UCC EmployAgility Awards

Find opportunities on studentvolunteer.ie that will help you achieve a UCC EmployAgility Award 

The UCC EmployAgility Award is a professional skills development programme, and demonstrates that you have engaged in, and developed professional skills through extra-curricular activities and work experience, all of which will help you to stand out from the crowd when applying for graduate roles and internships.

Over the course of two semesters, you can work through content on this course which will help you prepare for making job applications, writing your CV, networking and reflection. Reflecting helps you to develop your skills and review their effectiveness. The content in this course will help you to reflect on your experiences and understand the skills and values you have developed which in itself is a life-long skill. 

After engaging in your chosen experience under one of the six pathways, you will need to reflect on the skills you have developed and learn how to articulate these skills to employers. You will do this by writing up a Reflective Report and preparing your CV before you actually receive the award at a formal rewards ceremony in the spring.

You must submit your Reflective Report in mid-March 2022. Please check the UCC EmployAgility Award Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates closer to the time. 

How it works: 

• Students receive official recognition for taking part in extracurricular activities.
• Stand out from the crowd and have your contribution recorded on your Diploma Supplement  (not the Exam Transcript).
• UCC EmployAgility Award boosts your career prospects by demonstrating to employers that you have developed the competencies they want.
• The Reflective Report requires students to answer three minimal questions and allows students to articulate on paper more effectively the competencies developed during their UCC EmployAgility activity
• The competencies you are asked to discuss in the Reflective Report are core competencies that research shows employers look for in potential candidates in both interviews and CV's.
• Updating your CV allows students to reflect and express the skills gained with UCC EmployAgility Award in an effective manner.
• You will receive your award and Digital Badge in April 2022

UCC EmployAgility Award is a University Skills Award that you can receive by participating in an approved activity in any of SIX pathways. 

What next?

1. Register for the UCC EmployAgility Programme
2. You have two options: 
   
   1. Dedicate 40 hours to your chosen activity and log your hours. Your hours will need to be signed off by your activity provider
   2. Dedicate 30 hours to your chosen activity and complete the entire Canvas course. More employer-created content will be available in Semester 2. 

*Open Pathway: if you are dedicating up to 40 hours of your time to a range of unaccredited and unpaid activities or initiatives you can still receive the award through the Open Pathway. Please log your hours for each activity and we will review.

Higher Awards 

UCC EmployAgility Awards offers three Higher Awards to recognize students who stand out in their employment skills development.

These awards include an Employability Star Award, a Global Citizen Award, and a Leadership Award. 

To qualify, a student must have received at least three UCC EmployAgility Awards (or UCC Works Awards) within three of the six pathways over a minimum of two years. They must also exemplify growth in employability skills, global citizenship, or leadership. Learn more on our website.