GCCA | Graduate Careers Council of Australia

Graduate Careers Australia

ergo - Number 92 September 2003

Careers and Work at Macquarie University

It is a well-documented fact that career education for university students enhances their ability to manage their study and job-searching so that satisfactory career and employment outcomes are achieved. In 2002 Macquarie University’s Career Development Office (CDO) offered its students the opportunity to undertake a formal unit of study in career planning and development. ECDO 200, Careers and Work, was offered as a two-credit point elective unit to students in their second or equivalent year of undergraduate study.

Careers and Work was developed by staff of the CDO to equip students with a lifelong process which would enable them to plan and build their careers. The unit provides them with a broad base of critical knowledge and the skills, attitudes and behaviours required to make effective career and educational decisions.

The first offering through the university’s summer program attracted forty-five students, ranging from humanities, sciences and commerce disciplines. The 24% increase in enrolments in 2003 indicates that students recognise the need to know more about themselves and about developing their careers in an increasingly complex workplace, whilst simultaneously being able to accelerate their degree.

ECDO 200 is hosted by the Division for the Australian Centre for Educational Studies. This division is the most appropriate academic location for the unit in view of the synergy between the unit and the mission of the Division. The CDO’s Training Officer, Head of Service and Career Information Officer are responsible for teaching and assessing the unit.

The unit examines concepts in understanding career theories that underpin career exploration and development, self and occupational awareness, getting to grips with contemporary practices in human resources, career decision making styles and career management and lifelong learning.

This year, 98% of students believed the subject was of relevance to their career with 92% stating they had learned to feel responsible for their own career. An interactive, discursive and group-based approach to teaching is used by the CDO’s teaching staff, a fact much appreciated by the enrollees.

Three pieces of graded assessment are to be submitted in order to be eligible for the award. 92% of students in fact noted that completing a career portfolio was a useful activity.

The following quotation from a student provides a ringing endorsement: “This has been one of the best courses I have completed at Macquarie University (4 years part time). This course has polarized the importance of self analysis, monitoring and the importance of developing a career plan.”

In line with Macqurie University’s Flexible Teaching and Learning plan, ECDO 200 is currently being redeveloped for online delivery in 2004 as a HECS-based elective offering. The CDO was awarded a Vice Chancellor’s Development Fund grant for this project. The CDO is currently engaged in redesigning the unit using WebCT.