Links With Employers

Our Teaching and Learning Strategy states that we will strive to:

"work with partner stakeholders, for example professional bodies and employers, with the aim of ensuring that its programmes of study are fit-for-purpose."

Wherever possible the University seeks to offer co-terminus awards; that is programmes of study which lead to both an academic award and a professional qualification. As such, and where appropriate, programme design is informed by both professional body requirements and academic benchmarks. Also, the University seeks to work in partnership with professional bodies in the initial approval and periodic review of its programmes of study.

Employer liaison may also be achieved by one or more of the following methods:
Involvement of employers in programme planning, initial programme approval and periodic review discussions.

  • Discussions with employers during work placement visits. A large proportion of the University's undergraduate programmes of study include a period of work-based learning (45% of the University's full-time undergraduate students are enrolled on programmes of study which include a year on, generally paid, work placement compared to 8% for the UK as a whole.) This activity is supported by the work-based learning unit within the careers service.
  • Use of Advisory Boards or Industrial Liaison Panels at Subject, School or Faculty level.
  • Involvement of the University's careers service in the initial programme approval process.
  • Use of part-time and/or guest lecturers (including visiting professors) from industry, commerce and the public and voluntary sectors.

In addition, many part-time postgraduate programmes are designed to provide continuing professional development for local employer groups and participants are generally in relevant employment and therefore able to contribute to discussions on relevance and application in the work environment.