Every Monday, firstpoint publishes five points about a topic related to life at university. This week, how to stand out from the crowd with the University’s employability award…
POINT ONE: WHAT IS THE WORCESTER AWARD?
The Worcester Award is an employability Award run by the Careers & Employability team. It allows you to record extra-curricular activities you engage in during your time at university and encourages you to reflect upon how these activities can help to improve your future employability.
The Worcester Award has four levels: Bronze; Silver; Gold and Platinum. You can decide which level of the Award you want to aim for.
POINT TWO: WHY DO THE WORCESTER AWARD?
Your Worcester Award level will be recorded on your degree transcript when you graduate. You’ll receive an official certificate from the University of Worcester for your achievement too.
Employers like to see that students get involved with extra-curricular activities whilst at university. It’s a brilliant addition to your CV, as well as being a great talking point at interviews and on application forms.
POINT THREE: WHO CAN TAKE PART IN THE WORCESTER AWARD?
Any University of Worcester student can achieve the Worcester Award. You can be from any of the nine schools, studying full or part-time, undergraduate or postgraduate, on your placement/sandwich year, based on any campus or studying through a partner college.
If you have any difficulties accessing regular paid work due to issues such as disability or visa requirements, contact the team directly to discuss your situation.
POINT FOUR: HOW DO I ACHIEVE THE WORCESTER AWARD?
You can register for the Worcester Award 2020-21 through myCareer from 1st October 2022. Click the Pathways icon on your myCareer homepage. To complete the award, you would need to record and reflect upon your activities through myCareer.
- For the Bronze Award, you will need to achieve a minimum of 40 hours work experience, a minimum of 20 hours personal development activities and one employability activity.
- For the Silver Award, you will need to achieve a minimum of 80 hours work experience, a minimum of 40 hours personal development activities and three employability activities.
- For the Gold Award, you will need to complete the requirements for the Silver Award, plus provide a CV or personal statement and take part in a 5 minutes presentation and interview.
- Entrance onto the Platinum Award is by application only and be aware of the deadline shown below.
POINT FIVE: WHEN CAN I DO THE WORCESTER AWARD?
You can register at any stage of the academic year after 1st October 2022, as long as it’s before the submission deadline – remember, there is a different deadline for each Award:
- To be considered for the 2022/23 Platinum Award, you must have submitted your Platinum application by 29th January 2023. This includes a completed Gold Award.
- Gold: In order to achieve Gold, you must have completed your Silver Award by the 17th February 2023 at the latest. Deadline for Gold is 28th April 2023.
- Silver and Bronze: The deadline is the 28th April 2023.
Further details regarding all of the above, can be found on myCareer and any questions can be sent to: worcesteraward@worc.ac.uk.
Look out for Worcester Award workshops and drop-in sessions running throughout the year.
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