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Because enhancing your employability is a key part of a great education, opportunities to gain practical skills and build your CV are included in all of our pathway courses. In fact, we’ll help you to prepare for career success before, during, and even after your studies with us, in most cases at no additional cost.
You can begin building your employability before your classes start with Pathways Preview. This fantastic resource allows you to explore the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that you’ll use during your studies at the College, and gives you access to a range of other educational and development resources such as ‘Your Online Reputation and Networks’.
The material in ‘Your Online Reputation and Networks’ helps you to start building a professional network by joining organisations and groups in your field of study. Being part of an organisation like this can give you great opportunities to attend talks and events, and make connections with industry professionals with knowledge and advice to share.
Some organisations and groups that students at the University of Essex International College have engaged with include:
Once you start your pathway course, your Learning Advisors will continue to help you build your network.
You’ll have opportunities to build your employability and career skills throughout the duration of your course. Click on each of the sections below to learn more about them.
Career Conversations are live events at the College where a panel of students interviews entrepreneurs, employers and other industry professionals with valuable insights to share.
You can even complete tasks related to the talk afterwards to make sure you remember the key points.
A fun and challenging way to gain practical skills and improve your employability is with Applied Learning Week. Twice per term, you’ll have the opportunity to take a break from your regular classes to work on a small group project instead.
Tasks could include making a website or producing a video, or delivering a short presentation. Tasks usually reflect a theme such as entrepreneurship, environment and sustainability, or local, national and global causes and issues.
By taking part, you’ll be able to demonstrate skills in communication, organisation, research and teamwork, and may get the chance to learn how to use some new technology. All of these attributes are important in finding a job, so it’s great to be able to put them on your CV!
Professional certifications look great on your CV, and thanks to Kaplan’s associations with a range of professional bodies, you can even study for one alongside your pathway course.
If you’re interested in learning more about cutting-edge technologies influencing industry, you can study the New Technologies for Business course with Kaplan Professional. Alternatively, if you might like to start your own business one day you can study a module on Entrepreneurship to gain a Certificate of Achievement from the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs.
During your course you will work through an interactive e-Book focused on your personal and career development. Some of the features include fun personality quizzes and skills assessments that can help you to track your progress and set goals.
You will be set tasks throughout your course based on the day-to-day activities you might deal with on your degree and in your working life. It could really help you to feel prepared for the future!
This could mean that Business and Finance students have to write a company strategy report, while Science students would be asked to create a lab report, and Media students need to work on a vlog.
Your Kap-PACK e-Portfolio is a record of your achievement at the College, comprising of 5 sections:
It’s a great way to showcase your skills and abilities to employers if you don’t have much work experience. You’ll even be able to apply for a Kap-PACK Plus award in Community or Leadership by doing some voluntary work.
All of these opportunities should help you to gain the skills that employers value!
While a range of employability skills are built into all of our pathway courses, the International Year One (IYO) with Internship offers an additional opportunity to boost your CV with a work placement.
On this programme you’ll complete English and academic study and an integrated online internship, all in the UK. When you successfully pass the programme at the required level, and with good attendance, you will progress to the 2nd year of your chosen bachelor’s degree.
named a top European EdTech company (HolonIQ 2021)
in 70 countries
so you can match your internship to your specific goals
that look impressive on your CV
Applying for the IYO with internship is easy. Just select “International Year One” from the drop-down menu on the application form and you will be prompted to choose the IYO with Internship if it is available at your current level of study, for your desired subject area and start date.
We’ll continue to support you after your pathway course ends. Pathways Extra is available to all Kaplan alumni, and offers advice on how to prepare for university, and how to continue building your employability.
For example, you’ll be able to gain the Certificate of Achievement from the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs if you didn’t do this during your course. You’ll also have opportunities to look at your professional networking skills, take self-assessments and set yourself realistic goals to help stay motivated. You will even be able to see what similar initiatives you can take part in at university to continue preparing for life after your degree.
Once you progress to your degree, you’ll be able to carry on developing the skills you learnt during your pathway course. For example, you’ll be able to complete the Big Essex Award — a record of all of your skills and experiences at university that shows employers why they should hire you!
You will also have the option to stay in the UK to gain further work experience for up to 2 years after you graduate with the UK government’s Graduate Route visa. With all of these fantastic opportunities on offer, you will be ready for a successful future ahead.
Use the degree finder below to see what you could study at the University of Essex.
