Our Work Based Learning Team is up for two national awards

Our Work Based Learning Team is on the shortlist in two categories of the National Undergraduate Employability Awards.

Work Based Learning Officer Dan King is shortlisted for the Outstanding Contribution to Work Experience Award and the whole team is up for the Best University Placement Service (Under 750 Placements) Award.

Outstanding support

Dan won a place on the shortlist for his outstanding contribution to placements and work-based learning.

Work Based Learning Manager Vicki Doughty said: “The judges agreed with us that the commitment shown to his work by Dan is remarkable, and we were able to include amazing feedback from academics, external stakeholders, colleagues and students. As one student said ‘Daniel King has single-handedly made my university experience worth it’. We are so proud to have Dan in our team and he is a fantastic colleague."

Dan said: “I’m really pleased to have had such a positive impact on students and colleagues I have worked with. I am truly honoured and touched to have received this nomination by my fellow colleagues, in recognition of my work, which inspires me further to continue to work hard in helping others.”

A team which makes a difference to students

Our Work Based Learning Team supports students securing placements and departments developing work based learning activity in the curriculum.

Vicki said the team’s Placement Preparation Series helped Essex stand out at a national level and secure a place on the shortlist for Best University Placement Service. The Placement Preparation Series took place for the first time in June 2020. It consisted of 24 events via Zoom over five days. This was made up of six core sessions (one hour each delivered as webinars) and 18 Optional Sessions (focused around different sectors or students needs).

In addition students were challenged to complete three tasks, an Action Plan, CV and cover letter. The team provided feedback on all these tasks. Attendance at all six core sessions and completion of three tasks resulted in a Certificate of Completion. 265 students took part in this extra-curricular event.

In the words of one student: “I just wanted to thank you all on the placements team for everything you have done this week. I really have found it so helpful and informative and definitely feel more relaxed about progressing through finding a placement. I look forward to getting to know you all more over the next few months. But mostly, thank you all very much!”

Vicki said: ”We were able to clearly demonstrate our impact on students and we are delighted that this has been recognised nationally. Our team works incredibly hard to provide the support students need to secure and succeed in their placements and build up the experience and skills which will be so helpful in their future careers.”

The winners of the National Undergraduate Employability Awards will be announced in February.

Further student feedback

• “Firstly, I would like to thank you for the Placements Preparation Webinar Series last week. I personally found it incredibly helpful and uplifting. It has motivated me considerably regarding my placement year along with eradicating many of the doubts that I initially had about the process and as such I am truly grateful.”
• “I wanted to thank the Placements team for all the information provided and your support which has been very useful. I also wanted to thank you specifically because thanks to last week’s series, I was able to apply what I learned as I applied for The Intern Group and got accepted! Thank you so much.”
• “I found the placement preparation series really useful and it has made me excited to start the placement search next year. Thank you for offering the series.”
• “Thanks very much, I found the sessions very useful and am more confident now about my placement search.”
• “I just wanted to add a thank you for the sessions on zoom they were very informative and interesting they have made me feel more confident towards my placement year.”
• “I also just wanted to give my sincere thanks for keeping the spirits of students like me up during this time. I never felt hopeless when I couldn't find a placement and I contribute that to your team always giving updates and encouraging students that it is not the end of the world even if you cannot find a placement”.