Leicester Award for Employability SkillsJames AppleyardCourse RepAcademic Officer

Key Employment Skills

How have these skills been developed?Course Reps are: ResponsibleAND Representative

They must: Respond to any situations that arise Resolve the issues to the best of their

ability

How do I demonstrate these qualities? Responsibility and Representation?

Demonstrated through attendance of SSCs with the Criminology Department – responsible for my entire year group and their problems. I must represent both the individual and the group in Departmental meetings

What have I done so far? Prior Reading Lists Guest Speakers/Prison and Police Visits Socials/Meals for students Information provision through emails SSCs Union Campaigns Assistance with work/essays Liaised with CrimSoc as Fresher Rep Meetings with the V-C Union Parliament LUST Exec TeachFirst Workshops Leicester Ambassador Scheme

http://jaythecrimcourserep.wordpress.com/

Prior Reading Lists – SSC Reading Lists – new students are faced with expensive

textbooks, at the very start of term! If we can supply prior reading lists, they can

save up more effectively and also revise sooner! I needed to think personally – what would I

want as a new student? – REQUIRES

forward/action planning, negotiating with the Dept., collecting data through analysing student

interest.

The Leicester Award encourages innovation and self-reliance this action required both!

Union Parliament Union Parliament is a democratic body with

elected members who represent their peers As an Academic Officer I must represent my

Dept. and thus all of those within it. Skills learned – debates, decision making,

team-work/group decisions, delegation, open-mindedness, setting of objectives, giving/receiving constructive criticism, communication

LGBTQ Proposal – mass debate, what did I do?Leicester Award pushes for leadership and

communication – initiative, getting involved with my Union/direct action, public speaking!

How have I developed? Actions I have taken through the

Leicester Award have boosted certain skills.

As a result of the course, I have become more confident within committees and groups (CR); public speaking (CR, UP); representation (CR, UP); delegation (UP), time management (UP); listening (CR, UP); enthusiasm (CR).

Why is this important? My skills audit – I want to teach!

The Future Career – Degree 2.1 or above, PGCE with

TeachFirst go on to teach at Secondary Personal – become CrimSoc President,

Head of Live Events on LUSH Radio, re-elected as Course Rep/Academic Officer

How will I achieve this? Approached local Secondary Schools to do TA work; creating a manifesto for CrimSoc Pres; working with current Head of Live Events with LUSH; help with training future Course reps and continue to engage with Parliament

What will I need? Commitment, faith in myself. Excellent

time management, flexibility. Great communication skills.

I will need to improve my time management and ability to balance so much; prioritise important things, e.g. degree!

Conclusion I would not have dreamed of these things –

UP, CR, LUSH, LUST, LUPS, LUT, CrimSoc, Rockstar, V/O work…all of these since I started!

Leicester Award has given me self-belief I AM capable of being a leader, a team-player, and a stand-out character.

Achieving this award makes all of the effort and work worth it employers will see my dedication; my drive; my commitment to what I practice. For a teacher, they will see someone who not only teaches but also loves to learn; someone who would bring something different to a classroom.