GMIT wins top employability award for ‘The Next Step –Transitioning to the Workplace Module’ at GradIreland Recruitment Awards 2015

A GMIT module that helps final year students prepare for the workplace has received national recognition. ‘The Next Step - Transitioning to the Workplace Module’ has won the Association for Higher Education Career Services (AHECS) Employability Award at the GradIreland Recruitment Awards 2015 which were held in the Mansion House, Dublin, on Thursday 30 April.  

The module takes an innovative and creative approach to preparing students for the transition to the workplace by involving employers in the region, past graduates of GMIT and external recruitment consultants in many aspects of the module. It includes professional video CVs and E-portfolios for inclusion on LinkedIn and other social media, mock recruitment interviews with experts from industry and networking events for students and industry representatives.

The 5-credit module was designed and developed by Bridie Killoran, GMIT Careers Officer, Carmel Brennan, Head of Dept, School of Business, Siobhaun Cawley, lecturer in the Dept of Building & Civil Engineering, and Lorna Moynihan, lecturer in the School of Business.

It was first rolled out on a pilot basis to final year Information Systems Management students in GMIT three years ago. Such was its success it was extended to students on all programmes in the Department of Building & Civil Engineering the year after. The module currently runs on five programmes within GMIT and there are plans to extend it further. 

Careers Office staff Bridie Killoran and Fiona O'Donnell were recently presented with the award by Minister of State Ged Nash at the awards ceremony in Dublin , attended by over 500 employers.

“It is a wonderful accolade for our Careers Service to be recognised in this way”, says Bridie Killoran. ”It validates this elective careers module which aims to develop the learner professionally and personally, and equip them with the skills and knowledge to enable them to achieve their career goals.”
 
“A big thank you to our lecturers, staff and industry representatives involved in the delivery of the module.”
 
Mary Rogers, Head of the Dept of Building & Civil Engineering, says “The feedback from the students and employers has been tremendously positive. External Examiners on a GMIT final year honours degree programme also praised the initiative, giving the module a special commendation in their annual report.”

Carmel Brennan, Head of the Dept of Business (Accounting & IS), says: “Students from our Business Information Systems degree have credited this module in helping them secure employment on graduation.  This is evidence of the impact of the module, and the award gives us additional affirmation.”

The AHECS Employability Award recognises initiatives that enhance the employability of third-level students or graduates through careers education, information, advice or guidance. The competition was open to all third-level colleges and AHECS-member careers services who demonstrated outstanding employability initiatives.