UseMyAbility

UseMyAbility is an outcome of a project ‘Employability and Disability’, a National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) funded project led by the Centre for Inclusive Learning Support at the University of Worcester, with partners in the Universities of Gloucestershire and Plymouth. The content of this resource has been informed by research with employers, academic staff, careers staff and disabled students.

This project aims to match employability competencies and offer possible solutions, by giving you advice on:

• Developing employability skills
• Abilities that underpin employability skills
• Impairments that impact on the abilities
• Inclusive strategies

UseMyAbility

The ethnicity-attainment link in Higher Education

Higher Education (HE) statistics in the UK show ethnicity to have a big influence on how well a British student performs at university.

• White students are more likely to achieve a good (2:1 or 1st) degree than a 3^rd
• Black students are 3x less likely to get a good degree than White students
• Asian students are 50% less likely to get a good degree than White students.

A similar story has continued over the last fifteen years.  Although most Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students study at the post-1992 universities they are outperformed by BME students studying at the Russell Group universities (20 of the top UK institutions).

Some factors can increase the odds of BME students getting good degrees such as

• Being older
• Being female
• Studying full-time
• Studying Medicine or Dentistry
• Studying combined degrees.

Differences in exam results achieved at school can only account for half of the gap between White and BME students.  However, Chinese medical students who arrive at university with the highest grades often fall behind by the time they graduate.

More research into this problem could show transparency in HE and inspire action for change by firstly, finding the causes of the under-attainment and secondly, creating solutions to reduce the gap amongst British students.

This blog was written after attending the UCL Race Equality Group event, Understanding the under-attainment of students from Black and Minority Ethnic Groups.  At the event, Dr John Richardson (The Open University) presented a lecture about Ethnicity and attainment in higher education whilst
Dr Katherine Woolf (UCL Division of Medical Education) discussed Ethnicity and the academic performance of UK medical students and doctors.  A video of the event will be available at .

Education to Employment for blind & visually impaired applicants

About the Course

E2E is a three day residential event for twenty blind and visually impaired undergraduates and graduates who will shortly be entering the workplace.

Over the three days attendees will take part in workshops, which among other things, look at where to find job opportunities, disclosing your visual impairment, identifying suitable and achievable roles, CV advice, interview practice/technique.

Candidates will also attend a formal dinner with Blind in Business staff, alumni and trustees, have a chance to view the latest technology that could be used in the workplace.  Furthermore, each year we undertake an activity designed to push them outside of their comfort zones – previous years we have been dry slope skiing, climbing and even driving (on a closed circuit!)

On the final day we invite twenty top graduate employers along.  We all sit down for a networking lunch, following this each candidate will be given two full length interviews with the employers attending.  As well as being a great way to meet top graduate recruiters, each candidate will get detailed feedback.

Employers who have attended previously include: HSBC, Ernst and Young, RBS, GCHQ, Royal Mail, British Airways, Microsoft, Allen and Overy. Siemens and many others.

The Essentials

Date: Wednesday 17th August – Friday 19th August 2011

Location: The Manor House, Godalming, Surrey

Accommodation: Candidates will be given their own room. All meals provided.

Cost: All training, accommodation and food is free.

Travel costs: We do not normally cover travel costs, as the rest of the course is free, but we would consider covering these on a case by case basis. 

Can I come?

If you are blind or visually impaired and working towards or have recently completed a Bachelor/Masters Degree, then yes you are eligible.  At this point we are asking interested candidates who wish to attend to register their interest.  You can do this by emailing a copy of your CV to either Justin Harrison or Robin Spruell.

Please note this course is very popular and fills up very quickly!

Skill closes down

Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities announces its closure.

News article after the jump.

Positive discrimination

The Centre for Research in Economics and Statistics, in France, recently undertook an experiment on employers discriminating against certain candidate profiles. According to national newspaper Le Monde (if you don’t read French, copy the text into Google Translate to get the gist), they sent a series of anonymous and non-anonymous CVs to employers to see whether certain characteristics would count against candidates.  The collection of anonymous CVs has been used already by several companies hoping to support a fairer and more transparent selection process.

The study shows that candidates usually suffering from discrimination were even more discriminated under the anonymous CV (1/22 chances to be invited for an interview on average, against 1/10 with regular CV application). It suggests that companies make a conscious effort to diversify their staff and are more likely to invite people for interview when they are a visible minority (gender, age, ethnic origin, social background/ area where they come from, disabilities). With anonymous CVs, it is impossible to invite a more diverse range of people.

Therefore positive discrimination takes place, and non-anonymous CVs would apparently give people from minorities a better chance. The study has been welcomed by recruiters who increasingly recognise the need to focus on competencies rather than other characteristics.

When you apply for a job in the UK it is typical that you will be asked to complete a diversity monitoring form.  It is generally not compulsory and candidates do refuse to complete them. UK recruitment, particularly at graduate level, tends to be more competency and strengths based than other European countries. Like in France, companies in the UK encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds but the emphasis tends to be on encouraging and supporting applications rather than direct positive discrimination.

Thanks to Guillaume Subra, Dept. Of Mathematics, Royal Holloway, University of London, for drawing our attention to this interesting study.

Common Purpose Frontrunner course

Here’s a unique opportunity for disabled students!

In 2009, less than half of all graduates from higher and further education with disabilities found full-time work after their degree. These figures are set to decline even further in 2011 and 2012. An exciting new leadership development opportunity for disabled students has come up, to help improve your employability.

Plenty of students with physical and learning disabilities realise their full potential, enjoy their education experience and pursue careers and leadership roles in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. For some however, the barriers are too great.

Over the next three years, the people at leadership development organisation Common Purpose (in association with Santander) are aiming to challenge those statistics by providing the opportunity for 240 disabled students to develop their leadership skills and knowledge, enabling them to break through barriers and pursue leadership roles beyond their higher education.

Frontrunner is a FREE three-day residential course which is a fantastic way for participants to experience at first-hand how leadership operates in various working environments and explore the qualities required to take up a leadership role. In January 2011, 40 participants took part in their first course from Universities all over the UK. Applications are now being accepted for their second course which takes place from 6-8 July in London.

WHEN: 6-8 July

WHERE: Central London

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 1  June

COST TO ATTEND: FREE! Places on the course are fully sponsored by Santander and Common Purpose

WHO SHOULD APPLY: Disabled students currently in higher or further education in the UK. Ideally, participants will have demonstrated leadership achievements, big or small.

HOW DO I APPLY?: Course details and an application form can be accessed at Frontrunner.

For more information please email frontrunner@commonpurpose.org or phone 020 7608 8147.

Careers Diversity Show 2011

THE UK’S BIGGEST DIVERSITY CAREERS EVENT

FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER 2011
GRAND CONNAUGHT ROOMS, LONDON

With just one show in London on Friday 21st October, the country’s biggest diversity recruiters will be brought together to match them with students, graduates and jobseekers from all walks of life.

Based on their heritage of being the number one event for LGBT graduates, this year’s show will welcome graduates from all diversity strands.

This event is COMPLETELY FREE for students and grads to attend and this year sees some unique features just for students and recent grads.

PLUS CV Clinics, Seminars and Training and Networking sessions.

Further information after the jump.

This year’s show features:

*EXCITING JOB AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES*  > From the country’s leading diversity recruiters

*EXCLUSIVE STUDENT AND GRADUATES ZONE*
> Question time: your questions answered by our experts  > Exclusive CV and interview help desk staffed by real recruiters  > Network with graduates in industry  > Giveaways including goodie bags with discounts and essentials

*EMPLOYMENT ADVICE FOR ALL*
> CV Clinic: your CV looked over by experienced recruiters  > Changing direction? Advice on which career is for you

*EXCITING SEMINAR SERIES FOR LGBTs FROM STONEWALL *  > Advice on being out and proud in the workplace

BSkyB software engineering vacancy

Shaw Trust Employer & Graduate Programme works to support students and graduates with dyslexia/disabilities into work experience and employment. They have a new and exciting opportunity with BSkyB and a summary of the role is as follows:

BSkyB – Software Engineering Academy

Location: Middlesex

Duration: Permanent

Requirements:

• Final year/current graduate
• Excellent academic background with ideally a 2:1/on course to achieve a 2:1 preferably in a technical subject
• Candidates must have a disability to apply through us

Start Date: September 2011

Application Date: Now open until the end of June

Further information here.

Should I disclose my mental health problem at work?

What are the pros and cons of disclosing a mental health issue to your employer? The ins and outs are discussed in The Guardian.Should you disclose a mental health problem to an employer?

FSA / EmployAbility Insight Day

Are you interested in a career in financial services?

Do you want to find out more and get a head start?

If this sounds familiar then you need to attend the FSA/EmployAbility Insight Day.

Friday 10th June 2011, London

This day has been specifically designed for students interested in the FSA graduate or intern programmes. This focused one day event will give you the opportunity to engage in the work of the FSA and meet the people at the heart of the business.

The programme will combine a mixture of networking with graduates and business representatives, case studies to give you an insight into the organisation’s work and skills sessions delivered jointly by the FSA and EmployAbility, to help you succeed in their assessment processes.

Requirements

The FSA require 300 UCAS points or more, and a predicted 2:1 or better.

However, if there are extenuating circumstances which may have affected your grades, please contact EmployAbility for further information at info@employ-ability.org.uk

How to register?

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!  Register now by downloading and completing a registration form now.

Send the completed form to applications@employ-ability.org.uk by the 1st of June 2011 to book your place.