The Careers Development Centre at South East Technological University’s (SETU) campus in Waterford has won the Association of Higher Education Guidance Services (AHECS) award for Supporting Student/Graduate Employability at the gradireland Graduate Recruitment Awards 2024.
The gradIreland Awards is an annual event that celebrates achievement and promotes excellence and innovation in graduate recruitment. These awards serve to recognise the vital contribution companies and third-level careers services make in the Irish graduate market.
The winning submission, ‘Feature Friday’, which ran through the Careers Development Centre social media platforms, took proactive steps to enhance employer and student engagement through a weekly showcase of leading employers across all disciplines, answering student’s main recruitment-related questions. Employers also provided valuable advice and practical guidance on employability and recruitment strategies including sourcing and applying for opportunities, application tips, interview preparation, sought after skills, and insights into hybrid/remote working opportunities.
‘Feature Friday’
The initiative facilitated interactions between students and 196 employers across two academic years, including well-known entities such as Jameson, Enerpower, Vodafone, The Boland Group, Public Relay, For Purpose, and RehabCare. Complemented by on-campus events, ‘Feature Friday’ involved 125 submissions in the 2022/2023 academic year and 145 in 2023/2024, across all disciplines.
Sorcha Walshe, Senior Careers Administrator at SETU, commented “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the Careers Development Centre team. This project aimed to bridge the gap between students and potential employers and meet students “where they are at”. The initiative reached students from first to final year, allowing employers not only to connect with imminent graduates but also raise awareness among students in the early stages of their studies. The format of ‘Feature Friday’, with weekly posted content that was easily accessible and saved online, resonated well with students, offering them the flexibility to review the information at their convenience. All of us at the Careers Development Centre would like to thank the employers who supported this initiative.”
Sorcha was joined by Angela Collins, Head of Careers and Careers Advisor at SETU's campus in Waterford and Averil Wall, Careers Administrator, in accepting this award at Dublin City’s Mansion House.
Photo 1: Sorcha Walshe being presented with the Supporting Student/Graduate Employability Award by Michael McDonnell, Careers Advisor, Smurfit Business School. Photo credit: Nina Val Photography.
Photo 2: L-R Sorcha Walshe, Averil Wall, and Angela Collins, SETU Careers Development Centre in Waterford. Photo credit: Nina Val Photography.