FREE CHOICE ON THE DAY

A: The power of storytelling in careers education

Presenter:

Sarah Warburton, Arden University

Arden University is a significant and growing provider of access to higher education for the government’s targeted low participation groups. The university's ethos is that everyone, everywhere has a right to higher education Most students have faced significant challenges in their lives, prior to and alongside the pursuit of higher education and in progressing their careers.

Arden Careers have started using a narrative and story-telling approach to the delivery of career education as a way to engage and inspire students. This has involved utilising the highly personal experiences of professionals to address many of the ‘ignored stories’ surrounding significant barriers that may face parents, refugees and carers in achieving career success. The Careers Team have found that by focusing on some of the sensitive issues and life challenges which are highly relatable to students, this has resulted in their own willingness to share their own vulnerabilities and inspire their career success.

B: Blurring boundaries: the future of international careers support

Presenter:

Maxine Bodicoat, University of Leicester

It’s no secret that there has been a huge influx in international students from varied markets with differing needs to the cohorts who have come before. Careers professionals may now feel they are wearing a range of hats which they are insufficiently prepared or qualified to don With this growth impacting every level of student and academic support it can seem as though careers staff now need to be visa and immigration experts, language and cultural gurus and have oversight of student recruitment and on-boarding.

During this discussion we will explore some of the ways Leicester are attempting to bridge the gap and enhance our support, whilst also recognising the limitations of our reach As a group, we’ll take the opportunity to discuss challenges faced by colleagues, share successes, and reflect on what it really means to support international students in an unstable and intangible labour market