duration.

UL has one of the largest Cooperative Education programmes in the EU.

Centrally organised, supported by faculty Placements integrated into all undergraduate courses Experience- Prescribed Learning Outcomes 8 month paid placements

In the academic year 2012, CECD made 9,500 applications on behalf of students resulting in over 3,000interviews that translated into 1500 placements. Connected• 330 employers visited the UL campus.• 221 Faculty members visited 1,032 students in 630 different companies.• We engaged with a customer base of over 4,000 employers, 13% of whom represented new or first time placement

employers.  Student Experience• 4,000 students attended 71 employability events• An average of 48.37 % increase in learning outcomes across all programmes of study and nine key skill sets• The number of students nominated by employers for the Cooperative Education Award increased by 150% in 2012

Internationalisation• 461 students registered an interest in an international coop experience.• 248 students were individually screened (including language testing) in preparation for international placement.

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Cooperative Education @ UL

Role of Careers Service• Objective:

– to support students and graduates in developing and implementing successful career plans

– to facilitate the recruitment process for students and employers• Coop – Careers continuum

– Synergy between activities– Build on Coop experience to enhance employment– Promote development of employability skills

• Provide customised services for user groups– Students/graduates, Employers, University

Careers Services for Students• Careers advice: personal, group and web

– Information on careers & postgrad study• Employability programmes as part of curriculum• Access to employers on campus: Careers Fair 11 Oct• Advertise vacancies • Job search workshops• Tailored support services for

– Students with disabilities, & mature students– Dedicated postgraduate careers advisor

• Careers website: www.ul.ie/careers • Annual graduate employment survey

UL Graduates 2011First Destinations

All degrees first destinations

UL Graduates 2011Employment Sectors

UL Graduates 2011Employment Location in Ireland

UL Graduates 2011Employment Location Abroad

Faculty role in CECD Activities• Coop

– Pre: Reinforce importance of experience– During: Monitor progress through Coop visits– Post: Assess reports, reflect on experience

• Careers– Encourage students to use Careers Service– Organise class session on career opportunities– Know the employment record of graduates– Focus on employability skills

Contact Details• Coop Programme

– Coop Managers for each Faculty• Treasa Landers: KBS and CSIS • Com Cunniffe: Science, Engineering• Jerry Cronin: Humanities, Education• Ann O’Mahony/Carla Naltchayan : International

• Careers Service• Gavin Connell: Head of Careers• Patsy Ryan: Careers Advisor – Mature & Postgrads• Elaine Kiely: Careers Advisor, Postgrad students• Jane Howlett: Careers Advisor for students with disabilities

• CECD Director• Patrice Twomey

Career events on campus

• Careers Fair- employer involvement to 115 exhibitors, and attracted an attendance of 2,700 students

• Teaching Fair- 25 exhibitors, attracted 600+ students

• Postgrad Fair- 40+ exhibitors, attracted 700+ students

• Research Careers Fair- Biennial- 25 employers, attracted 160 postgrad students

• Careers support for undergraduate student/postgraduate students

• Careers support for Careers support for mature students

• Careers support for students with disabilities

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UL Careers FairThursday, 11 October, UL Arena: 12.00 – 4.00

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