The module aims to highlight the importance of being employability active from the start of their university journey so that they can identify the key skills required to be successful in securing graduate jobs/summer internships/placements. The graduate job market is highly competitive and by providing students with an understanding of some of the key skills required of the professional accountant in the current business environment, and the opportunity to acquire and apply those skills, the students will be better skilled for the roles offered.

(LO1) Students will be able to understand the importance of written and verbal communication from personal and business perspectives.

(LO2) Students will be able to experience working with others and how to develop effective relationships.

(LO3) Students will be able to build confidence in being able to present.

(LO4) Students will be able to develop ways to work more effectively to improve organisational and planning skills.

(LO5) Students will be able to understand the importance of lifelong learning.

(LO6) Students will be able to learn to be positive when working with others.

(LO7) Students will be able to gain an awareness of the commercial issues facing organisations.

(LO8) Students will gain an understanding of the latest professional skills required in the accountancy profession

(S1) Adaptability

(S2) Problem solving skills

(S3) Commercial awareness

(S4) Teamwork

(S5) Organisational skills

(S6) Communication skills

(S7) Lifelong learning skills

Teaching Method: Lecture
Description: Two lectures (one hour each), one at the start and one at the end of the semester. The first lecture is to introduce the module (learning and assessment) and the second to highlight the next steps for the students re employability and improvement of skills, on completion of the module.
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 2
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Workshop
Description: Workshops for the students to reflect on the skills acquired and how to ensure that they are developed further on completion of the module. 9 x 2 hour workshops.
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 18
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Off campus group work
Description: Students will be required to work within their assessment teams during these off-campus sessions. The students are given a one hour timetabled sessions (weeks 5 to 10) so that they can all work together as a group each week.
Scheduled Student Hour s: 6
Attendance Recorded: No

Teaching Method: On campus group work
Description: 3 x 2 hour on campus group work sessions (weeks 2 to 4) that are designed to foster student community and engagement by working with others and to facilitate the formation of the groups for the group work assessment.
Scheduled Student Hours: 6
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Field Trip
Scheduled Student Hours: 8
Attendance Recorded: No

Self-Directed Learning Hours: 110
Description: The module will be assessed through the use of one team-based activity, which will require students to work outside of class on a regular basis throughout the semester. It will also include an e-portfoliothat will require work on throughout the semester..

Skills/Other Attributes Mapping

Skills / attributes: Lifelong learning skills
How this is developed: Students will be introduced to the importance of lifelong learning during the workshops with the stude nts then given the opportunity to reflect on their performance in the group work so as to be able to identify key skills for development moving forward.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): e-portfolio

Skills / attributes: Communication skills
How this is developed: Students will be given the opportunity to practise communication skills during the weekly workshops prior to the final assessed presentation in the group work.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group presentation, e-portfolio and video presentation

Skills / attributes: Organisational skills
How this is developed: Students will be introduced how to plan and organise key components of the group work prior to submitting a group plan for the group work itself.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group Report

Skills / attributes: Teamwork
How this is developed: Students will be introduced to how a small group develops into a successful team through the various stage of Tuckman 19;s Stages of Small Group Development. Students will then work in a group as part of the group assessment to help identify these stages in practice.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group Presentation / Report and e-portfolio

Skills / attributes: Commercial awareness
How this is developed: Students will be introduced to the importance of commercial awareness in helping understand the key aspects of a business and its sector prior to making an application for a graduate job/summer internship/placement
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group Report and e-portfolio

Skills / attributes: Problem solving skills
How this is developed: Students will be given a variety of short case studies in the workshops that they are then required to use to solve business problems. The solutions to the problems will then be presented during the workshop
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group Presentation / Report

Skills / attributes: Adaptability
Ho w this is developed: Working in groups on the assessments and being faced with the challenges of working in a group will develop the students’ understanding of how they need to adapt to the changing circumstances.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group Report

1. Networking
2. Teamwork
3. Communication
4. Organisation and planning
5. Commercial Awareness
6. Cultural Awareness
7. Lifelong learning and reflection
8. Current employability skills