Portsmouth Business School
Business School students receive nationally recognised award
Wed, Apr 28, 2010
The final year students had to submit a work-placement log and a 2500 word report showing the skills they gained while in employment in order to achieve Licentiateship status, which also gives them lifetime membership of the City & Guilds Institute. They were presented with their certificates at an awards ceremony on Monday night.
This is the first time the University has linked with the City and Guilds Institute to formalise students’ work placement experience.
At the presentation ceremony Ian Frith, Senior Awards Manager of the City & Guilds Institute, congratulated students on having the courage to leave university for a year and gain experience in the workplace.
He said: “Employers aren’t just looking for raw academic talent; they want to see evidence of vocational skills too. This year nearly 400,000 graduates are coming into the job market and there are 49 applicants for every graduate job. It’s a tough competitive market to enter and I’m sure the fact that Portsmouth students have certified work experience will pay dividends.”
To gain Licentiateship students have to show they are capable of the following seven key skills: Self-management and development, managing tasks, communicating clearly and effectively, working with and relating to others, applying knowledge, showing initiative in work problems and reflecting on their own learning.
Students from courses such as Business Studies, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Economics and Accounting and Finance have all benefited from the University’s partnership with the City & Guilds Institute
Dean of the Portsmouth Business School, Ann Ridley, said: “This is not just about students getting their first job; this is a stepping-stone for their careers. Employers need to know that students have proven work skills and can make a positive contribution from day one. The City & Guilds Licentiateship shows employers that our students have the key workplace skills and experience they are looking for.”