The Gold Award
What it is?With personal development remaining a priority for the government agencies that support Higher Education and with employers increasingly looking for candidates who can demonstrate well developed personal attributes and transferable skills. To recognise this GLEU has led in the development of The Gold Award.
The Gold Award has been designed to recognise and reward undergraduates for participation in activities above-and-beyond their academic studies that demonstrate initiative and personal development.
The award is part of a range of activities at Goldsmiths aimed at helping students to develop their wider knowledge and skills base; other activities managed by GLEU include the PDP opportunities available on the 3D Graduate website at www.gold.ac.uk/3d.
The Gold Award was developed primarily in response to feedback in which students asked for more access to work experience and opportunities to acquire skills that would help them find a job after graduation.
What do students get from it?
- Experience and skills that graduate employers are looking for
- A certificate and something extra for a CV
- An extra reference for a first job after graduation
Student feedback from the 2009/10 pilot was incredibly positive with students recognising that working towards the award helped them to develop skills, that are not only useful for finding employment, but have helped them in their studies also.
“It was a pleasure to take part in such an amazing scheme. Thank you for providing us with such a great opportunity, although at times it was very demanding, the feeling after completing a task was immense and very worth every moment”
3rd Year Psychology Student
Who can apply?
All undergraduates can apply. The award takes a minimum of one year to complete. GLEU are happy to promote the scheme at departmental level. If you are a tutor who would like to enrol your students onto the award then please speak to your GLEU liaison representative.
How does it work?
In 2010/11 students will be required to complete three Gold Award Components:
PERSONAL RECORDS : Introductory Self Analysis, SWOT and Ongoing PDR;
ACTIVITIES: either Work Experience, Volunteer Work, a Student Ambassadorship or individual enterprise which demonstrates personal initiative;
WORKSHOPS: by attending a range of workshops offered by the SU, Careers, Students Support, ICCE, BDO and others
Who runs the scheme?
The award was developed and is run by staff in GLEU in conjunction with a network of coordinators based across Goldsmiths’ central departments. The network includes representatives from the Students’ Union, the Careers Service, the Business Development Office, ICCE, Widening Participation and others.
Find out more
The Award resources are found on the learn.gold VLE (just search for The gold Award). If you have any questions please email us at goldaward@gold.ac.uk for information.