The module aims to highlight the importance of being employability active from the start of their university journey so that they can identify the key skills required to be successful in securing graduate jobs/summer internships/placements. The graduate job market is highly competitive and by providing students with an understanding of some of the key skills required of the professional accountant in the current business environment, and the opportunity to acquire and apply those skills, the students will be better skilled for the roles offered.

(LO1) Students will be able to communicate using written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills from a personal and business perspective.

(LO2) Students will be able to work successfully with others and develop effective relationships.

(LO3) Students will be able to present their ideas professionally and improve their presentation skills.

(LO4) Students will be able to identify and develop ways to work more effectively to improve organisational and planning skills.

(LO5) Students will be able to reflect on the value and importance of lifelong learning.

(LO6) Students will be able to reflect on the value of a positive attitude when working with others.

(LO7) Students will be able to demonstrate the importance of an awareness of the commercial issues facing organisations.

(LO8) Students will be able to analyse data (financial and non-financial) to facilitate performance measures and management objectives.

(LO9) Students will be able to reflect on the latest professional skills required in the accountancy profession.

(S1) Adaptability

(S2) Problem solving skills

(S3) Commercial awareness

(S4) Teamwork

(S5) Organisational skills

(S6) Communication skills

(S7) Digital confidence

(S8) Lifelong learning skills

Teaching Method: Lecture
Description: Lectures (one hour each), in weeks 1 to 9 and 11. The lectures will introduce the module (learning and assessment) with subsequent lectures teaching the theory supporting the skills being developed. The final lecture will highlight the next steps for the students re employability and improvement of skills, on completion of the module.
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 10
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Workshop
Description: Workshops for the students to reflect on the skills acquired and how to ensure that they are developed further on completion of the module. 9 x 2 hour workshops. Workshops will be timetabled for weeks 2 to 10, with the AAs timetabled to deliver the workshops in weeks 2 and 6.
Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 18
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method: Group work
Description: Students will be required to work within their assessment teams during these group-work sessions. The students are given one-hour timetabled sessions (weeks 5 to 10) so that they can all work together as a group each week. No room is to be allocated on the timetable for these sessions.
Scheduled Student Hours: 6
Attendance Recorded: No

Teaching Method: Field Trip
Scheduled Student Hours: 8
Attendance Recorded: No

Self-Directed Learning Hours: 108
Description: The module will be assessed through the use of one team-based activity, which will require students to work outside of class on a regular basis throughout the semester. It will also include an e-portfolio that will require work on throughout the semester

Skills/Other Attributes Mapping

Skills / attributes: Adaptability
How this is developed: Working in groups on the assessments and being faced with the challenges of working in a group will develop the students’ understanding of how they need to adapt to the changing circumstances.
Mode of assessment (if applica ble): Group Report

Skills / attributes: Problem solving skills
How this is developed: Students will be given a variety of short case studies in the workshops that they are then required to use to solve business problems. The solutions to the problems will then be presented during the workshop
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group Presentation / Report

Skills / attributes: Commercial awareness
How this is developed: Students will be introduced to the importance of commercial awareness in helping understand the key aspects of a business and its sector prior to making an application for a graduate job/summer internship/placement
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group Report and e-portfolio

Skills / attributes: Teamwork
How this is developed: Students will be introduced to how a small group develops into a successful team through the various stage of Tuckman’s Stages of Small Group Development. Students will then work in a group a s part of the group assessment to help identify these stages in practice.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group Presentation / Report and e-portfolio

Skills / attributes: Organisational skills
How this is developed: Students will be introduced how to plan and organise key components of the group work prior to submitting a group plan for the group work itself.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group Report

Skills / attributes: Communication skills
How this is developed: Students will be given the opportunity to practise communication skills during the weekly workshops prior to the final assessed presentation in the group work.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): Group presentation, e-portfolio and video presentation

Skills / attributes: Digital confidence
How this is developed: Students will be introduced to software that allows them to analyse data and communicate it to stakeholders whilst working in their groups.
Mode of assessmen t (if applicable): Group Report / Presentation

Skills / attributes: Lifelong learning skills
How this is developed: Students will be introduced to the importance of lifelong learning during the workshops with the students then given the opportunity to reflect on their performance in the group work so as to be able to identify key skills for development moving forward.
Mode of assessment (if applicable): e-portfolio

1. Networking
2. Teamwork
3. Communication
4. Organisation and planning
5. Commercial awareness
6. Cultural awareness
7. Digital confidence
8. Lifelong learning and reflection
9. Current employability skills