Launch of Student Record Puts Derby Ahead Of The Rest
22 November 2010
It is hoped the certified record of their personal achievements will boost graduates' employability
The HEAR is a record of students' activity which can include roles within the Students' Union
Students at the University of Derby were among the first in the country to receive a certified record of their personal achievements to boost their employability. It is hoped the record, which will feature students' involvement in clubs, societies and in the community, will impress employers, and help graduates secure work.
Derby was one of 18 pilot HE institutions tasked with developing Higher Education Achievement Reports (HEAR) for its students, and were the only of the pilot institutions to deliver a digital reporting system.
Representatives from the Student Support and Information Services, the University of Derby Students' Union (UDSU) and academics worked together to develop and implement HEARs for final year students in 2009/10. This cross team working was praised and recognised by the Chair of the National Hear Steering Group, Professor Sir Bob Burgess and the NUS at the Higher Education Achievement Report Conference on November 3.
Russell Roberts, Head of Derby's Student Systems and Support, said: "During the pilot project we worked with our Students' Union, Assessment and Awards Teams and others to develop ways for University staff and the Union to capture information about students' personal achievements and experience, and then the digital system to record and validate them. Once the system was launched we produced around 2,500 reports for our final year students."
The HEAR is a record of students' activity which can include roles within the Students' Union, membership of sports clubs and societies, community and volunteering; along with prizes and employed roles through the University Student Employment Agency.
Laurence Barnard, who was the UDSU Vice President of Student Development throughout the project, said: "Students were incredibly receptive and enthusiastic about the HEAR, and could see how useful it could be to have a validated record of what they had accomplished while studying at Derby in addition to their degree."
Russell Roberts added: "Professor Sir Bob Burgess and the NUS have long held the belief that this record was needed and we are already seeing its benefits in the students from the pilot group. Students are accessing their record digitally and using it to support job or other applications, and academic staff can use the record to inform their references."
Judith Bailey, a student of Operational and Strategic Management at the University who graduates in January 2011, said: "Having a digital record of your student journey to give to potential employers is really useful. It gives them an all-round picture of your activities and citizenship, and as it's validated it reassures employers of authenticity of the content."
For more information please contact Press & PR Officer Joanna Colburn on 01332 593004 or 07775 036988, or email j.colburn@derby.ac.uk
