Employability Information for Students and Employers
South Cheshire College places employability at the forefront of our higher education provision.
We share with our university partner, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), the definition of employability as:
"the development of skills, abilities and personal attributes that enhance our students' capability to secure rewarding and satisfying outcomes in their economic, social and community lives."
In other words we wish to produce graduates who not only gain jobs or promotions, but also have the skills and qualities to benefit themselves and the wider community as well as their organisation.
To achieve these goals, the College and its staff will ensure that students receive:
- Personal initial advice and guidance with a course tutor to ensure that their course will fit with their career aspirations and maximise their employment prospects;
- A range of learning opportunities, including work-based experience, to enable them to succeed in their course;
- Access to professional careers guidance, study skills support, counselling facilities and welfare and financial advice throughout their time in college.
All of our programmes, whether Foundation degrees or other higher education qualifications, are vocational. They are designed to meet the employment needs of local and regional employers. Our qualifications are designed with the participation of employers and are delivered by tutors who have relevant industry experience. Our programmes also provide students with not just up-to-date industry-specific skills but also a range of generic skills relevant to a wide range of employment areas, both public and private.
To ensure that our qualifications remain industry-relevant, South Cheshire College has an extensive network of direct links with local and regional employers. We have active employer forums which engage with employers at a programme level, and a Work-Related Training team which has developed an extensive database of local employer contacts. In addition to this, personal relationships have been built up over a number of years between our teaching staff and local companies and organisations. We run a number of employer engagement projects which have resulted in a higher profile for our Foundation degree students among major employers in business, construction, engineering and other fields.
All full-time students on our higher education programmes are required, as part of their course, to undertake relevant work placements. As well as providing valuable work-based learning opportunities, these provide a valuable opportunity to impress a potential employer with the qualities that may lead to permanent employment after the course. For those students who are already in employment and who are following our programmes on a part-time basis, the work-based modules enable students to undertake relevant projects to extend their knowledge and skills under the supervision of their employer. We find that this not only improves their effectiveness in their current role but also increases their prospects for promotion.
While at college, students can take advantage of excellent facilities which provide careers counselling and other support. In addition, depending on where they are registered, students can also access the careers and vacancies services of the University:
