After months of research, reflection, and collaboration, I’m excited to share the final design for the Foundation Careers Support Programme. This programme has been shaped by insights gathered from interviews with pre-degree staff, surveys with employability educators, and data from first-year one-to-one career appointments. It also reflects the principles of social justice that I’ve explored in previous blog posts (read more here), ensuring that all Foundation students—regardless of their background—have access to the tools and resources they need to navigate their creative futures confidently.
The programme is designed to align with the Foundation academic calendar, providing targeted support at key moments throughout the year. Each term focuses on addressing specific needs identified through my research, from raising career awareness to building practical skills and preparing for transitions beyond Foundation.
The Final Plan: Supporting Students Year-Round
Autumn Term: Career Awareness and Engagement
Goal: Introduce students to career resources, raise awareness about career options, and promote future events.
Activities:
- Careers Stand at Progression Fair
A visible presence at the fair, hosted by Careers & Employability (C&E), to showcase available resources, promote upcoming events, and introduce students to the concept of career planning early on. - Career Mapping Recorded Guide
A self-guided resource that helps students reflect on their values, interests, and skills, and explore potential career paths that align with them. This tool addresses the need for early career awareness, as highlighted in my research, by giving students the space to think about their futures without pressure.
Spring Term: Practical Employability Career Day
Goal: Equip students with essential career tools to support progression to UAL or other pathways.
Activities:
- CV and Portfolio Workshops
Practical sessions designed to help students present their creative work effectively, whether for BA applications or professional opportunities. - Industry Speaker Panel
Short talks by entry-level professionals and recent alumni, sharing realistic and relatable career journeys. This addresses a key theme from my research: the importance of showcasing diverse voices and alternative pathways to success. - Career Wellbeing Recorded Guides
A set of resources focused on self-management, goal setting, and collaborative working skills to support students’ during their creative education and careers.
Summer Term: Exit Strategies and Career Confidence
Goal: Prepare students for post-Foundation transitions, whether they continue to higher education or enter the workforce.
Activities:
- IP and Self-Promotion Workshop
A session on protecting creative work, building an online presence, and effectively using social media to promote professional goals. - Career Progression Clinics
One-to-one advice sessions tailored to students feeling unsure about their next steps, whether they plan to progress within UAL or pursue alternative routes. - Career Wellbeing Recorded Guides
Resources addressing self-doubt and comparisonitis, common challenges for students navigating the next stages of their careers.
Aligning with UAL’s Goals
This programme has been designed not only to support students but also to align with UAL’s broader priorities to help me secure support and funding from management. By providing robust careers support, the programme can:
- Enhance Conversion Rates: Early engagement with careers resources can help students see the value of staying within UAL for higher education.
- Improve Ofsted Ratings: By embedding careers education into the Foundation curriculum, we address areas highlighted for improvement in inspections.
- Support Graduate Outcomes: Equipping students with employability skills early on lays the groundwork for long-term career success, benefiting UAL’s graduate metrics.
Looking Ahead
The next steps for me are preparing a 10-minute presentation of my action research project for tutors on 4th December and refining it for a pitch to C&E management on 16th December. While I know presenting to management is always a little nerve-wracking, I feel ready to make the case for why this Careers Day Programme deserves to continue beyond my PgCert studies and secure funding for implementation.
It feels like the pieces are finally coming together, and I’m looking forward to seeing this project take shape—not just as an academic exercise, but as something that could have a lasting impact on UAL’s students and the creative industries they go on to shape.