We are delighted to share the news that BA (Hons) Graphic Design colleagues, Dr Kate McLean (Programme Director) and Becky Upson (Lecturer) have been awarded the University Teaching Prize for exemplary way they have embedded employability into the curriculum.
The subject, which was introduced to University of Kent in 2021, benefits from being at the forefront of practical concerns in that it is both a degree and job title – meaning that students can search for jobs and entry-level requirements from the minute they arrive at Kent – and Kate and Becky encourage them to do so!
Their application demonstrated a commitment to practitioner teaching and visiting lecturer expertise to ensure skills such animation and calligraphy are taught by specialists, while also drawing attention to the live briefs running throughout the year to enable interested students to work with real clients with the support of teaching staff.
Indeed, this element of the programme was praised specifically by the assessment panel:
‘It is clear collective efforts to enhance public and business engagement with the curriculum demonstrated advancement of the institutional priority to embed employability within the curriculum. [Kate and Becky’s] work has improved student recruitment, satisfaction, and appreciation of key graduate attributes of critical thinking and real-world application.’
Kate said: ‘Graphic Design is a brand-new degree at the University of Kent, with a staff of just two full time members of staff; as such we are inordinately proud that our commitment to the employability of our students has been recognised by the University.’
Becky said: ‘It’s really exciting to be able to share the work we are doing with the wider university community; we’ve worked hard to embed employability into our curriculum through the designing of our modules and it’s an honour to receive recognition from the university for the work we are doing.’