Your feedback, our actions
The Positive Impact Careers Delivery Group was established in 2021, aligning with the sustainability strategies of the Students’ Union and the University. This collaborative group comprises staff and student representatives, working together to shape and inform various careers and employability activities.
Guided by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the group is committed to empowering students to make informed choices about their future careers. The group's primary objective is to inform and enable students to identify career options which might contribute to positive change and a more sustainable future. As part of our efforts, we aim to encourage employers to prioritise transparency and establish meaningful sustainability targets and strategies. Additionally, we aim to enhance students' awareness of careers that align with shared local and global sustainable development goals.
| Emerging themes | Actions |
|---|---|
| Increasing employers’ awareness of the value which students place on careers which contribute positively to sustainable development and ethical futures. |
Enhanced information on Supporting Positive Impact Careers available on the Careers and Employability Service webpages for employers. Embedded sustainability into a framework for conversations with employers. |
| Seeking greater transparency from employers regarding their approach to sustainability. | Collection of information from employers, viewable by students on employer profiles on Career Connect, and via recruitment fair profiles. |
| Greater transparency of the Careers and Employability Service’s approach to working with employers. | Careers Service Terms and Conditions of Engagement for Employers made available to students and graduates. |
| Providing more Careers information, advice, and guidance about sustainable careers. |
Recruitment of an Intern to conduct research to inform and develop student-facing resources. Development of a Positive Impact Careers ‘Pathway’ available for students and graduates, via Career Connect. |
| Highlighting and increasing access to sustainable career opportunities. |
Delivered Career Connect system enhancements to enable search and filter of vacancies with a significant focus on sustainability. Provision of support for the organisation of an annual, student-led ‘Green Careers Fair’. Joint organisation and delivery of joint SU/UoS Careers Week activities, which have included jobs fairs and talks on sustainable careers. |
| Making our careers fairs greener. |
Encouraging employers to reduce use of paper and freebies on stands. Restricting the size of employer stands to remove the need for stands and materials to be delivered by couriers, thereby reducing employers’ carbon footprint. Replacing water bottles for employers with recyclable cups and a water dispenser. Replacing printed materials for students with QR codes. Replacing employer welcome packs with QR codes, including removal of name badges. Introducing reusable banners to promote events. |
Sustainability is an ever-evolving focus area and, by collaborating with various stakeholders, leveraging student input, and fostering discussions, we are working to shape careers and employability activities that align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Together, we can create positive change and pave the way for a more sustainable world.