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The Employability Points Scheme

The UK’s European university

Matt Cook EP Co-ordinator

What is the EP Scheme?

• The Employability Points Scheme is exclusive to the University of Kent

bridging the gap between education and employment.

• Students are rewarded ‘Employability Points’ for taking part in extra-

curricular activities and these can be ‘cashed-in’ for rewards which include

internships, project placements, work experience, training and vouchers.

• The employment market is becoming increasingly competitive, employers

are now seeking graduates who have done more than succeed

academically.

• The Employability Points Scheme encourages students to gain ‘real life’

skills and for those who succeed, the scheme provides rewards which will

further these skills and offer relevant work experience.

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Context: 2010-2015

• The EP’s pilot scheme was run in 2010, with 900 students engaged.

• Being so successful, the University invested in the scheme and it has grown

consecutively year-on-year:

Why get involved?

On average, 81 graduates applied for each graduate job in 2013

“More than a third of…vacancies…are expected to

be filled by undergraduates who have had previous

work experience with their organisations, such as

paid internships, industrial placements, vacation

schemes or sponsorships”

“To stand out from the crowd students need to focus

on all aspects of their employability”

Louisa Redfern, Talent Acquisition Agent, Coca

Cola Enterprises

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The benefits for students

• Meet the employer’s demand for work experience and ‘real life’ skills.

• The scheme is competitive – mirroring the world of work, encouraging you to push harder and achieve more.

• In the process, you will have fun and meet new people. It will enrich your University of Kent experience:

“This year I have done so much more. EP was a big factor…[the scheme] has been beneficial, exciting and rewarding for me.”

Third year School of English student, June 2014

• You will gain various opportunities to network and develop relationships with both local and corporate companies and organisations.

• All rewards are carefully selected to ensure you directly benefit.

How does it work?

1. Take part in

extra-curricular

activities

2. Claim

Employability

Points

3. Get rewarded!

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1. Take part in Extra-Curricular Activities

• There are various different activities you can participate in and by doing-so,

you making yourself more employable!

• Kent Union: part-time employment via Jobshop, volunteering via KSCV,

Stand-Out training, societies and sports teams.

• Careers and Employability Service: workshops, CV drop-ins, Employability

Festival events and the Careers and Employability Award on Moodle.

• University of Kent: Student Ambassador scheme, Student Mentoring

scheme, Kent Extra courses, Kent Student Blog and School and Course

reps.

• Your academic school may arrange workshops, open lectures, conferences

and more.

Points Available

• Here are some examples of

the points classification.

• We offer a range of points for

certain categories.

• Each case is judged

individually, reflecting a

student’s level of engagement

and the relevance of the

activity.

Full listing at: www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints

Volunteering

10-40 points

Part-time employment

15-50 points

Organising an University

event

10-40 points

Skills workshops

5-15 points Study abroad

30-90 points

Join a society

5 points

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2. Claim Employability Points

• Claiming points is a very

simple and quick process

and has been designed solely

with the intention of being

student friendly.

• You log-in to the University’s

MyFolio system and tell us

what you have been doing

under the Employability

Points Dashboard.

• A member of the EP team will

then review this and award

points accordingly.

3. Get Rewarded!

Internship: 200 points

Project placement: 175

Work experience: 150

Training: 125

Work shadowing: 100

Company experience: 75

Skills development: 75

Mock Assessment: 75

Employability

session: 50

Highest

points

prizes: N/A

Towards the end of Term 2, you will have an opportunity to cash your points in for

different rewards:

Voucher: 50

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EP Rewards Evening

Rewards 14-15

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Closing Remarks

• Whilst at the University of Kent, you will have some of the best

experiences of your life; academics will open your minds to new

ideas, you will form new friendships and try new things.

• It is the best opportunity to engage with different activities.

• It is far too easy to say ‘not yet’.

• Don’t put these things off – join 5,000+ students and get involved

now.

• Finish university with a top degree, but also with the skills and

experiences employers want.

Get Involved – Get Rewarded!

Contact Us!

The EP Team: Marcus Wright Matt Cook Helen Davies Sophie Taylor-Gammon

Enterprise Manager EP Co-ordinator EP Assistant HIVE Administrator

employabilitypoints@kent.ac.uk

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THE UK’S EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY

www.kent.ac.uk