Expansion to University’s online courses with extra intake in Career Development

Expansion to University's online courses with extra intake in Career Development

The University of Huddersfield has expanded its distance learning offer adding a mid-year intake to its Career Development and Employability postgraduate course - the first in the UK to do so.

The popular Master's or Postgraduate Diploma course, which is run by academics from the University's School of Education, is already the only one of its kind to offer a choice of specialist pathways - higher education or schools and colleges.

Now, potential students can enrol to start the revamped distance learning course beginning in May 2024 for the first time.

The course is delivered 100 per cent online with the option to study full-time or part-time and offers a mix of synchronous and asynchronous teaching as well as access to personal tutors and tutorials.

Discover more about Distance Learning at Huddersfield

This is in addition to the existing options which allow students to begin their Career Development and Employability studies in September - blended or online - or in January - online only.

The new-style course uses a carousel approach specifically for online learners, with each module focusing on one specialist area, allowing students to join the course at set points throughout the year - September, January and now May.

By offering more choice than ever before, it is designed to provide flexibility to those seeking to build a career in this sector.

This is on top of the flexibility already provided by distance learning - enabling students to fit their studies around family and work commitments and to study from any location.

"Professional practice is at the heart of what we do. The course has been designed for people at any stage of their career journey whether you are new to a career in Careers or are an experienced practitioner looking to enhance and develop their professional practice. The optional modules allow students to specialise in a particular area while gaining a broad understanding of the sector as a whole."

Course leader for Career Development and Employability, Jodie Boyd

The University of Huddersfield was one of the first universities to establish career guidance courses. They have been designed with professional practice in mind - working with employers to develop courses and modules which reflect current policies and practices.

Students are taught by careers sector experts and have the opportunity to take the Qualification in Career Development (QCD), the nationally recognised professional qualification awarded by industry body the Career Development Institute (CDI).

One successful graduate of the PGDip course, Matthew Howard, who is now the Deputy Head of Careers at the University of Leeds, has described the Huddersfield offer as "sector-leading career guidance courses".

He said: "Taught by experts in their field, these courses not only educate but also inspire, equipping the career development professionals of the future with the tools and confidence to succeed. I have, and will continue to recommend these courses to anyone looking to build a career in careers."

He also praised the flexible study options and the ability to choose between specialist pathways as real strengths of the course design.

The expansion of the Career Development and Employability courses comes as the University has created a new International Centre for Career Development within The School of Business, Education and Law.

The centre will be a focus for policy and practice in relation to career development and will concentrate on developing external partners, continuing professional development training, as well as research projects.

In addition to Careers Development and Employability, the University of Huddersfield offers distance learning Master's and Postgraduate Diploma courses in subjects such as Computer Science, Psychology and Education, as well as a number of short continuing professional development courses in areas of Health.