Swansea University Employability Academy Success at National Conference

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Swansea University Employability Academy representatives Simeon Smith and Helyn Taylor attended the national ASET Conference at the University of Kent in Canterbury to share best practice regarding student engagement with placement programmes, to Higher Education Professionals and employers from across the UK.

ASET employability conference

The 24th Annual conference provided delegates with many opportunities to find out about new work placement and employability related initiatives, projects and good practice. Swansea Employability Academy operate the hugely successful University placement programme, which offers work placement opportunities to all Swansea University students and recent graduates and encompasses the Santander Universities Internships scheme.

Last academic year 754 students benefited from the wide range of employment opportunities, which aim to support students into the work place.

 

 

ASET employability conference 2

Following their outstanding success in student engagement, Helyn and Simeon were selected to present at ASET’s national placement conference. ASET is the professional body for work based and placement learning. They presented an engaging workshop and were the only award winners at the 3 day event for their poster, which focused on student engagement via Social media.

Senior Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott said of the award: “Swansea University’s commitment to employability has once again been evidenced on a national platform, at the 2017 ASET conference. We are thrilled to win this award and get the national recognition for the excellent work of our staff. The employability of graduates is at the heart of the student experience here at Swansea and the opportunity to complete a work placement is key for us to support our students to fulfil their potential”

Sarah Flynn Chair of ASET, the Work Based and Placement Learning Association added “ASET has been really pleased to follow the development of the Swansea Employability Academy, and particularly their approach to drive up student engagement. We know that this important work has led to a wide range of accolades and very much contributed to their being named Welsh University of the Year in the Good University Guide 2017. At the ASET Annual Conference, we asked our delegates who were drawn from over 70 universities to select a winner for our inaugural poster competition and it was great to see the team from Swansea take the trophy. It is a marker of esteem from their peers, we hope that they will display their award with pride and come back to defend it next year too”