Continuing Professional Development Events

During the summer term we will be offering a series of free workshops and seminars for staff that provide higher education-related advice in schools and colleges. The seminars will cover a range of topics to help you in your role, whether experienced or new to this type of work.

With the rise in student fees and changes to higher education affecting the decisions students make we have designed a programme of events to support your delivery of informed impartial advice and guidance.

Sessions are taking place on the following dates at the University of Worcester:

Date Topic Time
Wednesday May 1st Student Finance 1.30pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday May 8th UCAS/HE update 1.30pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday May 15th Personal Statements 1.30pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday June 5th Reference Writing 1.30pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday June 12th Running a HE/careers event 1.30pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday June 19th Getting into teaching 1.30pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday June 26th Getting into Nursing 1.30pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday July 10th Confirmation and Clearing 1.30pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday July 17th Graduate Labour Market 1.30pm to 3.00pm

Seminar topics

Student Finance
Katy Barge from Student Finance England will go through the student finance package for 2014 / 15 including the Disabled Student Allowance followed by a look at the Student Finance England Practitioner Resources available for use with students.

UCAS/HE update
An update on any changes for 2014 entry and the UCAS application process together with key points to remember when advising students. Reflection on the 2013 cycle and a look at the impact of changes to HE funding, number controls and measures to improve social mobility.

Personal Statements
What are admissions tutors looking for? How should your students prepare an effective personal statement that does them justice and in a timely manner?
With more and more students offering the grades required, admissions tutors look more to personal statements to decide on who to make offers to and who to invite to interview.

Reference writing
Are you doing the best for your students? Are you helping your students by providing the information needed to support their application? Admissions departments and tutors often select students according to references and this could be based on the quality of the reference not just the content.

Getting into teaching
Information about the pathways to teaching and how to help your students get onto these competitive courses. Are their choices realistic? How are applicants selected? What are admissions tutors looking for? Entry requirements including work experience and skills tests.

Getting into Nursing
Information about the pathways to nursing and how to help your students get onto these competitive courses. Keep up to date on the entry requirements, skill requirements and how applicants are selected for interview including what happens at interviews and what makes a successful student.

Advising your students for results day and clearing
With the demise of Connexions, schools and colleges and careers advice services are now looking at having to provide a service on results day to assist students. What should you be doing prior to results day, what advice should you be giving students about their choices, have they changed their minds about course subjects?

Graduate Labour Market
What does the future graduate market look like locally and nationally? Is the current climate an indicator of future trends and does it influence decisions now? Students increasingly want a return for their investment in higher education and will research employment statistics to help with decision-making.

Who should attend?
These seminars are suitable for teachers, tutors and advice staff in schools and colleges and other practitioners who provide higher education advice to prospective HE students. The seminars will cover a range of topics to help you in your role, whether experienced or new to this type of work.

To book your place please contact Annabel Kray on 01905 542294 or email [email protected]

For suggestions for future workshop topics please contact Hilary Fox, Outreach & Recruitment Officer (IAG) on 01905 855252 or [email protected]