Guidelines for career advice

In preparation for the QAA institutional audit and as a requirement for the award Matrix Quality Standards for careers guidance, the Careers and Employment Centre has produced the following protocol for academic staff offering careers advice to students:

Careers advice encompasses 3 areas: Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG).

The Guidance Council advises that non-careers staff can give information and advice but guidance (in depth analysis of needs and what the individual wishes to do for a career) should only be carried out by a professionally trained Careers Adviser.

Academic staff often have industrial experience/in-depth occupational knowledge of their occupational sector. The Careers and Employment Centre is keen to work with academics in offering the most appropriate advice to students by working to the strengths of both.

Guidelines for the advice you give:

• All information and advice should be impartial reflecting the needs of the student rather than the institution.
• The process should be confidential and this should be made clear to the student. Information should not be passed on without the individual's prior permission. Any limitations on this should be made absolutely clear.
• The process should be student focused - concentrating on the needs of the student, not the institution.
• All information and advice should reflect equality of opportunity.
• Transparency: language should be clear and unambiguous at a level appropriate for the individual.
• Accessibility: if you offer information and advice to students please ensure they know how to access the Careers and Employment Centre for further help.