Module Directory

The module will provide an opportunity to all PG Maths students to develop the skills and knowledge required to succeed both during and after their time at University.

It will help prepare them fully to engage in the wider society (both academic and industry) and to make significant contributions in whatever area of life and work they choose to do so. For example, the module provides an introduction to the principal research tools for the students on postgraduate courses in Mathematical Sciences, including practice in the mathematical word-processing language LaTeX; and the module will also provides an introduction of programming language R.

The aims of this module are:

• To provide an opportunity to all PGT Maths students to further develop the skills and knowledge required to succeed both during and after their time at University. Students will work towards enhancing:
  
  
  
  • Self-awareness.
  
  
  • Opportunity awareness.
  
  
  • Decision learning.
  
  
  • Transition learning.
  
  
  • Basic academic writing skills in Latex.
  
  
  • Basic programming skills using R.
  
  
  • Awareness of independent research skills.
  
  
  
  


• These skills will help them progress with employability from the outset of their studies.


• To help prepare the students fully to engage in the wider society and to make significant contributions in whatever area of life and work they choose to do so.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Review key personal factors that inform career choice (interests, skills, values, motivations, relationships).


2. Reflect on current and future academic, and employability development.


3. Become more professionally aware of careers directly and indirectly related to the degree.


4. Deepen their knowledge of the national and international graduate labour market.


5. Identify skills, attitudes, and competencies sought by employers, including academic writing skills, and independent research abilities.


6. Develop a list of suitable careers and narrowing down to a short list.


7. Identify new and build on already developed skills to help transition to a profession (transition learning).


8. Fully understand the recruitment and selection of masters graduates, and how this differs by size and sector.


9. Learn how to maximise chances of success, and how to research and find vacancies, including the hidden jobs market.

PG Maths students will be expected to carefully consider their future objectives and how they need to plan and manage their development to achieve these objectives. The module will have an emphasis on transition learning to ensure that they will make progress with employability from the outset of their studies, understand graduate recruitment and selection processes, how to best prepare their CVs and cover letters, how to work out application forms and, will learn about interview processes and assessment centres. The module will also ensure students learn basic independent research skills, including identifying interesting research topic for their dissertation.

Syllabus

• Self-awareness of interests, strengths, motivations, priorities and values that inform career choice 


• Opportunity awareness in terms of knowing what work opportunities exist and what the requirements are.


• Decision learning regarding optimal opportunities for a future career. 


• Identification of new skills and development of existing skills to help transition to a profession. 


• Basic academic writing skills in Latex.


• Basic programming skills using R.


• Awareness of independent research skills.

This module will be delivered via:

• One 1-hour lecture per week.
• Two 1-hour guest lectures throughout spring/summer term.