Transition to Employment/Further Study| | Disability Support Service UCC

Transition To Employment

Transition to Employment/Further Study

The Career Support Programme for current students with disabilities provides assistance and guidance to students as they prepare for the transition to employment or further study/training.

Background to the Programme

In 2010-2012 the DSS became a partner in an EU Leonardo Project “Univers’ Emploi.” This project created an employment support framework into the needs assessment process of all students with disabilities. As part of the project, each partner institution conducted a pilot in which a selection of final year students were supported in the transition process from University into employment/further study. Click here for more information about the Leonardo project.

Following involvement in the Univers’ Emploi project, the Disability Support Service utilised the employment assessment model utilised in the project and have adopted it for students with disabilities in U.C.C.

Objective of the Career Support Programme

One of the objectives of the Disability Support Service as per the Access Strategic Plan 2013 -2017 is to enhance transition to employment/further study for students and graduates with disabilities.

Actions/Activities to Achieve this Objective

The DSS hosts a series of workshops each year to create awareness of the employability skills necessary to make a successful transition to the workplace or further study. The workshops include the following themes:

Career Exploration Skills - Discovering the Right Career for You: DSS Career Exploration Skills (1,091kB)
Creative Job Hunting: Creative Job Hunting (1,723kB)
Written Applications/CV’s/Cover Letters: CV Cover Letters (4,461kB)
Interviews Made Easy: Interviews (2,981kB)
Disclosure of Disability During the Job Hunting Process: Disclosure (1,036kB)
Post Graduate Options: Post Graduate Options
Post Graduate Applications and Personal Statements: Post Graduate Applications and Personal Statements
Preparing for Summer Work: Preparing for Summer Work

Guidelines for Placement Officers

A further component of the Career Support Programme is the development of guidelines for Placement Officers. Currently, over 60% of degree programmes in U.C.C. have a dedicated work element of three to six months, hence guidelines for Placement Officers to understand the nuances of disability in the work place are crucial.

First Destinations

The Disability Support Service has completed research into the first destinations of graduates with disabilities of 2010, 2011 and 2012. This evidence based research will inform the Disability Support Service and graduates of trends and opportunities within the world of employment. It also provides an excellent and realistic snapshot of the career development of graduates with disabilities thus far. The report provides clear statistical information on the number of graduates with disabilities in employment and further study in the year following their graduation. The report also outlines the employment status of graduates by disability type.

First Destination Report.